Science on a Sphere offers fun, free educational experience in College Station this summer
Contact: Rebecca Hamilton, 979-845-3792, rebecca.hamilton@ag.tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION — Science on a Sphere on the Texas A&M campus offers 500 new ways to see Earth and other planets, said exhibit organizers.
The interactive demonstration, one of only three traveling SOS exhibits in the world, will be available free to the public now through Aug. 15 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Center, 556 John Kimbrough Boulevard, College Station.
The exhibit projects scientific research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to simulate weather patterns, ocean currents, airline travel and even Facebook connectivity.
The interactive demonstration, one of only three traveling SOS exhibits in the world, will be available free to the public June 1 through Aug. 15 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Center, 556 John Kimbrough Boulevard, College Station. (Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife)
The 6-foot sphere shows high-resolution motion graphics suitable for students, teachers and science lovers. Visitors can experience the exhibit weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Groups such as classes or summer camps can reserve a time for viewing.
“This interactive exhibit brings science, technology, engineering and math education together in a vivid and captivating way,” said Mark Hussey, vice chancellor and dean for Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “We are very excited to provide this opportunity to the community and to continue fulfilling our land-grant mission of teaching, research, extension and service.”
More than 500 different views are possible on the sphere, including clouds on Earth in real time, the risk of drought, the rise of sea level, Facebook friendships, maps through history, the surface of Mars, Jupiter’s atmosphere and the volcanoes on Jupiter’s moon Io, organizers said.
Science on a Sphere is a giant, spherical display system that uses computers and video projectors to display animated and real-time planetary data. SOS extends NOAA’s educational program goals, which are designed to increase public understanding of the environment. Developed by NOAA researchers, these globes are now in more than 130 museums and science institutions around the world.
Earth Day Texas offered its traveling SOS system, purchased from NOAA, for use at the AgriLife Center. Earth Day Texas is a Trammell S. Crow sponsored nonprofit organization that hosts the world’s largest public exhibition devoted to environmental stewardship.
Learn more at http://AgriLife.org/SOS. For more information or to reserve the Science on a Sphere exhibit for a group, contact Rebecca Hamilton at 979-845-3792 or rebecca.hamilton@ag.tamu.edu.
