Ironwood hosts 'Sciencepalooza'

IRONWOOD - It may have been the weather, but the Ironwood Memorial Building was filled with kids Friday afternoon for the Ironwood Carnegie Library's Sciencepalooza Science Fair.

"I think the rain has helped a little," library director Lynne Wiercinski said, estimating 150 kids participated in the experiments. "It's a great indoor activity for a day that's not so beautiful outside, but I also know that whenever you do anything that involves science, we always see an excellent turnout."

The fair, which was partially funded by a United Way grant, was a program offered by the Detroit-based Michigan Science Center.

Wiercinski said this is the first year the center has had the science far, but it has been involved with the library's summer program in past years.

"The Michigan Science Center always has some amazing programs they bring around the state throughout the summer," said Wiercinski. "And when I talked to them, we realized ... they had the Sciencepalooza program we could bring here."

She thought the focus on energy would be a good fit for the summer reading theme of "building a better world."

Each of the fair's 10 stations offered an example, or lesson, related to energy - ranging from building solar cell circuits to melting ice cubes to explain energy transfers.

"Every one of them is hands-on so the kids can get right in there and be able to create, or learn, something new," said Wiercinski.

The stations were staffed by Michigan State University-Extension 4-Hers and staff, along with library volunteers.

The multiple stations was a great way to involve as many kids as possible, accordingto Wiercinski.

"We really promoted from Mercer, all the way to Wakefield," she said. "You're seeing daycares here, you're seeing people from everywhere."

Some kids even came from out of state - including Ariana, Ava and Jackson McKay - who were visiting the area from Florida.

"They love science," said grandmother Mary Larson.

Along with simpler lessons regarding the transfer of energy and kinetic versus stored energy, more complicated concepts - such as nuclear fission and fusion, and the relationship between voltage and current - were also taught.

"We relate the complex topics to similar things," said Charles Gibson, the director of innovation and outreach for the science center.

Slinkies and beads were used to demonstrate current, while dominoes were stacked to demonstrate nuclear chain reactions.

"They're having fun and learning something - even if they don't realize they're learning something," Gibson joked.

He said Ironwood is one stop in an 18-day trip for him and the other science center staff, part of the larger goal of making it to 83 counties.

Having visited 47 counties at the end of the trip, Gibson said he hopes the rest will be met with the launch of a new distance-learning program in fall. The program will have the center send materials to schools and libraries, Gibson explained, and then the staff will use video-chat to interact with the participants.

More information on the library's program can be found on its website and Facebook page.