Kentucky Geological Survey Holds Earth Science Week Open House

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 29, 2016) — Each year, during Earth Science Week, the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) holds an open house, inviting students, parents, teachers and others to observe demonstrations and displays on a variety of natural science topics. This year’s event, which is open to the public, is set for 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Mining and Mineral Resources Building on the UK campus. KGS is a research institute at UK created by state law.

The open house has drawn as many as 250 people in the recent past to learn about subjects ranging from rocks and fossils to minerals and meteorites, to geologic hazards, volcanoes and water resources. Some new displays and demonstrations are planned this year, including an “augmented reality sandbox,” which uses a digital projector to create three-dimensional land surface illustrations, and a scanning electron microscope being used for research on rock properties.

KGS scientists set up displays related to their research, and other groups, such as the UK Department for Earth and Environmental Sciences, the Kentucky Paleontological Society and the Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, also participate with exhibits.

Teachers in public, private and home schools in Fayette and surrounding counties often provide their students with scavenger-hunt-type lists, challenging them to find displays and learn from the event, and KGS provides students with certificates of attendance, helping some to get academic credit. The evening typically ends with drawings for educational door prizes.

UK Parking and Transportation Services will open Parking Structure #2, next to the open house location, for free parking to participants after 5 p.m.Oct. 12.

For more information on the event, including a map of the area showing the location of the KGS event and the parking garage, see the open house link at the KGS website, www.uky.edu/kgs.

Earth Science Week has been promoted since 1998 by the American Geosciences Institute and other organizations to promote better public understanding and appreciation for the earth sciences and to encourage stewardship of the earth. For more information, visit www.earthsciweek.org/about-esw.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Gail Hairston, 859-257-3302, gail.hairston@uky.edu