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High School

Biology in 3D

This exhibit is organized by the RCSB Protein Data Bank (PDB) at UCSD. The PDB is the single worldwide resource for the 3D structures of proteins and DNA.
In this exhibit students will learn about the basic building blocks of life: DNA and Proteins. The first part consists of building a small fragment of double stranded DNA using marshmallows and tooth picks. In the second part, students will build a small portion of protein backbone by visualizing it on a computer display and then folding it from a piece of wire. They will learn about alpha helices and beta sheets.

Making Molecules - Which Molecule Is It?

This interactive, chemistry focused booth will use a multimodality format to demonstrate how our chemists identify and make molecules! Visitors will learn why chirality and techniques like thin layer chromatography are so important in chemical research labs like ours. Participants will be able to smell samples of chiral molecules and guess which chiral molecule they are smelling. A poster and 3-D models of the chiral molecular structures and their significance will be on display.

The Chemistry that Surrounds Us

The booth will have hands on demonstrations/props of common chemicals found in natural and man-made items that are commonly found in the house. Our focused is on educating the general public about chemistry and demonstrating to them that chemicals are a part of daily life not to be feared. There will be stick models, chemical structures and props available for people to touch, smell and view. Our job as chemists is to answer any questions the public may have.

Mathematics and Art

Our booth will have mathematical activities geared toward creating works of art. Among the activities we will have are sketching activities that leverage projective geometry. In these activities participants will use central projections in order to create linear perspective drawings and anamorphic projections (think 3d sidewalk art, or the skull in Holbein's The Ambassadors). Members of CRMSE (professors and graduate students) will facilitate the activities.

SAM and BOB the ROBOTS

The booth will be comprised of two fully functional moving life sized humanoid robotic figures. The robotic figures will be interacting and talking with each other. There dialog will include joking and humorous arguments to attract spectators and encourgage laughter among the visitors. The booth will also include a couple decorative backboards for two reasons. First reason is to spice up the look of the booth, but also to hide the electronics and audio equipment so they are out of sight.

UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy

UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy booth will provide an exposure to the health services that pharmacists provide to our society. Through a series of fun and interactive activities, visitors will get the chance to learn about different disease such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma. Furthermore, the booth will provide information about immunization, medication safety and pharmaceutical.

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Hands-on science activity at the Festival

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