By Deanna Bergers
Grand Rapids Community College will be holding its fourth annual Community Science Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17 in the Calkins Science Center and Peter & Pat Cook Academic Hall.
The event is coordinated by Sarah Krajewski, Jan Colvin and Leigh Kleinert, who are all faculty members in the Biology Department.
Students attend each year to volunteer and to get hands-on experience with the equipment at GRCC.
“For the students volunteering at the event, they gain hands-on experience, critical thinking and problem-solving solving skills, while developing social and personal responsibility,” Kleinert said. “For students attending the event, the event is free! It consists of over 30 free, science and health-related activities.”
Kleinert also added in the support they’ve received from the academic support and tutoring services department and emphasized how much work everyone puts in for the event.
Tim Hoving is a coordinator for the Make Your Own Lava Lamp activity and is involved with general help for the event as well.
“This event is a lot of fun, and I enjoy the opportunity to interact with the community and to help kids grow their interest in the sciences,” Hoving said. “It’s also a great opportunity to showcase the people and facilities we are lucky to have at GRCC.”
The turnout for the event has grown over the past few years, and is expected to draw a crowd of 250 to 450 people.
There will be activities involving live animals at the event, and they are expected to draw much of the attention from those in attendance.
Community Science Day takes a lot of effort from faculty, students and members of other departments as well.
“(The event) would not be possible, however, without the tireless efforts of faculty, staff, and students in biology, child development and education, dental assisting, exercise science, nursing occupational therapy assisting, physical science, psychology and radiologic technology departments,” Leigh Kleinert said in an email to The Collegiate.
Community Science Day gives families the opportunity to see what is involved in the field of science. They will be able to use the same equipment that scientists and GRCC science students use.
For those looking to attend, there is parking available in the any of the GRCC parking ramps, and free parking passes will be in the Calkins Science Center auditorium.
