Our program provides popup science displays at schools and science fairs. Our plan is to expand our popup science display content to cover more topics. Our current exhibit, shown on our website, is a water percolation experiment, which addresses the issue of drag forces for flow through porous media. It is popular for all ages, ranging from young children playing in water to youth and adults who gain understanding about the drag forces and the importance, for example, for pumping and recharging water aquifers. We are currently upgrading the exhibit with a porosity experiment, which demonstrates the difference between porosity and permeability. We need additional funding to expand the amount of equipment available for school outreach. In addition, we want to expand our offerings to drag forces in air through a vertical wind tunnel, which enables participants to explore the balance between gravity and drag and to an associated electronic egg-drop experiment, which allows particpants to explore ways of achieving a soft landing. Finally, we want to expand our offering of mix and match components for teaching simple principles of electric circuits. We have done preliminary design and cost estimates for these exhibits. Fabrication will be done largely by volunteers, including national lab retirees.
Our mission is to raise the level of scientific literacy in our region by providing the facilities and resources to advance STEM education for everyone. Our goal is to excite all about the wonders of science and technology, educate all about how science and technology affect their daily lives, inspire some to create new science and technology through a technical career, and facilitate discussions about the social implications of new science and technology. These activities will emphasize development of the planning and critical thinking skills needed in scientific experimentation and interpretation, particularly as outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards. Our current activites involve providing popup displays at science fairs and schools, and our longer-term goal is to build a science learning center as part of the redevelopment of downtown Livermore.
4682 Almond Circle