Saturday Science

Saturday Science logo

Ever wonder what makes a top spin? Or how the stars change in the evening sky? Or what a musical note looks like? Every year, over 100 fifth-grade children from the Lincoln Public Schools get the chance to answer these and many other questions during the Saturday Science program.

During Saturday Science, the children spend two hours in the UNL Department of Physics and Astronomy for four consecutive Saturdays during the month of February. One hour is spent listening to a presentation by a university faculty member on a specific topic (spinning tops, electricity and magnetism, color and light, to name a few) and then the students spend the second hour working in small groups where they conduct hands-on experiments related to the same concept(s). Each week the lab activities include at least one project that the students make and take home with them.

Undergraduate and graduate physics and education students from UNL work with the children during the hands-on activities. The program at UNL is coordinated by Dr. Cliff Bettis. The running of the program and selection of students is overseen by the Lincoln Public Schools and the coordinators include Linda Bettis and James Blake among others.

If you would be interested in volunteering to assist with the labs for the next Saturday Science program, please contact Dr. Cliff Bettis and at 402-472-2789.

Saturday Science 2016 - Schedule

Tops and Things That Turn and Spin

(Lecture given by Professor Cliff Bettis)
Saturday, February 6 - Morning Session - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Session - 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Electricity and Magnetism

(Lecture given by Professor Dan Claes)
Saturday, February 13 - Morning Session - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Session - 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Light and Lasers

(Lecture given by Professor Stephen Ducharme)
Saturday, February 20 - Morning Session - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Session - 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Sound and Music

(Lecture given by Marina Bradaric and Tina Riley)
Saturday, February 27 - Morning Session - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Session - 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.