by Christina Gotuaco

A Sally Ride Science Festival was held on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, on Saturday, October 4, 2008. The event was attended by students from various elementary schools, grade schools, and high schools located in the surrounding counties. Since the main focus of Sally Ride Festivals is to encourage girls in the science and engineering fields, most of the participants were girls, though a few boys were in attendance as well.

Larger imageEducation Assistant Gema Venegas describes demonstrates plate tectonics to a group of parents and students at the Sally Ride Science Festival at Cal State LA.

Various booths were set up – many had hands-on activities; some had boards with images up on display; others were giving items out. Some of the other exhibitors alongside SCEC included organizations such as Northrop Grumman, the American Chemical Society, NASA, and the Society of Women Engineers. SCEC had both an activity booth, and an information booth with flyers about the ShakeOut , booklets on earthquakes and preparedness, and sample kit materials. The main activity was a large laminated plate tectonics puzzle that kids could put together and at the same time learn about plate movement and the cause of earthquakes. Upon completion of the puzzle, there was an option for them to take home their own miniature plate tectonics puzzle to cut out and assemble at home.

At around noon, retired U.S. astronaut Sally Ride herself was present at the festival to sign copies of her book. An hour later, as the fair segment of the festival ended, Sally Ride gave the keynote speech for the festival in the CSULA gymnasium.

Larger imageAt the SCEC booth, Christina Gotuaco shares information about earthquake safety and preparedness.

At 2 pm, a number of 45-minute workshops were held around campus for the students to attend. Parents and teachers also had the option of attending a separate series of lectures. SCEC Education Programs Manager, Bob de Groot, led an adult workshop entitled, "The Great California ShakeOut", which discussed the upcoming earthquake drill that is to take place on November 13th throughout southern California. Meanwhile, program assistants Gema Venegas and Christina Gotuaco led a student workshop entitled, "Welcome to Earthquake Country". Students attending the workshop were asked about their experiences during the recent Chino Hills earthquake and how they reacted. The class was then divided into two groups to each complete a large plate tectonics puzzle and learn about plate motion. The students then came back together as a class, and their next task was to individually circle items in a picture of a classroom that could be potential hazards during an earthquake. As the students explained why they chose certain objects, Christina and Gema also added more detailed earthquake safety information. The workshop was closed with a short question-and-answer session and the distribution of seismology posters, candy, and mini plate tectonic puzzles.