Unwrapping science one pig heart at a time
A regular Friday night consists of holding a preserved human brain, launching rockets, and dissecting cow ovaries and pig hearts. That is, when Friday night is spent at a “Science Unwrapped” presentation.
“Science Unwrapped” is a program that features the work of local and national scientists in a series of monthly segments. Each presentation comes in two parts: a speaker presents a lecture on a topic of his or her expertise, and interactive experiments or demonstrations follow. This is where the preserved brains, laser mazes, organ dissections and origami mathematics enter the scene.
Founded in February 2009, “Science Unwrapped” is the product of three brains in the science department. Michelle Larson, vice provost and co-chair of the “Science Unwrapped” committee was one of these founders, along with her husband and physics professor Shane Larson, and dean of the College of Science, in 2009, Mary Hubbard.
“We had a desire to create a program that would help the public and the university communities understand better what it is scientists do every day,” Larson said. “We were just looking to put something together that would unwrap the process of science so that people could have a better sense for the fact that we don’t sit around in our labs and have big ideas, and come up with our solutions.”
Ever since then, the emphasis of “Science Unwrapped” has been to introduce innovative scientific concepts to those inside and outside of the field of science.
“In her experience as a college educator, (Hubbard) noticed that non-scientists seem to be intimidated by science,” said Mary-Ann Muffoletto, public relations specialist for the College of Science. “She felt science was something that can be interesting to everyone.”
Turns out it was. More than 300 people attended the first “Science Unwrapped” presentation on why we crave junk food, the first installment in the Mind and Body series, Muffoletto said.
“From the beginning we always had a pain in our stomach wondering if people would show up,” Larson said. “I think we’ve been solid the whole time.”
Between 250 and 500, or more, people are in attendance at each event, Larson said. The last presentation was the Friday before Labor Day and coincided with several on-campus activities. However, the program “Hearing Empowered: Scientific Developments in a Silent Revolution,” featuring Karl White from USU’s psychology department, still had a turnout of about 260 people. Afterward, everyone who dared could get up close and personal with a human brain.
“We’re proud that (‘Science Unwrapped’) provides diversity of what you can do on Friday night in Logan,” Larson said.
He said the community response has been positive and consistent. Between the lecture and the activities following, attendees are eager to keep learning.
“I think the best part of ‘Science Unwrapped’ is the activities after,” former “Science Unwrapped” student representative Linsey Johnson said. She said the activities are “slightly off topic but still super fantastic.”
Johnson, a junior majoring in physics, was the first student representative for the program and has been closely involved since her first semester at USU, in the fall of 2009.
The hands-on learning activities that follow the lectures are “as important or maybe more important than the lecture itself,” Muffoletto said.
“Everyone is welcome, the program is free and there’s something for everyone at each gathering,” Muffoletto said. “It’s exciting to see people caught up in the enthusiasm. It doesn’t matter what age they are.”
The College of Science is not the only college from which research and professors are showcased. “Science Unwrapped” features professors of all disciplines, from economics and computer science, to natural resources and nutrition. Larson said the “Science Unwrapped” committee is looking to expand even further in the future, possibly working with the departments of theatre arts and music.
Occasionally, off-campus speakers are invited to “Science Unwrapped” but only when it is a natural fit with the selected topic and theme, Larson said. On Oct. 7, National Science Foundation spokesperson Gabriela González will speak about an experiment on gravitational waves and ripples in space-time that is currently underway. Her presentation is the second of the three-part “Modern Scientific Marvels” series. As always, it will take place in the Eccles Science and Learning Center Auditorium at 7 pm.
Initially, the idea of spending Friday night in a lecture hall may seem inconvenient.
“You don’t want to go to another lecture on Friday night,” Johnson said. “But it’s actually a lot more fun than that. It’s an engaging lecture with activities after, and there are always treats. I invite my friends all the time who aren’t science majors, and they love coming.”
Johnson did more than invite her friends to the events, she recruited them. This year, Johnson’s friend Malea Moody, a junior majoring in physics, took over the role of student representative for the “Science Unwrapped” committee.
“‘Science Unwrapped’ is a beautiful way to show that science is just like any other major,” Moody said. “Science is important, it is a part of everything. Science Unwrapped is a very nonthreatening way to learn about science. (It) is not like a class at all. The whole reason they’re there is to show you the interesting parts. There’s no social obligation to understand it. There’s not a bad consequence.”
Johnson echoed with this sentiment.
“Lectures are always fun when you don’t have to be tested on them after,” she said.
“Science Unwrapped” continues to advocate that science isn’t just for scientists, professors or students with impending tests, Muffoletto said.
“There’s no one who doesn’t like science,” she said. “They just may not know it yet.”
For more information on past and future events from “Science Unwrapped,” visit www.usu.edu/unwrapped.
— noelle.johansen@aggiemail.usu.edu