Science on Saturday

Science on Saturday events are fun, free science demonstrations at Lincoln Laboratory and are given several times each school year by our scientists and engineers. All local community K–12 students, their parents, and their teachers are welcome to attend these events.

Parental/adult escort is required for all children. Electronic devices are not allowed in the facility. Pre-registration is required for these events. For directions to Lincoln Laboratory, please see the Map and Driving Directions page.

Some previous Science on Saturday events have focused on cryogenics, electricity and magnetism, acoustics, chemistry, optics, ions, hands-on engineering, and mathematics.


Upcoming Events

Science Guy IconCold Science

December 5, 2009
Speaker: Dr. Richard Williamson, Lincoln Laboratory
9:00–10:30 AM, 10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Lincoln Laboratory Auditorium

What is cold? What is the coldest temperature possible? What happens to various objects when they get very cold? Come see a liquid nitrogen cannon, watch frozen pennies shatter, and volunteer to help with other demonstrations on stage. Two identical shows will be presented.

Session 1:  9:00 AM–10:30 AM   THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT

Session 2:  10:45 AM–12:15 PM  THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT

 

How to Talk to Your Computer

February 6, 2010
Speaker: Robert Dunn, Lincoln Laboratory
9:00–10:30 AM, 10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Lincoln Laboratory Auditorium

How is human speech produced? How can we make computers speak?  Can we make computers understand what people say? Come see or volunteer to help with on-stage demonstrations of speech production, digital speech processing, voice modification, and automatic speaker and language recognition. Two identical shows will be presented. Online registration will begin in January 2010.



Recent Events

Science Guy iconHot Science

October 3, 2009
Speaker: Mark Hanson, Lincoln Laboratory
Lincoln Laboratory Auditorium

What is heat? How is it measured? How is it transferred from one object to another? How can it be used to run an engine? How can you keep heat out of your house during the summer and keep heat in during the winter?

 

 

Hot Science Demo Hot Science Demo Hot Science Demo Hot Science Demo
Hot Science Demo Hot Science Demo Hot Science Demo
Hot Science Demo Hot Science Demo Hot Science Demo Hot Science Demo

 

SoS MusicPrinciples of Acousto-Electric Musicology

June 6, 2009
Speaker: "Richard Pianiopolis, PdB. Hz."

How do musicians describe different sounds? How do electrical engineers describe the same sounds? Come and find out how music, voices, or any sound can be seen and explained both from the musical side and the engineering side. Listen to and watch your voice and music; hear and see all the different ways sounds can be altered.

 

Musicology Demo Musicology Demo Musicology Demo Musicology Demo
Musicology Demo Musicology Demo Musicology Demo Musicology Demo

 

SoS SlimeSlime and Flubber

April 4, 2009
Speaker: Dr. Andrew Siegel, Lincoln Laboratory

How do you make sticky, green slime? Would you like to mix up some flubber to make bouncing balls? Polymers are more than just plastics—they are formed naturally within the earth. They are also "grown" by living things like plants and people. We can synthesize some of them in laboratories, form others in furnaces, and even grow slimy ones in the back of refrigerators (Yuck!). Ever seen a non-Newtonian fluid in action? Come learn about rheology, and see all of the strange things that plastics and polymers can do.

Slime & Flubber Polymer Demo
Slime & Flubber Polymer Demo Slime & Flubber Polymer Demo Slime & Flubber Polymer Demo Slime & Flubber Polymer Demo
Slime & Flubber Polymer Demo Slime & Flubber Polymer Demo Slime & Flubber Polymer Demo Slime & Flubber Polymer Demo

 

Science Guy Cartoon for Lightning DemoLightning, Tornadoes, and Storms

February 7, 2009
Speaker: Robert Hallowell, Lincoln Laboratory

Can you make lightning? How do tornadoes form? What causes fog? How does air pressure affect weather, and how can you measure it? Come see our demonstrations and find out.

This review of the demonstration describes what happened during the Lightning, Tornadoes, and Storms Science on Saturday event.

Weather Demo Weather Demo Weather Demo Weather Demo
Weather Demo Weather Demo Weather Demo Weather Demo

 


Science Guy with AsteroidAsteroidsFact or Fiction

December 6, 2008
Speaker: Dr. Grant Stokes, Lincoln Laboratory

What are asteroids like? Where did they come from? What happened when large asteroids hit the earth in the past? How can we detect and prevent large asteroids from hitting the earth in the future? Come and find out!

This review of the demonstration explains each topic discussed during this Science on Saturday event.

 

Asteroids Demo Asteroids Demo Asteroids Demo Asteroids Demo
Asteroids Demo Asteroids Demo Asteroids Demo Asteroids Demo

 

Sci Guy- ROCKETSRockets and Flight

October 4, 2008
Speakers: Curtis Heisey, Jessica Olszta, and Dr. Mykel Kochenderfer, Lincoln Laboratory

How do rockets work? How about airplanes? How can you build and launch your own rockets safely? Come see our fun demonstrations and find out, or volunteer to help with them on stage.

This review of the demonstration itemizes each activity performed and its importance to understanding rocketry.

Rockets Demo Rockets Demo Rockets Demo Rockets Demo
Rockets Demo Rockets Demo Rockets Demo Rockets Demo

 

Sci Guy ArchaeologyArchaeology

June 7, 2008
Speaker: Dr. Steven A. LeBlanc, Director of Collections at Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University

What do we know about the mysterious objects and places featured in the Indiana Jones movies? What is it like to be an archaeologist? How old are the artifacts that have been found? The presentation is given by real archaeologists who have done excavations at the same places featured in the movies.

Archaeology Demo Archaeology Demo Archaeology Demo Archaeology Demo
Archaeology Demo Archaeology Demo Archaeology Demo Archaeology Demo

 

Sci Guy RobotsRobotics Demonstration

April 5, 2008
Speakers: Professor Kenneth Stafford of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Tom Indelicato of Bishop Guertin High School's FIRST Robotics Team

You’ve seen robots in movies, but what can real robots do?  What kinds of robots can you buy now?  How can you build your own robot?  Participants met world-champion robots in person and controlled their movements!

 

Robotics Demo Robotics Demo Robotics Demo Robotics Demo
Robotics Demo Robotics Demo Robotics Demo Robotics Demo

 

 

Sci Guy MathMath for Fun, Profit, and World Domination

February 2, 2008
Session 1: John Peach, Lincoln Laboratory
Session 2: Art Gelb, Four Sigma Corp., and TASC

In Session 1, Mathbusters, John Peach demonstrates how math can be fun for all ages. In Session 2, Why Study Mathematics?, Art Gelb discusses the applications of math and careers for mathematicians.

 

 

Math Demo   Math Demo Math Demo Math Demo
Math Demo   Math Demo Math Demo

 


Science on Saturday Archives

Information about the Science on Saturday events presented prior to 2008 is available through the following clickable links.

Hands On Engineering

Plasma and Ions

Lasers and Optics

Chemistry Magic Show

Properties and Applications of Sound Waves

Electricity & Magnetism

Cryogenics & Liquid Nitrogen Demonstrations

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