Are you a Scientist? Do you dabble in Astronomy 🔭, Chemistry 🧪, or backyard 🌱Botany? Perhaps you lean more toward the 👥 Social Sciences, 🩺 Medicine, or 💹 Economics? Are you a 🐍Zoologist, 🌾Agriculturist, 🚀 Physicist, 🪨Geologist, 🔬 Biologist, 🪲Ecologist, or any other kind of -ologist?
~ Please come share your love of science with our Birch Lane Families by hosting or co-hosting an interactive or informative table at Science Night!
~ Even if you aren’t a science buff, we also need volunteers to help with coordinating and keeping Science Night running smoothly!
Please sign up for volunteer slots here:
Science Night Volunteers - March 11, 5:30-7:30 pm
signupgenius.com
Any questions can be directed to this year’s Science Night Coordinator, Erica Meyers, at [email protected]
***Thank you to the Birch Lane PTA for supporting Family Science Night 2025!***
Science Night FAQs:
Question: What is Science Night?
Answer: From the perspective of a Scientist volunteering to Exhibit, Science Night is a little bit like a Science Fair, except the Adults present science to the Kids, there is usually more interaction with the Exhibits, and there are no Judges/Prizes. We invite members of our school community to set up an exhibit table in (or outside of, if that works better for you) the MPR for ~2 hours on a weekday evening and share their love of science, teach parents and kids something awesome, and hopefully help instill an understanding and appreciation of how science is being studied/demonstrated/applied right here in Davis.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: WHEN is Science Night?
Answer: Science Night 2025 is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 in the MPR. Exhibitors will have access to set up exhibits starting at 5 pm, and everything will be cleaned up by 8 pm.
Question: What should my exhibit look like? I'm used to presenting to graduate students, and all my posters will be illegible to 4th graders!
Answer: You are not alone! Luckily, if you are volunteering for this, you probably have elementary aged kids, and so you probably already know how to talk about what you do in a way that your kids can understand and even get excited about. Exhibits will look differently depending on what you are sharing, but tables that are interactive, rather than just informative, tend to get more engagement. I am happy to brainstorm ideas with you or put you in touch with an expert if you need it. Just email me at the address above. Many volunteering scientists find that it's good to step back to the 101- (or earlier) level of your discipline and share something that, while you don't do anymore, demonstrates why your field of science is really interesting and awesome, more broadly.
Question: I am struggling to come up with something I'm excited about for my exhibit, or I don't want to do it on my own. Can you help?
Answer: Of course! It is okay to recruit one/several of your kids, a co-worker, or a friend to help you. I also encourage you to look at the Volunteer List tab to see if there is another volunteer in a similar discipline you may want to work with. You could come up with a combined exhibit or otherwise coordinate your exhibits so highlight different amazing/cool aspects of your science.
Question: I'm not a scientist. Can I still help out?
Answer: YES!!! First, are you sure you aren't a scientist? You don't need to have a degree or be a professional to share your love of science at Science Night. But, if you don't want to exhibit, we also need volunteers to help with organizing in the weeks up to, and for set-up, event coordination, and clean-up. If you are up for taking on a larger role, I am looking for two people to help with (1) Community Outreach and (2) Science Passports
Question: I'd feel more confortable if we could meet on Zoom to ask questions and coordinate. Can you schedule something?
Answer: No problem! If this is something that would be useful, please let me know and I will set it up.
Question: Do I need to bring my own table?
Nope! Each exhibitor will be assigned a table and 1-2 chairs when you arrive. You only need to bring yourself and your exhibit materials.