STEVENS POINT — The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will mark the Wisconsin Science Festival with two campus events in October.
Astronomy expert Justin Vandenbroucke, an associate professor at UW-Madison, will present a lecture at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 in Room 105 of the new Chemistry Biology Building. His talk, “The Distributed Electronic Cosmic-Ray Observatory: Using Your Cellphone as a Cosmic Particle Detector,” is free and open to the public. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.
Vandenbroucke uses innovative instruments around the world to detect high energy particles from the cosmos. He will discuss how understanding the smallest particles in the universe is necessary to understand the largest objects, and vice versa. Previously he was a NASA Einstein Fellow at Stanford University.
A free planetarium show, “Endless Horizon,” will also be offered as part of the Science Festival at 2 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Allen F. Blocher Planetarium in the UW-Stevens Point Science Building, 2001 Fourth St., Stevens Point. The show, hosted by “Star Trek: The Next Generation” star Patrick Stewart, explores the history and devices that influenced and unlocked the secrets of the solar system.
Parking is free in all lots after 7 p.m. and during the weekend for both events.
The Wisconsin Science Festival, held Oct. 11-14, offers activities in more than 60 communities across the state. To learn more about statewide activities, go to https://wisconsinsciencefest.org/
