Just the messenger

Though it does sound fun and I'd go these next two weekends if I'm not under the pain of having lobotomy performed on me with a knitting needle if I don't attend my lab meetings on Sat. and finishing my mini research proposal.

Lucy, if our schedules work out, I'm dragging you to this with me:

From Larry Brock:

...
For the past year I have been working on organizing the San Diego Science Festival - a major FUN, entertaining, educational and FREE event geared toward reinvigorating the interest of Americans in the Sciences. I have put as much energy and imagination and effort into this as any of the companies I started. And now I need your help
getting the word out.

Why is this important?

In a nutshell:
-- according to Nobel Laureate Richard Smalley, by the year 2010 (just 1 year from now) 90% of the world's scientists and engineers will live in Asia.
-- 85% of people being trained in the advanced physical sciences in the United States are from abroad.
-- because the opportunities are now greater abroad, we are no longer retaining them in the USA.
-- If we do not turn this trend around SOON, we will have outsourced innovation.

... ...

The Festival kicked off yesterday and will run through the month of March, offering over 500 FREE events for the public geared toward sparking an interest in Science. I have pulled together a grassroots effort of over 350 companies, universities, research labs and over 150 of San Diego's leading scientists and Nobel Laureates.

You can find out all the details at: http://www.sdsciencefestival.org
Click on the calendar to see dates, times and descriptions of all the fascinating events and opportunities.

The grand finale will be an all-day EXPO in Balboa Park on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 --- over 500 fun, hands-on interactive activities for all ages. There will be stuff for the mildly curious to the science professional. Balboa Park will be transformed into a series of pavilions: YOUR BODY, YOUR ARTS, YOUR SPORTS, YOUR HERROS, YOUR
PLANET and YOUR FUTURE. You can learn about fun topics like the science of the magic of Harry Potter, the mathematics of juggling, the physics of skateboarding, the science of chocolate, the physics of golf, trends in Global Warming, renewable energy sources of the future .... Plus the some of the major museums will be open to the public for free. (This is a completely non-profit, non-commercial
initiative.)

You can operate state-of-the-art robots, learn how scientists uncovered great artwork under the original Da Vinci canvases, laugh with science comedians, be mesmerized by science magicians and mathemagicians, fly a fighter jet simulator, enter a virtual reality environment, be a CSI agent, make a virus out of marshmallows and toothpicks, try your hand at using a surgical robot, discover ways of measuring global warming, learnt how to transform your car so it can run off a cusinart ....

And --- while having fun, you can leave with information about science scholarships, internships, mentorship programs, jobs and much more.

So, why should you forward this message?

You could be the one who passes it on to the student (or their parent or teacher) who is inspired and excited enough by the science they see to eventually cure AIDS or cancer, reduce Global Warming, invent the next source of renewable energy, discover how to extend life or solve world hunger...

Please consider sending this to your employees, colleagues, friends, teachers, teachers....
... ...

I spy a chance to geek out totally. Science Festival. How awesome.
Totally will try to go on April 4th, regardless of whether or not I'm going before then.