Monday, March 1, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 7
Disaster-themed fair successful
Science show targets youth with exhibits
Sophie Leuffer, 4, Ida Greenwell, 7, and Mulligan Greenwell, 9, examine a magnet suspended in the air by a superconductor. About 800 people attended the eighth annual Show of Natural Magic and Science Fair. Photo by Roger Numeri/KANSAN
By Jennifer Roush
By Jennifer Roush
Kansan stuff writer
The eighth annual Show of Natural Magic and Science Fair at the University of Kansas was no disaster, even though that was the theme of the event.
The show targeted elementary students and featured science exhibits by students from Lawrence and Free State high schools.
Yesterday's festival at Malott Hall was sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the department of physics and astronomy. The departments of chemistry, geology and atmospheric science also provided exhibits, demonstrations and assistance in organizing the event.
Although the event focused on natural disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes and other severe weather, the highlight of the festival was a show called "Movie Makeovers." The show looked at two recent movies "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact" to see whether they presented science
Another movie-related display was the Titanic room. Students were able to examine a model of the ship with the same damage as the original and see how the ship sank.
Barbara Anthony-Twarog, professor of physics and astronomy and one of the event's organizers, said she had sponsored the first festival eight years ago because she was concerned with the negative image science had in the minds of many grade school students.
She said the festival was aimed at younger children because they had not lost their natural curiosity about the world around them.
"I'd like it to be as normal to go to a science show as to an art museum." Anthony-Twarog said.
Philip Baringer, associate professor of physics and astronomy, agreed with Anthony Twarog about wanting to increase the appeal of science to children.
He said the festival also was designed to get kids to consider majors or careers in science.
"They still like science," Baringer said.
KU students who participated in the festival also said it had been designed to present a positive image of science to children.
Adrienne Juett, president of the Society of Physics Students, said the club had sent out fliers to every public and private school in Lawrence.
She said the festival was fun for the presenters as well as the kids.
"We like to do the demonstrations ourselves," Juett said. "But an audience helps."
She said about 800 people attended this year's event.
Chris Dillon, president of the American Meteorological Society student chapter, said the Atmospheric Science Club's Heavy Weather room showed
students what meteorologists really do.
He explained how weather forecasting was done and provided weather safety tips.
He also said the exhibit would help get students interested in meteorology and other sciences.
"Any kid who comes through here is going to be fascinated," Dillon said.
Kids and parents who attended the festival said they liked the disaster-related science exhibits as well.
"We've really enjoyed it," said Mary Strobel, a Lawrence resident who attended the festival with her husband and two daughters. "Our 5-year-old is at such a learning age — they want to know everything — and she's really enjoyed it."
Diane Guthrie, who watched her children create earthquakebases by stomping around seismic sensors that the department of geology had placed on the sidewalk, agreed the festival had been a success. She attended the festival with her husband, James Guthrie, associate professor of business, and their two children.
"The kids have been here before and wanted to come again," Diane said. "They always learn something new when we come. They have fun and learn at the same time."
- Edited by Keith Burner
Free State High School students Alex Graham and Randi Young light bubbles filled with gas on fire while Oather Strawdman, a physics teacher at Free State, supervises. Students from both Free State and Lawrence Hull put on science shows during the fair at Malcolm Hall. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Free services take hassle out of taxes for students
By Chris Hopkins
Kansas staff member
Rather than let students pay $40 to $100 to have an accountant do their taxes, three KU groups want to help students file their 1040 EZ for free.
Legal Services for Students and KU Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) are both offering free filing help until April 15.
Jo Hardesty, director of Legal Services for Students, said her office, which serves students on an appointment basis, was booked until spring break.
Kari Haverkamp, president of the KU Accounting Club, said the group also would help students with their taxes, but more specific plans had not been made.
"We've been getting a deluge of phone calls since people received their W-2s," Hardesty said.
She said Legal Services for Students was still taking appointments for non-income tax problems.
Hardesty said that because of the complexity of their forms, her office served many of the University of Kansas' international students. She said an international student's EZ forms were about ten times longer than the 1040 EZ
"We don't serve people who own small businesses. We don't serve people with more complex tax forms," he said.
VITA does serve international students, but they only have one volunteer, Lenny Guerra, who knows the ins and out of their returns.
He is available Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 at Room 108 in Green Hall, and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Daisy Hill Room at the Burge Union.
VITA, unlike Legal Services for Students, serves students at Haskell Indian Nations University and the rest of the Lawrence community.
Richard Lorenzo, VITA coordinator, said the group focused on people who needed help the most.
"By us going out into the community and letting them know that credits are available, I think we're providing a real service to the community." he said.
Westfahd said his motivation for volunteering with VITA was partially furthering his own education and partially helping other people.
"I think it's mutually beneficial," he said. "As a volunteer, I've learned a lot."
Although VITA shuts down after April 15, Hardesty said Legal Services for Students fielded tax questions from students year-round.
Hardesty said Legal Services for Students had helped students save money. She said one student had come into the office who had paid $40 last year for help with a tax return that garnered only a $20 refund.
"I think it's great that you can get free tax information when a lot of people are paying accountants $100," she said.
Edited by Jodi Smith
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