Elizabeth Rcz knows she'll hear about the Sunday with a Scientist event for weeks. <\/p>\n
Rcz, who is finishing her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Biological Sciences, helps out with exhibits at the event and also gets to watch her 5-year-old son's reactions to the hands-on experiments. <\/p>\n
\"He loves it,\" she said. \"He'll talk about the small things for days. ... He remembers the little details amazingly and sort of processes it over the next week.\" <\/p>\n
On Sunday, the University of Nebraska State Museum celebrated Darwin Day with specialized exhibits focusing on evolution. <\/p>\n
The celebration is part of the monthly Sunday with a Scientist series, where UNL students and professors set up interactive displays and games to get kids involved in science. <\/p>\n
\"It's always fun to see someone learn and take home a message from it,\" Abhilesh Dhawanjewar said. <\/p>\n
He and Rudy Villegas, both graduate students at UNL's School of Biological Sciences, helped kids learn about plant seed dispersal by crafting miniature parachutes. <\/p>\n
\"What we really wanted to come up with was an activity with plants because everyone thinks they're really boring because they don't move,\" Villegas said. \"We had a video, too, to try to kind of blow their minds with the cool stuff plants can do.\" <\/p>\n
The event is beneficial for graduate students because it offers them an opportunity to share and talk about their work while also benefiting elementary-aged children, saidJen Shaughney, who helps to coordinate Sundays with a Scientist. <\/p>\n
Each month has its own theme, so Shaughney said that with Darwin Day being on Feb. 12, it was a natural fit. About 150 to 300 people usually attend the event, which takes place on the third Sunday of every month. <\/p>\n
LaVonne Uffelman, who brought her four grandchildren, enjoyed the variety of activities and had a hard time convincing the kids to leave. <\/p>\n
\"There's something for everyone,\" she said. \"Even grandma got to learn something.\" <\/p>\n
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Sunday with a Scientist makes evolution fun - Lincoln Journal Star<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Elizabeth Rcz knows she'll hear about the Sunday with a Scientist event for weeks. Rcz, who is finishing her Ph.D. Continue reading