Montana State invites community to Science Night on Feb. 5

BOZEMAN - An evening of space science, nanotechnology and polar research awaits those attending Science Night on Feb. 5 at Montana State University.

About 200 community members are expected to visit the Strand Union Building ballrooms on campus for the free event. Science Night is open to attendees of all ages and will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. An adult must accompany children at the event, and registration is not required.

Attendees will circulate through about 25 demonstrations and activities in a festival-like environment, gaining hands-on experience with science, technology, engineering and math. MSU scientists and students will showcase a variety of topics, including black holes, thermal imaging, Yellowstone National Park research and quantum computing. Sixteen MSU departments and centers will be represented at the event.

It is heartwarming to witness children's excitement during the demonstrations, said Jamie Cornish, science education outreach specialist for MSU Academic Technology and Outreach. She recalled when paleontologists at the Museum of the Rockies allowed a student to help run their fossil exhibit because he loved dinosaurs.

"Youth can meet STEM role models who will spark their curiosity, and the public can learn about the incredible programs here," Cornish said. "Teachers have repeatedly told us that this event is the kids' favorite field trip of the year because they can try a bunch of different experiments at their own pace and see the science come to life in practical applications that can influence their daily lives."

Academic Technology and Outreach will host MSU Science Night with support from Montana NSF EPSCoR and the Montana Nanotechnology Facility.

For more information about the event and available parking, visit ato.montana.edu/sciencenight/.