ASU Biodesign Institute invites families to 'spring training' with science
Arizona’s super stars of science will be on hand to introduce children and their families to the world of biology, physics, engineering, math and chemistry as Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute opens its doors for its annual Night of the Open Door from 4 to 9 p.m., Feb. 28.
Night of the Open Door is an state-wide celebration of science, sponsored by the Arizona SciTech Festival.
Hands-on activities, games and prizes will be the order of the evening as guests receive “science trading cards” featuring some of Biodesign’s leading scientists and engage in more than 30 activities, including:
• donning a space suit, designing an experiment and sending it into space
• making slime and using a smartphone to see how proteins behave in the slime
• playing a motion-sensitive video game designed by student researchers to role-play saving the planet from pollution
• watching how plants can make glow-in-the-dark leaves similar to the way they produce disease-fighting proteins for therapies and vaccines, like Biodesign scientists did to make a serum used to fight Ebola
• observing 3-D printing in action
• learning how to clean water using bacteria to remove uranium, nitrates and other contaminants
• measuring fake whale poop to learn what it can tell us about Moby’s stress levels
“Our Biodesign employees truly enjoy this opportunity to show their work,” said Raymond DuBois, Biodesign executive director. “If last year’s event is any indication, we expect to welcome about 2,000 children and their families into our building for the day. My hope is that they become entranced by the magic of science and decide to join the next generation of people who will work to make our world a better place.”
The Biodesign Institute is home to some 500 scientists, students and others who work on tough societal problems, including studying the cause, diagnosis and treatment of nearly 100 diseases.
Parking is free for this event. The Biodesign Institute at ASU is located at 727 E. Tyler St., on ASU's Tempe campus. Major cross streets are Rural Road and University Drive, southwest of the light rail stop at Rural. For maps or information, visit https://opendoor.asu.edu.
Follow the evening’s activities on Twitter and Facebook, using #BiodesignOpenDoor and #OpenDoor.