If your children are feeling deprived because you've never taken them to the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, don't worry. The center is coming to you. A traveling science carnival will be at the Utah Museum of Natural History on the University of Utah campus from Saturday, March 16, through Sunday, April 14.
The science carnival promises 40 interactive exhibits. You are invited to experiment with echoes, test the speed of your curve ball, figure out how polarized sunglasses really work and race some bubbles through oil and water. There will be fun-house mirrors, a gravity well, an air cannon, whisper dishes, a laser spirograph and tests for color blindness, hearing, and visual acuity.Since 1990, the science carnival has toured Washington, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, California, Nevada, Alaska and Wyoming. More than 700,000 people have played at the carnival - in shopping malls, school gyms, and county fairgrounds. This year, in addition to visiting Utah, the carnival will go to Oregon.
Museum of Natural History admission will be slightly higher while the carnival is in operation. Adults will pay $5; children 3-12 and seniors, $3.50; school groups, $3.25 with teachers and chaperones at no charge. Children under 2, museum members and University of Utah students, staff and faculty continue to get in free. The museum is located at 1350 E. 215 South. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
The science carnival was developed with a grant from the National Science Foundation. It is being sponsored in Utah by West One Bank, Horizon Air, the Utah Museum of Natural History and the Deseret News.