Exploration Expo Brings Science Front and Center with Must-See Exhibits and Performances on March 28

ATLANTA – Mar. 23, 2015 – With a collection of more than 100 interactive and hands-on exhibits, as well as a full line-up of live performances and stage shows, the Atlanta Science Festival’s Exploration Expo promises to provide a full day of science and entertainment for Georgia residents and visitors alike.

The Festival is an eight-day series of science- and technology-related events taking place citywide that culminates with the family-friendly, all-day interactive Exploration Expo at Centennial Olympic Park. The Expo, being held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, is a free event open to adults, families, and children. The event will explore the world of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) through hands-on experiments, mobile laboratories, mind-blowing demos and a full schedule of live performers.

“Last year, the Exploration Expo rightfully earned the distinction as the metro area’s largest single-day interactive science event,” said Monya Ruffin, Ph.D., chairman of the Exploration Expo and senior scientist at Emory University. “From the overwhelming amount of early involvement and support we received from sponsors and partners to the amazing volume of pre-event buzz and interest, all factors indicate that this year’s event will be even bigger and better. Our goal is to pack the park on March 28.”

With so much to see and do, Ruffin advised those planning to attend to map out their day in order to take in the full experience. The Main Stage will host the opening ceremony, award presentations and Expo headline performers. The Science Cafe is a more intimate setting and will feature demos and public science talks. The Kids Science Pavilion will offer fun science sessions for elementary school children. Other activities will be spread out between the new STEAM zones: Discover, Encounter, Invent, Play and Thrive. There will also be the “Science on Wheels” mobile laboratories, as well as a Power Up zone where Expo attendees can relax and recharge.

Among the must-see activities at Exploration Expo 2015:

Exhibits

· Hair-Raising Science │HowStuffWorks

From black to blonde to blue, we humans sure have a lot of colors in our hair. Learn why hair is so colorful, try your hand at changing its color, and get a bright, new (temporary) stripe of your own.

· Maker Faire Atlanta and Decatur Makers Explore Awesomeness│Maker Faire Atlanta

Decatur Makers, an all ages makerspace in downtown Decatur, will be teaming up with Maker Faire Atlanta, an annual event showcasing makers from all over the southeast, to show off (and let you interact with) some of our creations that help demonstrate amazing science, technology, and math.

· Planting Smiles with Kitchen Science│Oglethorpe University

Come play in the dirt and discover what plants can teach us about biology and chemistry. Participants can make goulish planters, watch emerging root systems, extract vegetable dyes or use plant extracts as pH indicators.

Performances

· Matter Matters! │Tellus Science Museum

Tellus Madd Scientists examine the states of matter! “Chilling” demonstrations using liquid nitrogen allow students to experience condensation and evaporation. Students find out how molecules behave when matter changes from state to state!

· From Fire to Ice: Chemistry Demos │ChEmory

From fire and explosions to making snow! A chemistry demonstration show with lots of wow and learning!

· Roob & Noob│Theatre for the Very Young by the Alliance Theatre

Meet Roob & Noob: two overly curious scientists who love nothing more than discovering something new. Join them on an interactive adventure, as they build machines from simple objects and explore the wonder and sensations of each of the four seasons. Inspired by the magical Rube Goldberg machines, this unique theatrical performance combines science and the arts, proving that sometimes the most profound discoveries are achieved by simply playing. This program is great for toddlers.

A complete list of Exploration Expo exhibits and performances can be found at http://atlantasciencefestival.org/expo-exhibitors. For the latest information on the Atlanta Science Festival activities, please follow the event on Facebook at AtlantaScienceFestival, Twitter at @ATLSciFest and on Instagram at @atlscifest.

About the Atlanta Science Festival

The second annual Atlanta Science Festival is a weeklong celebration of local science and technology that culminates with an all-day interactive Exploration Expo at Centennial Olympic Park. Scientists, experts and educators from local schools, colleges, universities, museums and corporations will uncover mysteries and explain discoveries in hands-on activities, facility tours, stimulating presentations, and riveting performances at venues across the city. Our mission is to celebrate the inherent integration of STEM/STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) in our lives today, share the impact they have on our community, and inspire us all to wonder about our future. The Festival, which runs March 21-28, is produced by a collaboration of science, cultural, and educational institutions, led by Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the Metro Atlanta Chamber. To learn more, visit AtlantaScienceFestival.org or call (770) 322-4992.