Bradbury to host Science Circus on Friday

Contact: Shelley Thompson, shelley@lanl.gov, (505) 665-7778

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., April 25, 2001 -- Nature will be the main attraction at the Bradbury Science Museum’s annual Science Circus from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday (April 27). The free event is in conjunction with National Science and Technology Week that began Sunday.

Science Circus features a number of events occurring simultaneously that are designed to make science fun, said Pat Berger of the museum. Such activities will include robotic insects, human brain functions, indigenous wildlife and birds of prey. Participants also will have an opportunity to examine such natural elements as geology, water and wildflowers.

The Wildlife Center volunteers in Española will show museum visitors owls and hawks while explaining the birds’ natural environment and how to ensure the safety of such animals.

Members of the Laboratory’s Ecology Group will be available to discuss studies conducted with wildlife. They will display invertebrates and live honeybees. Participants will be able to view these specimens up close and ask questions. They also will present information about large mammals and trees native to the area.

Tom Wyant of the Laboratory’s Network Engineering group will discuss the different facets of snakes, the different types of snakes in New Mexico, how to prevent an attack and what to do if bitten. He will have numerous venomous and nonvenomous snakes enclosed behind a glass shield. Audience members will have an opportunity to touch the nonvenomous reptiles, said Wyant.

As a hobby, he teaches children and adults about snake safety all over Northern New Mexico. Wyant also is a volunteer for the Wildlife Center and a member of the Lab Speakers Bureau Program.

David Rector of Lab’s Biophysics Group will show his audience different types of brains, microscope slides of brain cells and a plaster eyeball that reacts to light. Two demonstrations of cricket and crayfish nerves will illustrate how neural transmissions are encoded. His program is an encore performance from National Brain Awareness Week last month.

And Michelle Thomsen of the Space and Atmospheric Sciences group will present information about the research of weather in space caused by solar variability.

Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There is no admission charge to the museum.

For more information, call Pat Berger at 505-665-0896.

The Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

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