Nov. 10 is Science Day at the U

High school students examine an Earth science exhibit during the University of Utah's 2001 Science Day at the U. This year's Science Day at the U is set for Saturday, Nov. 10. It is the university's largest recruitment event, attracting some 800 high school students. To attend, students must register online by noon Nov. 6 at www.science.utah.edu.

What:	Utah, California and Nevada high school students attend science workshops and get academic advice about attending college at the University of Utah
Date:	Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012
Time:	8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Place:	Olpin Union Building and various classrooms on the University of Utah campus

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Nov. 2, 2012 – The University of Utah’s 24th annual Science Day at the U will be held Saturday, Nov. 10, highlighting education and research opportunities on campus for hundreds of Utah, California and Nevada high school students.

Science Day is the university’s largest student recruitment event. There is no cost to students, parents or educators. Lunch is provided. High school students may attend simply by registering online at www.science.utah.edu until Nov. 6 at noon.

News media representatives are invited to cover the event in the Olpin Union Building and science buildings on main campus.

The event is hosted by three university organizations: the College of Science and College of Mines and Earth Sciences, in cooperation with the Natural History Museum of Utah.

Science Day at the U will begin at 8 a.m. in the Olpin Union Building, followed by a 9 a.m. opening reception and welcome by Pierre V. Sokolsky, dean of the College of Science, and a keynote talk by Douglas L. Wyler, an expert in forensic dentistry.

Students will receive academic advice about specific majors, science-related careers and undergraduate research offered by each department. Parents and teachers may attend a presentation by the Office of Admissions titled, “University Admissions 101: How to Prepare Your Student.” The Office of Admissions also will provide free general campus tours to those interested beginning at 1:30 p.m. Tours start at the Union Building.

Students will attend science workshops in their areas of interest presented by university faculty. These presentations may be of particular interest to news media:

9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and again at 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., “The Science of Death and Mayhem,” by Wyler in the LeRoy Cowles Building, room 225. Forensics experts are needed in cases of accidents, murder investigations and mass disasters such as earthquakes and train crashes. Wyler will discuss the forensic sciences and focus on identification of human remains with some hands-on samples. Wyler was featured on A&E Network “Cold Case Files” in 2004.

9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., “Bombs, Anthrax and Vitamin B – An Unusual Path to a Diagnostic Revolution,” by Kirk Ririe in the LeRoy Cowles Building, room 219. BioFire Diagnostics, Inc. is a University of Utah Research Park company dedicated to saving lives by improving disease diagnostics. The company was founded 22 year ago. Ririe, a former college dropout, is the company’s chief executive officer.

11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., “Tornado Formation and Destruction,” by Kevin Perry, chairman of atmospheric sciences, Frederick Albert Sutton Building, room 250. Tornadoes are among the most destructive phenomenon that the atmosphere can produce. Learn how tornadoes form and why their destruction patterns appear so random at times. Students also will get to interact with a simulated tornado.

Science Day also will feature a series of industry workshops, where students can learn what it is like to work in science industries from representatives of Rio Tinto-Kennecott Utah Copper, BioFire Diagnostics, Inc. and XMission – the companies sponsoring the event – and other industries. Company representatives will be on hand to meet students and parents about education and employment opportunities.

Science Day at the U attracts more than 800 students, parents and educators from Salt Lake City to as far as Dana Point, Calif. It often is the first experience these students have on a university campus.

“Science Day is a great opportunity for high school students to get a close-up look at cutting-edge research and career opportunities in science, math and engineering available at the U,” says Lisa Batchelder, the program manager. “They attend workshops with university professors and researchers so they can explore a degree in the sciences. Our goal is to encourage them to decide to attend the U. In addition, students visit with academic advisors and current university students about degree programs, research opportunities and life on campus.”

For more information, and to register, please contact the College of Science at (801) 581-6958 or visit www.science.utah.edu to obtain a complete schedule of events.