OKEMOS - Eight-year-old Mary Callard played with chemicals, made explosions and fought gravity Saturday.
Excitement was apparent in Mary’s eyes as she watched experiments unfold like magic. With each explosion, her curiosity about science grew.
Mary, of Perry, joined other area science enthusiasts Saturday for more than 700 feet of science as part of Science Day at Meridian Mall, 1982 W. Grand River Ave. Much of the mall was covered with tables of experiments.
“There was a stand about snakes, and there was also one with dinosaurs,” she said. “I liked that.”
Even though the dinosaurs weren’t real, Mary’s father, Paul Callard, said Science Day is fun for children.
“We came so that my daughter could get an appreciation for science,” he said. “She is very interested in it at school, so I thought it would be a good idea. She is enjoying herself.”
Sheron Snyder, the coordinator of Science Day at Meridian Mall, said the event helps science buffs share their love of science.
The event was organized by the MSU Physics and Astronomy Department and Capital Area Science and Math Center, a working consortium of local educational agencies.
“The pictures I have of children with adults asking questions are just great,” said Snyder, who is the outreach coordinator for the physics and astronomy departments and Abrams Planetarium. “That is why I do it year after year.”
Participants included elementary, middle school, high school, undergraduate and graduate students at the 12th annual science day. Snyder said it was geared for “anybody from 4 to 84” years old.
“One of the things that was neat was the seismograph,” she said. “One 4-year-old must have spent 10 minutes jumping up and down because the shock he made appeared on the television screen in front of him.”
Some experiments showed blending colors, while others showed the effects of oxygen and nitrogen. There was something for everyone.
“I didn’t expect to see a dissected frog,” said Nathaniel Jansen, 9, of Leslie. “It was cool.”
Jansen, who also was with his father, enjoyed the edible experiments.
“(One of my favorite experiments) would have to be the liquid nitrogen,” Jansen said. “The guy froze marshmallows and he let us eat them.”
Jansen was quick to devour the frozen treat.
“They tasted like frozen marshmallows,” he said.
Richard Jansen said he wants to encourage his son to explore science.
“My son was interested in bringing a science project out here, so we encouraged him to do that,” he said. “We’ve seen chemical reactions, changing colors and making goo, giant cockroaches and all kinds of things.”
Physiology freshman Michael Keng helped demonstrate basic science to groups of children.
“They are very curious about what is happening,” he said. “We really wanted to spread science knowledge in the community because it is what everyone should know.”
