“WHAT ON EARTH!” MUSEUM I.D. AND SCIENCE DAY OFFERS A MYRIAD OF FUN FOR FREE

Families looking for fun ways to engage their brains will find more than enough to satisfy everyone’s science curiosity at “What On Earth! Science Exploration and I.D. Day” hosted by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman. This free family event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, and features more than 20 science and object identification stations scattered throughout the museum. Museum curators and other natural history experts also will be available to identify objects brought in by visitors. The program is made possible by OU Physicians.

Each of the stations set up around the museum will offer hands-on activities or demonstrations in a variety of sciences. Stations will be staffed by scientists, educators and students from the various fields who will guide participants through the activities and answer questions. The activities are geared to be accessible to families with children ages 5 through 12.

Experts also will be available to identify and discuss all kinds of natural and cultural objects, including, but not limited to: fossils, rocks and minerals, shells, skins, furs, plants, bones and teeth, archaeological artifacts, objects from Native American and other cultures around the world, insects, plants and written or recorded samples of languages – in short: anything of natural or cultural origin. Many will have objects from collections and even some live specimens available for show and tell. The experts include curators and staff members from the museum, as well as scientists from the Oklahoma Biological Survey, Robert Bebb Herbarium and Oklahoma Geological Survey at the University of Oklahoma, as well as the Cleveland County Audobon Society, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

“We really want to encourage families to experience scientific exploration together,” said Wendy Gram, museum head of education. “Children are natural scientists as they explore and discover the world around them. Science is all around us in our everyday activities and we want to help families realize that science is fun, easy and exciting. This event is a way for the museum to share our enthusiasm for science and provide families with ways to continue encouraging scientific discovery at home. We feel confident that everyone can be a scientist and that they will have fun doing the science.”

"OU Physicians is partnering with the museum for ‘What On Earth! Science Exploration and I.D. Day’ because we want to encourage great family activities where families get out together and build their minds while getting a bit of physical exercise,” said Leslie Gamble, OU Physicians director of marketing. “Events such as ‘What On Earth’ at the museum contribute to the overall good health of our community and state."

“What On Earth! Science Exploration and I.D. Day” is free and open to the public. Additional information about the event is available by calling (405) 325-4712 or on the museum’s Web site at www.snomnh.ou.edu. The museum is located on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus at Timberdell Road and Chautauqua Avenue.