Science in the Gardens

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Explore the butterfly life cycle, look at butterflies under microscopes, and spend time in the flight house with butterflies, chrysalises and caterpillars!

Learn more about Butterflies in the Garden

Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Visit the MSU Bioretention Research Facility and learn about how rain gardens can be used to treat stormwater and prevent flooding.  Rain gardens are small bioretention systems that capture and treat stormwater using soils, microbes, and plants.   Investigate how plants impact rates of water entry into soils using infiltrometer measurements and soil moisture meters.  Learn how to build your own infiltrometer to contribute to research on which plants are best for rain gardens.  Explore other ecosystems services provided by rain gardens through our Bioretention EcoServices Scavenger hunt. 

Learn more about The Science and Engineering of Rain Gardens

Appropriate for: High school age, 18 years and above

“How is this plane staying up?” “Why did the whales return to the sea?” “What was the first sound the universe ever heard?” Poets ask the same questions as scientists, and their answers often dovetail in strange and stirring ways. Come and meet some practicing, publishing and award-winning poets and writers from MSU and the Greater Lansing area. As each one reads a poem, you can look through their poetic lenses to “see the world in a grain of sand” (Blake). Take away with you inspirational prompts for poems of your own, and opportunities to join future workshops, readings and open mics.

Learn more about Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand: How Writers See the Universe