Year 3 and Year 1 OMTI Students Graduate Over Weekend

Year 3 students from Farmerville Junior High focused on advanced biotechnology*, a photo by Sci-Port on Flickr.

The Omega Medical Technology Institute hosted an Open House at Sci-Port over the weekend.

Students from Farmerville Junior High and Caddo Middle Magnet presented their projects, which were focused on advanced biotechnology and forensic science, respectively.

(Pictured at left: Kaili Taylor, Darby McCormick and Austin Green present their Year 1 project, 
which focused on forensic science.)

Friends and family were invited to learn about what the students learned during this year's Omega Medical Technology Institute Training.

(Pictured above: A group picture from the Year 1 program taken during our trip to the Omega Lab.

From the left: Za'Christanae Eason, Ben Kevil, Abbygail Nickels, Katherine Howell, Je'Naya Williams, Austin Green, Kaili Taylor, Alayna Townsend, Joseph Kennedy, Rickey Booker, Samuel "Houston" Brock, Darby McCormick, Kimareon Reed, NasStasha Farnell and MarcAnthony Tucker) 

*Pictured above: 

Front row from the left: Anna Norwood, Carlisha Manning, Hannah Monk, and Wilma Thompson

Back row from the left: Gabe Ogden, Adian Daniels, Taurean Chatman and Josh Tucker

You can cook a hot dog using an umbrella?!

Solar ovens can be made from a variety of household items, including umbrellas, a photo by Sci-Port on Flickr.

Yep, you read right! Don't believe me? Join us on our rooftop this weekend for our Earth Day and National Astronomy Week Celebration: Earth and its Star to find out just what you can cook using a variety of everyday objects and - you guessed it - the Sun.

You and your family are invited to look through our solar telescopes and sunspotter as we make solar observations. Plus, we’ll take a look at solar ovens, solar-powered cars and a basic solar panel made from copper panels and salt water!

Programming is free with Center admission and will take place Saturday, April 20 - Monday, April 22, Noon - 4 p.m. each day. Water will be provided on the rooftop!

Cloutierville Elementary 4th graders discover watersheds while at Sci-Port

Cloutierville Elementary 4th graders visit Sci-Port, a photo by Sci-Port on Flickr.

Fourth graders from Cloutierville Elementary in south Natchitoches Parish visited the Center today as part of the Red River Waterway Commission-funded field trips.

The students are seen here taking part in "What's My Watershed?," a program specifically designed to complement RiverWorks Discovery, our latest traveling exhibition.

Brenda Roberts, a teacher from the school, could not have been more complimentary about her visit to Sci-Port and about the Commission making it possible. In fact, she said that this trip would not have been possible without the Commission’s funds.

This field trip is the first one that the students have been on this school year, and the first one that most of those students have been on in two years!

Raptor Rescue to return for Summer Science Blast Day Camps

Raptor Rescue to return for Summer Science Blast Day Camps, a photo by Sci-Port on Flickr.

Woah, check out that owl!

Spring Break Day campers loved meeting our friends (a couple Harris Hawks and an owl) from Raptor Rescue. The gang was so popular during our Spring Break Day Camps; they’ll be back for a full week of summer fun during our Summer Science Blast Day Camps.

“Critter Camp” (June 24 – 28) will give campers a chance to be up close and personal with some amazing animals. In addition to the raptors, campers will see a demonstration from a police K9 unit and learn about responsible pet ownership from the Pet Education Project (PEP!).

Plus, campers will meet Sci-Port’s own reptiles and amphibians, including American alligators, map turtles, frogs, skinks and lizards. Did I mention they’ll have the chance to feed and pet live sting rays?

Join us this summer! Call (318) 424-8660 to register or click here.

Red River Waterway Commission's Luke Pearson speaks to attendees of Thursday's Bossier Parish School Board meeting on sponsorship of new exhibit at Sci-Port

Red River Waterway Commission's Luke Pearson speaks to attendees of Thursday's Bossier Parish School Board meeting on sponsorship of new exhibit at Sci-Port, a photo by Sci-Port on Flickr.

The Red River Waterway Commission and Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center were present at the Bossier Parish School Board meeting yesterday to announce the commission’s sponsorship for RiverWorks Discovery, the latest traveling exhibition at Sci-Port. The funds will allow for all 4th graders of Title I schools (teachers and chaperones included) in the parish to visit the Center for free.

The other six parishes include Avoyelles; Grant; Caddo; Rapides; Natchitoches and Red River. The Red River runs through each of these parishes. Pictured below is Grant Parish Red River Waterway Commissioner Randell Fletcher speaking with Sci-Port's Director of Education Lou Papai at the Grant Parish School Board meeting earlier this week. 

 

“The Red River Waterway Commission is proud to be a part of the RiverWorks Discovery exhibit,” said Bossier Parish Commissioner Wayne Davis. “The Red River and other inland waterways are valuable resources for economic development.”

At-Large Commission of the Red River Waterway Doug Brown added, “It’s important to recognize the role that our rivers play in business and industry. Water transportation is not only reliable but environmentally sound and efficient. This allows for the expansion and future growth of business.”

Additionally, 4th graders of Title I schools in the seven parishes will experience RiverWorks Discovery and take part in a Sci-Port staff-lead program, “What’s My Watershed?”

RiverWorks Discovery, a journey of imagination and exploration of America’s waterways, is a hands-on, educational traveling exhibition designed to teach the importance of commerce, culture and conservation on America’s inland waterways. The exhibit accomplishes this mission by weaving the rich, complex, multidisciplinary story through the use of immersive environments, hands-on interactive exhibits, educational panels and engaging films and artifacts.

2013 Science Academy students graduate today at Sci-Port

Science Academy students graduate, a photo by Karen E. Wissing on Flickr.

Fifty students from Caddo Heights Elementary; J.S. Clark; Oil City Elementary and Shreve Island Elementary School visited Sci-Port this morning to graduate from this year's Science Academy.

Students Lanaya (left) and Joycelyn Bolden, both students (and sisters) at J.S. Clark, are pictured here with their teachers and school principal, Dr. Scroggins (second from left).

This year’s Science Academy theme was “The Scientific Process.” Students studied the scientific process, which included: concept formation, observations, experimentation and investigation with Alan Brown, Sci-Port's senior programs manager, and Sci-Port Pilot Julianne Smoak.

Science Academy is a partnership between Sci-Port and LSU Health Shreveport's Office of Multicultural Affairs.

The program's K-2nd grade students focused on the life cycle of butterflies, while 3rd-6th grade focused on taste and smell testing.

The students presented their projects to family and teachers, and afterwards enjoyed some of our famous Liquid Nitrogen ice cream!

See the Facebook album here.

Members, are you ready to meet our Easter Bunny?

Ethan Daughtry, age 5, poses with Sci-Port's Easter Bunny!, a photo by Sci-Port on Flickr.

New for this year’s Members-Only Egg-straction is a visit by the Sci-Port Easter Bunny! Come join in on the fun, and say hello!

Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, and promptly at 9 a.m., the hunt for over 1,500 treat-filled eggs begins: toddler-3 years will be in our Rasberry-Powers Children's Gallery; 4-6 years will hunt in our Red River Gallery and ages 7+ will search the second floor of Sci-Port.

Cost is free for all Sci-Port Members, and we encourage you to pre-register by calling (318) 424-8660 to have your red wristbands waiting at the ticket counter.

Read about more of our egg-citing programs here!