Sally Ride blasts onto Tempe campus for festival

Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, returns to ASU on March 1 as keynote speaker for the Sally Ride Science Festival and Educator Institute. About 800 to 1,000 children, teachers and parents are expected to attend the events, which will cover topics like exploding stars, extreme astronomy and molecular madness.

This is the seventh year for the festival to be held at ASU, with interactive presentations taking place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Gammage Auditorium. The aim is to spark fifth through eighth graders’ interests in science, math and technology, with discovery workshops and a street fair that includes hands-on activities, booths, food and music.

Co-sponsors are Barrett, the Honors College, and Sally Ride Science, a science content company for children that also produces publications, summer camps and after-school programs.

A professional development workshop for teachers will take place at the same time at the Mars Space Flight Facility, called “From Astrobiology to Zoology: Igniting Students’ Interest in Science Careers.” Teachers will learn practical ways to integrate science careers into their classroom activities and will be given time to customize lessons and activities for their classrooms.

The festival costs $18 and the educator institute costs $30, including lunch, workshops and the featured talk. Advance registration is required, with a deadline of Feb. 29. For information or registration go to www.sallyridescience.com/festivals or call 800-516-5161.

Children’s workshops will be taught by local scientists and engineers, with ASU faculty and students taking the lead. Participants will include Cecilia Lunardini of physics, Frank Timmes and Laura Wasylenki of the School of Earth and Space Exploration, Gregory Privitera of psychology, Marcia Levitus of Biodesign, and Libby Larson of geography, along with a dozen graduate and undergraduate students.

Irene Bradley, admissions specialist, will talk to parents and teachers about preparing young students for college. Anita Verdugo Tarango, director of outreach for University Student Initiatives, will discuss the Barrett Summer Scholars program.