SU brings the world of physics to Carousel Center on Feb. 12

SU brings the world of physics to Carousel Center on Feb. 12February 10, 2005Edward Byrnesedbyrnes@syr.edu

The Syracuse University Department of Physics will bring physics to the Carousel Center’s Center Atrium (on the Commons Level) this Saturday, Feb. 12 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. As part of Orange Physics, the department’s community outreach program, the free event will be held in celebration of SU Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s inaugural year, as well as the World Year of Physics (WYP 2005). It will feature experiments and interactive displays for adults and children alike. Local high school physics professors, SU faculty, students and other volunteers will be available to answer questions and offer their expertise.

“We’ll be there to promote the idea that physics, and science in general, is still fun, interesting and important. Sometimes that message gets lost,” says SU physics lab manager Sam Sampere.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s “miraculous year,” in which he published three important theoretical physics papers that have since influenced all of modern physics. WYP 2005 provides a worldwide opportunity to celebrate Einstein, his great ideas, his influence on life in the 21st century and physics’ importance in society and everyday living.

A vital part of WYP 2005 is the allocation of funds to physics programs across the United States. Orange Physics was one of 16 recipients of $10,000 grants from the American Physical Society, which will help support this event and others throughout the year. This event is being held in conjunction with SU’s Saturday Morning High School Physics Teacher Workshops, made possible in part through support from the John Ben Snow Foundation. For more information on these workshops, visit http://www.phy.syr.edu/courses/K-12/K-12page.htm. For more information on WYP 2005, visit http://www.physics2005.org