CONTACT: Volker Crede, (850) 644-2423; <crede@hadron.physics.fsu.edu>

By Barry Ray
October 2008

ONCE AGAIN, FSU’S ‘SATURDAY MORNING PHYSICS’ COMBINES LEARNING AND LAUGHTER

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Is science really interesting enough to justify devoting a portion of one’s weekend to it? If you have your doubts, then just ask the scores of local high school students who attended -- and had a great time at -- Florida State University’s “Saturday Morning Physics” programs last fall.

Once again this year, FSU’s department of physics is hosting a series of Saturday-morning lectures and demonstrations designed to show young people that, in addition to playing an important role in everyday life, physics can be downright fun. There is no charge for attending any or all of the programs, which run through Nov. 8, and registration is not required.

“Our goal is to educate, entertain and inspire,” said Volker Crede, an assistant professor of physics at FSU who directs Saturday Morning Physics. “Physics is a fundamental science and provides the foundations for solving both cosmic mysteries and also practical problems such as the energy challenges of the future. Saturday Morning Physics takes you on an exciting journey to the frontiers of modern physics and shows that science is actually a lot of fun.”

There are other benefits as well: Many area high school juniors and seniors are able to receive extra credit in their science classes. And then there are the juice and doughnut breaks, provided free by the physics department.

While Saturday Morning Physics is geared for high school students, certainly anyone from the public is welcome, Crede said.

“Parents and teachers in particular are encouraged to attend,” he said. “Younger kids will enjoy the demonstrations as well. A prior knowledge of physics is not a requirement!”

Each Saturday Morning Physics program begins at 9:30 a.m. and usually lasts until 11 to 11:15 a.m., with an intermission in the middle. Except where noted, each event is held in the large lecture hall (Room 101) of the Richards Undergraduate Physics Laboratory, located near the intersection of Academic Way and Chieftan Way on the west side of the FSU campus. A map of the local campus area can be found at <www.fsu.edu/cgi-bin/map/zoom?MAP=21>.

The themes for this year’s Saturday Morning Physics programs are as follows:

• Oct. 4 -- “Physics on the Web”: The Web is a fantastic place to learn physics. Find out how and why.

• Oct. 11 -- “From Electrons to Quark”: What are we really made of? Here’s your chance to discover the answers.

• Oct. 18 -- “Nuclei, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes”: Enter the extraordinary world of superdense matter.

• Oct. 25 -- “Exotic Materials”: A multimedia lecture exploring superconductors and other exotic materials.

• Nov. 1 -- “The Science and Technology of Magnets”: Visit the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Innovation Park) and learn about magnet research and future applications in our society. A map of Innovation park can be viewed at <www.fsu.edu/Campus/newmap/inparkz.shtml>.

• Nov. 8 -- “Astronomy in the New Millennium”: Every day brings a new discovery in astronomy. Sample the greatest! (A free FSU Planetarium show is included.)

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