By Lori Dugan
THATCHER — Eastern Arizona College’s Thatcher and Discovery Park campuses will host the third annual Gila Valley Health and Science Festival on Feb. 24-25. The festival is a celebration of health, safety, science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center’s Health and Safety Fair will be held Friday and Saturday in conjunction with the science, technology, engineering, arts, and math part of the festival occurring all day Saturday.
To kick off the weekend festivities, Arizona State University’s Teacher’s College is hosting a STEMulate Your Brain event at EAC’s Academic Programs Building on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The following day, the festival and Sapphire Cineplex team up to host the knowledge bowl team members from all high schools in Graham and Greenlee counties at 7 p.m. for a screening of the movie “Hidden Figures”, which features the story of a team of African-American women mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during he early years of the U.S. space program.
Visitors to the festival will see a showcase of the technology and innovation now being used in Gila Valley businesses, health services, education and environmental research and preservation.
Volunteers stationed at each activity will share their own career path and follow up with anyone who wants more information.
“We will have fun and exciting giveaways, so grab your passport at the information booth on Saturday for your chance to win an iPad Mini, LEGO Mindstorms Robot, GoPro HERO camera, solar Robot, Makey Makey Touch Pad Creator and many other prizes,” said EAC Dean of Instruction and Scitech Festival organizer, Dr. Phil McBride.
As part of the health and safety portion of the festival, visitors will walk through an inflatable colon as they learn about keeping our bodies healthy. In addition to the Health and Safety Fair and Art Show that will be going on in the EAC Activities Center, there will be several other activities along north campus from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. These include a helicopter, FMI Haul Truck Simulator, Gila Valley farming technology with small and large tractors, thermite/elephant toothpaste demonstration, a bowling ball swing, Knockerballs, the use of a drone for biological research, a trebuchet, 3-D printer demonstrations, a green-screen video activity, early childhood lab, solar telescopes, silvering bottles and Christmas ornaments, Rangolee art and many others.
Contributed Photo/Courtesy MGRMC: From left, MGRMC CNO Lori Burress, CEO Mark Marchetti and Clinics Director Diane Hansen stand in front of the hospital’s newest attraction, a giant, inflatable colon. The colon was provided through a grant from the United Way of Graham County and is designed to raise awareness of colorectal cancer.
The “Rock of Ages” run to fight Type 1 diabetes is set for 8 a.m., Saturday, in the John T. Mikelson Stadium parking lot.
“The 2017 Gila Valley Health and Science promises to be bigger and better than ever before,” MGRMC Director of Marketing and Development Ryan Rapier said. “This is our third year and it is amazing how much enthusiasm and excitement there is to be a part of this event. We hope families of all ages will make time to come out and visit us on Saturday.”
The festival will then continue from 3–8 p.m., at EAC’s Discovery Park Campus in Safford, which will include demonstrations at the greenhouse, FMI/Science City activities in the Visitor Learning Center, a scooter obstacle course, owl pellets dissection, air rockets, remote control car racing, an aerial drone demonstration, telescope stargazing and Polaris shuttle rides.
For more information about the Gila Valley Health and Science Festival contact McBride at (928) 428-8404 or email him at phil.mcbride@eac.edu.
Jon Johnson contributed to this report
Gila Valley Health & Science Festival Schedule of Events
February 24-25, 2017
7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
1. Health Screenings, Blood Draws, Vendor Showcase and all traditional Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center Health Fair Activities – Gherald L. Hoopes Jr. Activities Center
2. EAC Art Exhibit – Gherald L. Hoopes Jr. Activities Center
3. Information Booth – Gherald L. Hoopes Jr. Activities Center Patio
4. Helicopter –Parking lot by Tractors, west of the Gherald L. Hoopes Jr. Activities Center
5. Gila Valley Farming Technology – Randy Norton/Bill Brandau/Cindy Pearson – U of A Cooperative Extension/Safford Agriculture Center – West Parking Lot
6. Rolling River Floodplain – Bill Brandau/Cindy Pearson–UofA Cooperative Extension/Gila Watershed Partnership – West Parking Lot
7. Leaky House Water Conservation – City of Safford/UofA Cooperative Extension/Gila Watershed Partnership – West Parking Lot
Additional Activities Saturday, February 25, 2017
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
8. The Rock of Ages Run Against Type I Diabetes – Registration will open at 7:30 in the John Mickelson Stadium parking lot with the mile fun run beginning at 8:00 and the 5K beginning at 8:30.
9. Chalk Art – Walkway south of the Gherald L. Hoopes Jr. Activities Center – Kenny Rhodes
10. Food Court – Gherald L. Hoopes Jr. Activities Center West Parking Lot, East Parking Lot, and by the Canal
11. Haul Truck Simulator – FreePort-McMoRan – West Parking Lot
Experience the thrill of driving a large haul truck.
12. Rope Bridge – Dennis Griffin and Shawn Wakefield – Grass area west of the Volleyball Court
See how to engineer a rope bridge and try your hand at making it safely across the “Alligator Pit.”
13. Thermite/Elephant Toothpaste – Joel Shelton – Sand Volleyball Court
Colorful and spectacular heat-producing reactions. Alternating every 15 Minutes starting at 9:00 AM
14. Ambulance and CPR Demonstrations – Evelyn Hallford – NC-8
Take a tour of the ambulance, become aware of accidental trauma, and maybe learn some CPR.
15. Technologies used in Monitoring the Quality of Arizona’s Water – Dave Henson – Canal
Come see how STEM practices have advanced techniques used to determine the chemical and physical properties of Arizona’s ground and surface waters, including our wells and the water that we drink. Sponsored by Dave Henson and students of EAC Bio 295/Undergraduate Biological Research.
16. Trebuchet – Tom Palmer – Lawn area west of the Math/Science Building
Learn engineering skills using a custom trebuchet machine to launch projectiles in a challenge that will test distance, accuracy and power!
17. Theatre Improv Activity – Lawn area west of the Math/Science Building – Tyson Lund and Talia Thurber
Join the EAC Drama Club for a fun round of improvisation games and acts. Use your imagination and creativity to play interesting characters and apply them to science too!
18. Bowling Ball/Truck Tire Pendulum – Madhuri Bapat – On tree west of the Math/Science Building
Explore physics concepts with a bowling ball swing.
19. Knockerball – Madhuri Bapat – Open Lawn west of the Math/Science Building
A KnockerBall™ is an inflatable ball with a single chamber that incorporates inner handles and adjustable shoulder straps. Explore collisions in a safe but fun way.
20. Solar Telescopes – Heidi Vosbein – Lawn area west of the Math/Science Building
Safely view the sun with a solar telescope
21. Impairment Goggles Go-Kart Course Challenge – Math/Science Building Parking Lot – Rosa Contreras
Students have the opportunity to ride pedal carts while wearing “drunk goggles.” This activity is designed to inform students about alcohol/Prescription drug impairment and discourage driving under the influence.
22. Rollover Simulator – Department of Public Safety (DPS) – Math/Science Building Parking Lot – Trooper Braden McBride
Simulate a rollover accident and learn the importance of seat belt safety.
23. Virtual Welder – Carlton Penn – NC-1
Simple welding techniques will be demonstrated
24. Green Screen Video – Bruce Warner and Glen Cashetta – NC-1
Green Screen Video
25. Recycling – Town of Thatcher and City of Safford – MS-317
26. Early Childhood Lab – Paulette LeBlanc –MS-316
For ages 2-7. Young scientists will explore the properties of magnets, color and changes to liquids. This lab is sponsored First Things First.
27. Fighting Pathogens and Sickness – Willis Haws – MS-412
Find out how hand washing, a technique that we need to do better on, can stop the spread of pathogens and sickness.
28. Aaron’s Animals – Aaron Burk – MS-420
Visit our live Gila Monster Mascot and other interesting animals.
29. Tree Ring – University of Arizona –Cathi Duncan – MS-203
30. Newton’s Laws – Dan and Khrystyl Best – MS-401
Use Lego blocks to build a car that will keep an egg safe in a collision.
31. Paper Balancing – Eastern Arizona Science Initiative – MS-402
Explore the center of gravity and make your own balancing paper objects.
32. Casting Blood in Another Light – Carolyn McCormies and Shalay Haynie – MS-404
Draw blood from a mannequin and create a finger cast as you learn some exciting nursing skills.
33. Silvering Bottles and Christmas Ornaments – Joel Shelton – MS-407
Mix chemicals to create a beautiful silver bottle or ornament.
34. The Rock Cycle – Tammy Gillespie – MS-312
What is that we feel under our feet? What can we do with it and where would we be without it?
35. Rangolee Art – Madhuri Bapat and Harriet Dodge – MS-109
Demonstrate your creative talents as well as apply math in an artistic way.
36. Color Coding with Ozobots – Arizona State University iTeachAZ – MS-105 – Angelia Linder
37. 3-D Imaging– University of Arizona – MS-103
38. 3-D Printing and Laser Engraving– Nate McCray and Dorian Nelson – MS-103
Learning about 3D printing and laser engraving and possibly even print or engrave your own item.
39. Poison and Drug Awareness – University of Arizona College of Pharmacy – Lauren Morehouse, MPH CHES – MS-101
North Campus Chemistry Demonstrations in Math/Science 108/311
9:00, 11:00 and 1:00 Chemistry Magic Show – Watch chemistry come alive with exciting demonstrations
Discovery Park Campus Schedule of Activities (3:00 – 6:00 PM)
1. Remote Control Cars
2. Drone Demo
3. UV Bracelets
4. Electrostatic Generator Demo
5. Musical Performances
6. Rockets
7. Pre-K Fun
8. Owl Pellets
9. Obstacle Course
10. Go Pedals
11. SETI Scope
12. Erosion demo in the Greenhouse
After Dark Activities (6:00 – 8:00 PM)
Lasers Demo
Shuttle Rides
Stargazing from 5 different telescope sights
PRIZES – Receive 10 stamps on your PASSPORT and enter to win one of the many prizes listed below. You need not be present to win. All ages are welcome to participate.
Apple iPad
GoPro Camera
RC Quadcopter Drone
VR Goggles
Arduino Hardware and Software Circuit Board
Snap Circuit Jr. Board
RKT Stomp Rocket
Kinetic Sand
Medieval Catapult
Salt Water Car
Model Rocket
Additional prizes
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