USU's Science Unwrapped Announces New 'Building on Basics' Series

After a summer break, Utah State University’s Science Unwrapped, the College of Science’s popular public STEM outreach program, returns with its new Fall 2023-Spring 2024 Building on Basics series.

“Our new series explores varied scientific principles, with exciting examples and illustrations from diverse disciplines,” says Greg Podgorski, Science Unwrapped chair, associate dean in the College of Science and professor in the Department of Biology. “We’re starting with basic principles — such as waves, rotational forces and energy — and enlisting our scientists to help us understand how these concepts fit into bigger pictures. We have a great lineup of speakers and fascinating topics.”

The series kicks off Friday, Sept. 22, with the presentation “Waves: The Ups and Downs of Utah’s Climate Cycle” with climate scientist Jon Meyer, assistant state climatologist with the Utah Climate Center at USU. Meyer speaks at 7 p.m. in the Emert Auditorium, Room ESLC 130 of the Eccles Science Learning Center on campus. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

The Building on Basics series schedule is as follows:

• Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, “Waves,” USU climate scientist Jon Meyer
• Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, “Chronological Order,” USU geoscientist Evey Gannaway Dalton
• Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, “Radioactivity,” USU physicist Tonya Triplett
• Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, “Rotational Forces,” USU physicist Boyd Edwards and USU computer scientist John Edwards
• Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, “Waves, Force & Torque,” USU industrial hygienist Carl Farley
• Friday, March 22, 2024, “Randomness & Chance,” USU mathematician Erin Beckman
• Friday, April 12, 2024, “Energy Transformations,” USU geoscientist Alexis Ault

Established in 2009, Science Unwrapped welcomes inquiring minds of all ages to its family friendly events. Each presentation begins at 7 p.m. with a brief talk in the Emert Auditorium (ESLC 130), followed by refreshments and hands-on learning activities conducted by student and community groups in the ESLC atrium.

Science Unwrapped welcomes student organizations, academic departments, community groups and individuals who wish to volunteer to provide hands-on STEM learning activities at the public events. Information is available at Volunteer with Science Unwrapped.

Directions and parking information are available on the Science Unwrapped website. Additional information is available on the Science Unwrapped Facebook page. For more information, call 435-797-3517 or send a message to science@usu.edu.

“We welcome science enthusiasts young and young-at-heart to enjoy our gatherings,” Podgorski says. “There’s something for everyone.”