TUCSON, Ariz. — The Student Optics Chapter of the University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences will hold its ninth annual Laser Fun Day on April 20, bringing the science of optics alive for elementary- and middle-school children. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Meinel Building, 1630 E. University Blvd. Admission is free and open to the public.
Exhibits include hands-on demonstrations, the popular "laser maze," cow eye dissections, optical illusions and an infrared camera – all of which illustrate different applications and properties of light.
When asked which demonstration was her favorite, Erin Clark, a first-year master's student and Student Optics Chapter social chair, said, "It is difficult to choose just one. One of the coolest demos is Schlieren imaging. With the demo setup, any changes in the index of refraction of the air will be seen on a viewing screen. For example, heat from a hair dryer will disturb the air and all the ripples from the heat can be seen with your eye. It sounds like magic, but you’ll just have to see it for yourself."
"Everyone should come to Laser Fun Day because it gives you the opportunity to see what the University of Arizona has to offer," said Kali Gagné, Student Optics Chapter outreach chair and optical sciences undergraduate student. "The College of Optical Sciences is what I like to call a hidden gem. Many people know the building as the 'pretty one made of glass.'"
This year's Laser Fun Day is made possible through grants from the International Society for Optics and Photonics and The Optical Society, as well as a donation from BAE Systems.
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