**STEMzone, the family-friendly science outreach event planned for G-Day April 20, has been canceled due to weather-related conditions on the Miller Learning Center lawn. The decision was made Friday afternoon. STEMzone will return during the fall season.**
When Georgia Bulldog fans converge on Athens for G-Day on April 20, they’ll not only get to watch their favorite team in action, they’ll also have the chance to explore some of the exciting research happening at the University of Georgia.
Kids enjoy building at last year’s STEMzone event in Athens.
STEMzone, a family-friendly science outreach event, will take place on the Miller Learning Center lawn from 10 a.m. until kickoff at 2 p.m. All are welcome to stop by STEMzone’s interactive booths for free hands-on games and activities to learn about the wide range of STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—research at UGA.
Visitors will be able to learn about the ocean, DNA and butterflies at booths staffed by UGA graduate students from the department of marine sciences, Odum School of Ecology and Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, and student organizations including UGA Women in Science and EcoReach.
The first STEMzone took place in 2017 when Reni Kaul, a doctoral student in ecology and a loyal Bulldog fan, wanted to find a way to bring her love of science and football together. STEMzone expanded upon the successful “Science at the Stadium” program created by Samantha Joye, UGA Athletic Association Professor of Arts and Sciences, and the ECOGIG research consortium, which brought interactive marine science exhibits to UGA football games.
A butterfly tent was popular at last year’s STEMzone event.
STEMzone 2017 drew more than 2,000 participants. Visitors learned how to extract DNA from strawberries, navigate using sound like a bat, and got up close and personal with monarch butterflies, turtles and snakes. The 2018 event was even bigger.
“STEMzone was such a success during the regular season, we wanted to expand to the spring game too,” said Kaul. “We’re excited to meet UGA fans and families that show up for the free G-day game.”
STEMzone is supported by the UGA Graduate School, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Odum School of Ecology and Office of Research. For more information, see https://ose.uga.edu/stemzone, visit STEMzoneUGA on Facebook, or follow @STEMzoneUGA on Twitter.
