Introduction to Plasma Sciences Expo

Who should attend?
Middle school and high school students, teachers, parents, the general public.
(See registration procedures below)

When?
For schools: Thursday and Friday, November 5 & 6, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for the general public: Thursday evening, November 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  

What is Plasma Sciences Expo?
Plasma Sciences Expo 2009 is an exhibition that focuses on hands-on science education. It is for students at all levels, parents, teachers and the general public. Examples of activities are:

•	Make lightning with a Van de Graaff generator.
•	Observe your fluctuating body temperature on a special monitor.
•	Participate in a "flow bubble" demonstration.
•	Manipulate plasma with magnets.
•	Watch an electromagnetic wave demonstration.
•	Learn how to confine plasmas magnetically in a fusion device by participating in a computer simulation.
•	Meet and talk with professional scientists and engineeers in the field of plasma physics and visit their displays to learn about current research in this cutting-edge field.
•	Play with plasma “toys.”

Contributing laboratories, industries, academic institutions, and government agencies include: University of California, San Diego; General Atomics; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory; Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge Institute for Science Education; Contemporary Physics Education Project (CPEP); Sandia National Laboratories; U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy Defense programs, and many more.

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Procedure for Attending

You must register your students for Plasma Sciences Expo using the Plasma Sciences Expo Registration Form. Click here to register.

Registrations for the Plasma Sciences Expo will be confirmed on a first come basis.

Registration deadline: October 30, 2009
 

Scheduling Recommendations

EXPO Hours: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Arrival and departure schedules are a must in order to ensure that all students enjoy a quality visit with the scientists and the Plasma Sciences Expo exhibits.

How long do we stay?
Our recommendation for middle school students is 75 minutes and for high school students 90 minutes. We normally do not ask a group to leave, but staying as close as possible to the schedule is crucial for the enjoyment of all attending. Another option for visiting the Plasma Sciences Expo with less time restriction is Thursday evening.

Special public hours
These special public hours are Thursday November 5, 2009 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Teachers in other cities have encouraged students to attend the evening session with their parents when a class trip was not possible. A few bonus points are always a good incentive!

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Bus Arrangements and Funding:

There is limited funding available for reimbursement of student bus
transportation costs.

Expo attendance and bus requests need to be coordinated prior to
scheduling bus transportation with your school/district.
 
To coordinate Expo attendance and bus requests contact:
Heather Lade
3550 General Atomics Court, 13-211
San Diego, CA 92121
E-mail: Heather.Lade@gat.com
Phone: (858) 455-3474
Fax: (858) 455-2496

NOTE: Invoices must be received within 45 days after the event to guarantee reimbursement.

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