Making science and technology fun

(Left) Lori Morris, a crime scene investigator with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, showed sixth graders from East Middle School how to dust for fingerprints.

Sixth graders from Rutherford and Polk counties were having too much fun learning how to dust for fingerprints, watch cans shrink from changes in air pressure and learning proper hand washing techniques to realize that they were learning about science and technology at the same time.

This year marked the fourth that Isothermal Community College hosted a Science and Tech Expo. The event, which is an official event of the North Carolina Science Festival, is designed to bring students to campus to showcase the breadth of programming and the careers available in science and technology fields, said Mike Gavin, director of marketing and community relations for Isothermal.

"It really started from a phone call from the public relations guys at Facebook, and so we brainstormed what we could offer to allow students to see what's on campus," Gavin explained. By offering it to middle school students, it provides an opportunity to engage them in learning and serve as a reminder of career options as they go through high school.

"We recently had some Jumpstart students on campus, and they mentioned remembering coming for this event," he said.

More than 1,000 students took part in 40-plus exhibits across campus on April 17. While half visited exhibits, the other half took part in an interactive science show at The Foundation. Presenters included KidSenses Interactive Children's Museum, NOAA and the Climatic Data Center, N.C. State University, Facebook, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Duke Power and others. Science teachers and students from area high schools also gave demonstrations on various activities.