STEAM Expo Days

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

Model a nucleus with magnetic marbles for protons and neutrons, then shatter it to bits like the scientists at MSU's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams! FRIB is a world-class facility for producing and researching rare isotopes that are nonexistent on Earth. This is your chance to learn more about FRIB research and to create unique nuclei.

Learn more about A Smashing Time with Nuclei at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

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

Let's explore collisions from various perspectives. From tabletop demonstrations, microscopic observations, and computer simulations our exploration will reveal the conservation of momentum in each collision. By aggregating numerous collisions, we'll illustrate diffusion—an essential phenomenon in biology and chemistry. A simulation featuring a bacterial cell will demonstrate how diffusion influences molecules of diverse shapes and sizes.

Learn more about A Crash Course on Molecular Diffusion

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

The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and the Leslie Science and Nature Center showcase a variety of STEM-based activities for folks of all ages to explore. From understanding magnetism to creating invisible objects, there is a whole world to discover right at our station.

Learn more about Activities with Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and Leslie Science and Nature Center

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

We have a lot of water in the world, but very little of it is safe to drink. Stop by our booth and find out how you can protect the water from your tap to the Great Lakes and beyond! Join us for a water trivia game and watch a visually dazzling groundwater model of how our water is connected above and below ground. We will also offer tips on how you can be a water steward.

Learn more about All Water Is Connected and Ours to Protect

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

Animals are amazing! From spots to stripes and horns to teeth, animals are equipped with a wonderful array of adaptations to help them survive in the wild. Join Potter Park Zoo as we explore skulls, pelts, antlers, horns, and teeth and learn about some of the fascinating, cool, and sometimes weird physical and behavioral adaptations found in the animal kingdom.

Learn more about Amazing Animal Adaptations

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

It’s time for the toys to get a check-up! Play with stuffed animals to learn how brain scans are conducted.

Learn more about Animal Brain Scanner

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

Compare structures across species and be amazed by what you find!

Learn more about Animal Brains

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

The Aquatic Adventures program at Fenner Nature Center teaches students about wetland ecology through hands-on exploration of aquatic flora and fauna. Equipped with collection and identification tools, students delve into the world of aquatic macro-invertebrates at various life stages, study adaptations enabling wetland plants to thrive, and encounter cold-blooded inhabitants residing in wetland ecosystems.

Learn more about Aquatic Adventures

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

Explore the science of optics and photonics through presentations, demonstrations, and conducting science on site. We'll discover the applications of optics in our daily life, from cameras, LCD displays, and 3-D movies to optical communications. Our interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities will explain interesting optical phenomena, including light transmission and reflection, polarization, and lasers.

Learn more about Exploring the Science of Light

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

Movement plays an important role in our life--from everyday activities like walking, to activities like sports or dance that require years and years of practice. But do you know how well you move? In this presentation, find out how technology can be used to understand how to measure human movement and motor skills, and how we can also use this knowledge to help people with movement impairments.

Learn more about Are You the Next Olympic Athlete? Measuring Motor Skill in Health and Disease