CSULB Science Center & Marine Lab tours

Please join us on a tour of the Science Learning Center & Marine Lab at CSULB. CSULB has a new Hall of Sciences opening this fall and the Learning Center is moving in.

Exhibits include a 300 gallon reef aquarium with many species of living coral and fish, a green iguana, 2 ball pythons, some southern crested newts and poison dart frogs. They have soap film bubbles, fluorescent minerals, holograms of various types, a bright line spectrum display, a Wimshurst generator, Van De Graaff generator, Jacob's Ladder, and many, many more. They also have a digital seismograph (they are part of the ANZA seismic network) and they will soon have a full weather station display. http://www.beach-science.org

They have a recently renovated Marine Lab (http://www.csulb.edu/depts/biology/pages/marlab.shtml) on campus where they house organisms for teaching and research. Organisms experience and respond differently to their environment depending on their size and morphology, developmental stage and physiological state. Current research (http://www.csulb.edu/%7Ebjallen/Site/Research.html) in the lab focuses on both the mechanistic links between local environmental conditions and individual physiology and behavior, and how variation at the individual level influences the structure and function of associated populations and communities. http://www.csulb.edu/depts/biology/pages/marlab.shtml . Current research projects: http://www.csulb.edu/~bjallen/Site/Research.html

CSULB Science Learning Center & Marine Lab

Tuesday, August 16, 1pm-2:30pm

All ages, please keep an eye on toddlers

Cost: $1/person, including adults

Please RSVP for yourself and your children and payment can be made on the day of our visit.

Location:

California State University, Long Beach

1250 Bellflower Blvd.

Hall of Sciences (HSCI)

First floor, Room 110

The Science Learning Center is just east of the north entrance (from the MLSC building) to HSCI.

Parking: $5/day, so carpooling is recommended. Meters are $2/hr. Lot 16 is next to the Japanese Garden. Entering at Bellflower Blvd, make the first left and buy a permit at a yellow kiosk before parking.

Plan on a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the Hall of Sciences. The Hall of Sciences is across from the bookstore (if you need to ask for directions). Print out this map (http://daf.csulb.edu/maps/pdf/2pg.pdf). With little ones, I would try to arrive 30 minutes early to get to the building. I'm half thinking to bring lunch and picnic at noon in front of the building. Actually, I would love to check out everything that has changed in 20-something years.

The group will be divided in half. The first group will tour the science center and the second group will visit the marine lab. After 45 minutes, we will switch. If you can only do one tour, let me know. If you would like to do both tours and visit the Japanese garden, arrive at 11am, explore the garden, bring your picnic to the Hall of Sciences, and then do both tours.

Please let me know if you have any questions!