Where can you witness ping pong balls erupting from a trash can, listen to the sound of an earthquake, and watch a geophysicist dance on top of a gooey mixture of cornstarch and water, all in one day? The answer is: at the Lamont-Doherty Open House this Saturday.
Every year, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory opens its doors to the rest of the world in a tradition that spans more than five decades. Over time, Open House has grown from a few small exhibits to a “science fair on steroids,” said Vilma Gallagher, senior project manager at the Earth Institute and the event’s organizer-in-chief. Open House attracts more than 3,000 visitors a year, she added.
October 7 will be packed with lectures by Columbia’s renowned scientists as well as games and interactive exhibits for kids. At the campus in Palisades, New York, kids and adults will be able to create their own volcanic eruptions, drive a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), tour the local geologic and ecological history, and more. By showing their science passport and getting stamps at each exhibit, kids can take home a small prize.
Admission is free (though a $5 donation is recommended), and free shuttle buses will run between Columbia’s Morningside Campus and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Register here to attend.
