STEAM Expo Days
Explore over one hundred hands-on activities, talks, and demonstrations at the festival's STEAM Expo Weekend on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14 from 10am - 4pm at the STEM Teaching and Learning Facility on MSU's campus.
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The Age of Salt in Michigan
Presented at the following times:
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Salt, scientifically identified as sodium chloride (NaCl), holds a crucial presence in our world, influencing oceans, Earth's interior, our food, and our bodies. In winter, the sight of salt-covered roadways is familiar, rooted in science, as salt lowers water's freezing point, transforming ice into liquid. Michigan's history is intertwined with salt, harboring a concealed subterranean realm beneath Detroit—the salt mines, formed approximately 400 million years ago.
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The Amazing World of Polymers
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Third Floor, West Wing
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Polymers are fascinating materials that play a significant role in our daily lives, and it's important for school kids to understand their basics. This introduction to polymers provides a simple and engaging overview for young learners. Polymers are like long chains made of tiny building blocks called monomers, and they are found everywhere, from the plastic in your toys to the rubber on your shoes. Understanding polymers is the first step to appreciating the incredible science that shapes the world around us.
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The Art and Science of Coffee
Presented at the following times:
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility North Lobby
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility North Lobby
Appropriate for: High school age, 18 years and above
Discover the alchemy of turning fresh beans and water into a spectacular cup of coffee and learn all about the journey the bean took to get there. The Strange Matter team will teach you the science of pour-over brewing in order to achieve the perfect cup, as well as the extraction principles and variables of brewing involved in the process.
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The Magic of Migration
Presented at the following times:
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Discover the enchantment of bird migration and delve into long-term migration studies with MSBO. Explore exquisite feathers, uncover the art of banding migratory birds by MSU scientists, and marvel at the incredible adaptations observed at our banding stations. Join us to witness the wonders of avian migration!
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The Magic of Mineral-Based Paint
Presented at the following times:
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Across history, mineral-based pigments have been pivotal in art and cultural practices. Sourced from a myriad of minerals and rocks, these pigments have adorned paintings, frescoes, manuscripts, and various artistic expressions with vibrant hues. Join us in this demo as we collectively explore different mineral species and their role in pigment creation. Together, we'll craft a community mural, delving into the rich artistic heritage of mineral pigments.
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The Michigan Vaccine Project
Presented at the following times:
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
The Michigan Vaccine Project (MVP) grant is a partnership between Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that aims to leverage MSU Extension's statewide network of county offices and community partnerships to provide people with trusted, evidence-based vaccination information. MVP has implemented a statewide outreach campaign using digital, radio and print materials—as well as in-person and virtual education programming—to inform Michiganders’ vaccination decision-making.
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The Next Generation of Wireless Communication
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility First Floor, South Wing
Appropriate for: High school age, Over 21 years only, 18 years and above
New advances in distributed 5G/6G networks have been made possible by improvements in the networking and communication of discrete wireless systems. A distributed antenna array, which consists of several spatially dispersed antenna systems that cooperate to synchronize their signals in time, frequency, and phase to enable coherent operation and mimic a sizable single-platform antenna array, is a promising antenna technology for these applications. We will go over current methods for synchronizing a distributed antenna array and show how well they work with software-defined radio systems.
Learn more about The Next Generation of Wireless Communication
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The Story of Supercomputing
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Third Floor, North Wing
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Scientists utilize supercomputers to expedite research, solving questions much faster than on personal laptops. Join ICER for a journey through our graphic novel, "The Story of Supercomputing," exploring how a scientist tackles complex questions. Visit our Silicon Petting Zoo booth to explore typically unseen computer parts, with a supercomputing expert ready to answer your questions!
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The Wonders of Human Physiology
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 3202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
The human body, a source of endless fascination, holds mysteries yet to be unveiled. Expert explorers, be they physiologists or physicians, all seek to understand what makes us function. Explore questions like how we grow, what keeps our heart beating, and why we breathe unconsciously through hands-on experiments and demonstrations with expert physiology explorers!
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Transforming Grass to Gas
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 1202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Discover the fascinating potential of the plants in our prairies and forests! Join us to meet MSU scientists delving into research on using these plants to create the fuels and products we rely on daily. Learn about harnessing the superpowers of microbes to transform grass into gas. Engage in interactive, hands-on activities that unveil the mysteries we're unraveling on the journey towards a more sustainable future.
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Treasured Trees: 150 Years of the MSU Campus Arboretum
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Visit the Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum table to learn about our treasured trees on campus and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Arboretum.
Learn more about Treasured Trees: 150 Years of the MSU Campus Arboretum
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Visualizing Proteins
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 1202
Appropriate for: Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Proteins, crucial for life's fundamental activities, can also contribute to the harmful effects of pathogens. Scientists employ X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to study these macromolecules' three-dimensional structures. In this presentation, explore protein components and witness the use of computer programs to visualize select proteins' 3D structures.
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Wake Up Your Brain
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2130
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Learn about how caffeine affects the brain with neuroscientists!
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What Is Machine Learning?
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 - 10:30 AM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2201
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Join us for an introduction to machine learning, a study that has created a "fourth industrial revolution" in the world. We will guide you through the main ideas of machine learning and participate in a machine learning activity that will help you understand the fundamental concepts.
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What is Mass Spectronomy? A Look Inside a Chemist's Toolbox
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Third Floor, West Wing
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
How do scientists search for life when peering into Martian rocks? What kind of miraculous gadget do you believe they use to inspect the vegetables for pesticides? Mass spectrometry! Scientists can use mass spectrometry to uncover the composition of materials down to the smallest particles, making it an incredible investigative tool! This method allows the detection and separation of individual ions from a complicated matrix. You can see how it functions in our video depiction and have a chance to try it for yourself!
Learn more about What is Mass Spectronomy? A Look Inside a Chemist's Toolbox
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What's in the Box? A Hands-On Investigation of Scientific Practice
Presented at the following times:
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 3202
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 3202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
You get a mysterious black box. What's inside? One rule: You can't open the box! How can you find out what's inside? How certain can you be? In this hands-on activity, we will ask you to reflect on what counts as a good answer and why? For whom? And under what circumstances?
Learn more about What's in the Box? A Hands-On Investigation of Scientific Practice
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Why Do Bananas Smell So A-Peeling!
Presented at the following times:
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 3202
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 3202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age
In plants, metabolites contribute to flavors and scents in fruits. With thousands of metabolites, these natural molecules offer diverse flavors for the food industry. Join our interactive presentation to explore the role of plant metabolites. Conduct experiments to recreate your favorite fruit smells, examine the 3D structure of molecules, and learn about the pioneering scientists behind these discoveries. Presented by the Plant Metabolic Network.
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You Can Be a Veterinary Nurse Too!
Presented at the following times:
Saturday, April 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 2202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Veterinary nurses do a lot of the same tasks that human nurses do ... just on animals! From drawing blood to performing anesthesia, vet nurses are responsible for caretaking as part of veterinary care. They work hard as advocates to ensure that ALL animals (large, small, companion, and wild) are comfortable, healthy, and happy.
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The Phantastic Voyage
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 1202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Physics drives technological advancements, creating everyday items like light bulbs and televisions. Join this event for an electrifying exploration of basic and applied (nuclear) physics. Experience particle acceleration with electrostatic wands and witness a nerf gun demonstration showing the use of particles in medical imaging and disease treatment. It's a dynamic journey into the world of physics and its practical applications!
This is an FRIB affiliated event.
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The Role of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Identity in the College Experience
Sunday, April 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 1202
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Explore the role of social networks in why women and racial minorities graduate from STEM majors at lower rates among college students. If women and underrepresented students of color experience greater exclusion from social networks since they are the minority, they operate at a severe disadvantage in forming study groups for their STEM classes. They are also more likely to miss out on key social information passed between peers, such as informal tips about scheduling classes or effective study strategies. Lower levels of social support and access to social information may discourage interested students from persisting in STEM majors.
Learn more about The Role of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Identity in the College Experience