Organizers of the second annual Indian River Lagoon Science Festival, held last Saturday on the grounds of Museum Pointe Park on South Hutchinson Island, offered proof positive that science can be fun and engaging. Youngsters eagerly led parents and grandparents from one fascinating booth to another, digging in – in some cases quite literally – to a host of activities designed to encourage an interest in the wonderful world of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
“We’ve been in this current format two years,” said Cristin Krasco, co-chair of the event with Laura Diederick. They had hosted a National Estuaries Day celebration the three previous years. “When we transitioned, we retained our focus on marine life and the estuary, but expanded it to include all areas of science, technology, engineering and math.”
Krasco, a marine biology educator, and Diederick, an education specialist, work at the Smithsonian Marine Station, a research center focused on the marine biodiversity and ecosystems of the lagoon and offshore waters. The co-chairs led a steering committee of members from Treasure Coast research and education organizations.
As a board-breaking show by members of Sidekick Martial Arts Studios began, Krasco said it was demonstrating physics, breaking different board materials. “It’s a good example how science is all around you; even in places you wouldn’t think.”
Each of the more than 75 booths, including several from Indian River County, offered an interactive experience. There were also two Miracle of Science shows that wowed the crowd with exciting chemical reaction eruptions, and a presentation of some of the feathered, furry and slithery animals rescued by the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center.
Among the more popular booths were those with insects – from the all-too-ubiquitous mosquitoes and other creepy-crawlies on display at the UF Medical Entomology Lab booth, to Madagascar hissing cockroach races at the USDA Horticultural Research Laboratory booth. Those who wished could take home a mealworm necklace, compliments of Indian River State College’s Biology Department, which, with a little care and feeding, would morph into an adult beetle in about six months.
Artistic types could make all variety of goodies, from sea creatures constructed from plastic water bottles, to marble paper art made from shaving cream and paint. Science-minded displays included such booths as the IRSC Department of Physical Science which showed how to separate food coloring with chromatography; and the Research Coast Florida Junior Academy of Sciences 4-H, where you could watch through a microscope as crystals were formed from an alcohol and aspirin mixture.
The Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit at the St. Lucie County Aquarium on the property also attracted large crowds to its six aquarium displays depicting lagoon and coastal ecosystems, including a 3,300-gallon model of a Caribbean coral reef.
“What we hope is that people will take a look inside and then come back when they can really explore it,” said Ecosystems Exhibit Manager Bill Hoffman. “This isn’t like a Disney or Epcot where people can stand back to see it. They need to get up close and explore some of our tanks. The first Tuesday of every month is free to everyone.”