Science Festival, Owerri

Science Festival,
Owerri

organized by

Assumpta Science Centre, Owerri

with

Fondazione IDIS-Città della Scienza, Napoli, Italia

under the High patronage of

Italian President Sen. Giorgio Napolitano

under the patronage of

Pontifical Council for Culture

UNESCO

European Union

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Office for University Pastoral Care of the Vicariate of Rome, Italy

Nigerian Mathematical Society

Nigerian Academy of Science

Science Teachers Association of Nigeria

DAAR Communications AIT Television, Nigeria

University of Roma “La Sapienza”, Italy

Municipality of Naples, Italy

Province of Naples, Italy

Campania Region, Italy

promoted by

Association for Assumpta Science Center Owerri (ASCO)

Pontifical Council for Culture

Fondazione IDIS-Città della Scienza, Naples, Italy

Office for University Pastoral Care, Vicariate of Rome, Italy

with the support of and in collaboration with

Ministry of Education, Imo State Government

Ministry of Information, Imo State Government

Federal University of Science and Technology, Owerri

Imo State University, Owerri

Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri

Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri

Michael Opara College of Agriculture, Umuagwo

Abia State University, Uturu Okigwe

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Nigerian Mathematical Society

National University Commission, Nigeria

hosted by

Owerri Eclesiastical Province

practical information:

From April the 24 to May the 2 2009

Opening hours: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm

Free entrance

contact

address: Assumpta Science Centre Owerri (ASCO), 160 Whetheral Road Owerri, Imo State-Nigeria

phone: 234-(0)-8068199564; (0) 8037437036; 8039391333; 8036708137; 8035442187

contacts: ASCO Secretariat Owerri Nigeria, ascosecng@yahoo.com; Sylvester Nwosu sycan20002@yahoo.com;

The Science Festival aims to be a concrete action of scientific communication towards the youths and the Nigerian people. It will serve to deepen the awareness of local and international institutions on the importance of science and technology in our daily life and to respond to the challenge of broadening the scientific culture among the younger generations.

The Festival is organized like a “science fair” with attractions centred on stimulating the curiosity of youths through scientific shows where simple and easily reproducible materials are used.

“HANDS-ON” INTERACTIVE

EXHIBITION ON PHYSICS

By playing with our interactive exhibits, you can verify the science facts behind Sound, Vision, Natural Forces and Electricity!

In fact, this interactive exhibition is focused on those science phenomena which can be detected by the senses and by instruments of observation.

It is developed in 4 thematic areas: Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, Forces and Energy, Sound.

All the exhibits allow visitors to:

• identify and isolate a set of elements from reality

• analyse the relationship between them

• translate them into mathematical language

• formulate laws which govern phenomena to predict and reproduce them experimentally

In this way, they give all the analytical approaches and tools which underpin scientific enquiry.

All the phenomena which you can observe and reproduce with the materials, instruments, technical devices and interactive games in this exhibition are those covered by Classical Physics.

The four sessions:

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

FORCE AND ENERGY

LIGHT, COLOUR, SIGHT

SOUND

OUTDOOR LABORATORIES

Around the interactive exhibition there are five open laboratories

Energy,

Environment,

Music,

Chemistry,

Food and Health

aiming at showing people that scientific facts behind our everyday actions can be made easily understandable and replicable with simple materials.

ENERGY

Here we focus on energy and its environmentally sustainable use. You will see a series of experiments and demos aiming to show how energy is produced in

Nature; for instance the photosynthesis process, on which many natural processes are based, but also how we produce energy from fossil fuels (gas, oil and coal) and to the physical and chemical transformation taking place during the refining cycle. Here we will also introduce the new energy sources. A set of experiments will then focus on the relationship between strengths and energy in nature.

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR:

• ENERGY FROM OIL everyday

• HEAT ABSORPTION: A BLACK AND WHITE ISSUE 26th, 30th April

• THE WOOL AS A DAM 27th April, 1st May

• MAKE A THERMOSCOPE! 28th April, 2nd May

• MAKE A CALORIMETER! 27th April, 1st May

• ENERGY FROM THE SUN: THE SOLAR OVEN 28th April, 2nd May

• THE THERMOMETER 26th, 28th, 30th April, 2nd May

• PET ICE CUBE 25th, 29th April

• IS IT WARMER THE WOOD OR THE METAL? 25th, 29th April

• ICE CUBE MELTING ON POLYSTYRENE AND ON METAL 26th, 30th April

• EXPERIENCES ON THE REFRACTION 27th, 29th April

• GREENHOUSE EFFECT 25th, 29th April

• WATER CYCLE IN A JAR 26th, 30th April

ENVIRONMENT

In this area, experiments and information enable visitors to better understand the natural environment, and stimulate the youth’s curiosity towards natural phenomena and everyday issues. Even “hard” topics like the Bio-geochemical cycles (water, nitrogen and carbon) can be easily displayed using simple materials. This will help us to understand how important it is to recycle and reuse most of the materials we handle every day.

Here we can also investigate some of the Nigerian natural environments: the coasts, the delta, the bush and the rain forest together with the typical organisms living there. The specific features of the different ecosystems are presented in terms of biodiversity and environmental value. But also the protection of the local animal species and the fight against parasites and plants and animal diseases will be dealt with.

The management of resources is also tackled: deforestation and the subsequent soil erosion, the use of mono-cultivations which spoil the soil, air and water pollution which affects plants and animals.

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR:

• FIGHTING PLANTS’ ENEMIES everyday

• OBSERVING CELLS everyday

• LIFE IN A WATER DROP everyday

• FRIENDLY ROOTS everyday

• THE COLOURS OF LEAVES 26th April

• POLLINATION 28th April

• WATER CYCLE IN A JAR 27th April

• SOIL WITH RAINCOAT 28th April

• DISTIL WATER 29th April

• PLEASE PASS THE CARBON 29th April

• THE OIL SUFFOCATES 1st May

• OIL AND BIRD 1st May

• THE WORM EATS MY GARBAGE! 25th April

• ECOSYSTEMS 25th April

• BABY BEAN 2nd May

• WHERE ARE THE ROOTS 2nd May

• COLORED CELERY 26th April

• A FLOWER OPENS 27th April

• TUT THE MOLD 30th April

• LET’S PREPARE A MOLD HOUSE 30th April

• MIMICRY 25th April

MUSIC AND SOUNDS

The relationship and affinities between music and science is here highlighted. In fact the artist and the scientist are “researchers”, they make experiments in order to generate new knowledge. This link is explored through a set of experiments, demos, educational games, discussions about three main topics: the physical nature of sound; the music scales and mathematics; the classification of music instruments and their construction.

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR:

• SAND IN RESONANCE everyday

• WAVES RUNNING ON THE WIRE 25th April, 1st May

• COUNT THE WAVES 26th April, 2nd May

• BOING BOING 29th April

• RULE AND LASER 30th April

• VOICES AND SOUNDS AT THE COMPUTER everyday

• THE WAVES RING-A-RINGO’-ROSES 27th April

• BIG SOUND AND LITTLE SOUND 28th April

FOOD AND HEALTH

Here we introduce the topic of a correct diet for a healthy lifestyle.

Particular attention is paid to the microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and parasites) and the viruses which pose a threat to the human health. Animations and simulations show how they affect our body and which precautions need to be taken in order to reduce the impact of these invisible enemies.

Scientific experiments will show how the human body functions. Simple experiments will demonstrate how to determine the content of sugars and starches in food and how to extract (and how to make it visible) the DNA of some food like onions, bananas and tomatoes.

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR:

• EAT WELL AND STAY WELL everyday

• HOW TO PRESERVE FOOD? 27th, 30th April

• A JOURNEY THROUGH THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 25th, 27th, 29th April, 1st May

• VIRUS AND BACTERIA 26th, 28th, 30th April, 2nd May

• BUILD THE NUTRITION PYRAMID! 25th, 28th April, 1st May

• LET’S GO SHOPPING FOOD SO TO MAKE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER AND SNACK 26th, 29th April, 2nd May

THE CHEMISTRY BAR

This tent hosts the “chemistry bar”, where visitors can order and see chemical experiments.

Experiments are shown in an entertaining and accessible way, with spectacular effects in order to let visitors understand the processes behind chemical reactions and to formulate and verify hypothesis about the same reactions. The demonstrations will include mainly natural compounds, avoiding complex and polluting substances, in order to facilitate the discharge of wastes and also to emphasize that chemical reactions occur everyday in the natural world.

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR

• BALLS DANCING 26th, 29th April, 2nd May

• ALMOND’S MILK – A SUMMER DRINK! 27th, 30th April

• VEGETABLES AND NOBILITY 25th, 28th April, 1st May

• THE NAKED EGG AND THE DRESSED EGG 26th, 29th April, 2nd May

• AT THE END….A COFFEE! 27th, 30th April

• DISCOVERING THE RED ONION 27th, 30th April

• BLUE FOR AGITATION 25th, 28th April, 1st May

DOCUMENTARIES

• MARA, THE LION’S GLANCE

• THE EYES OF HOPE

• THE ENIGMA OF THE BLACK CAIMAN

• JAGLAVAK

• ZEBRAS: PATTERNS IN THE GRASS

• THE RHINO WAR

• SURVIVORS OF THE SKELETON COAST

• ELEPHANT

• WILDLIFE WARRIORS

• AFRICAN WILDLIFE

• BEAUTY AND THE BEASTS: A LEOPARD’S STORY

• WINGS OVER THE SERENGETI

• LIONS OF DARKNESS

• WALKING WITH LIONS

CONFERENCES

Conferences addressing locally sensitive themes and involving local professors and researchers will be part of the Festival too.

24TH APRIL 2009 OPENING CEREMONY

CALENDAR

25th April 2009 – 2nd Day: Conference/Public Lecture on The Environment

Prof. Ogbonnaya, Topic: Plant in Paper Production making

26th April 2009 – 3rd Day: Conference/Public Lecture on Food and Health

Dr. Obioha, Topic: Food and your Health

27th April 2009 – 4th Day: Conference/Public Lecture on Science and Music

Prof. Tony Mereni, Topic: Music Therapy/Musical Science Exploiting the Two Aspects of a Discipline for Human Development

28th April 2009 – 5th Day: Conference/Public Lecture on Energy

Prof. Ogwuegbu, Topic: Generating Electricity from Nuclear Power

Prof. Eze, Topic: Alternative Energy Option for Nigeria

29th April 2009 – 6th Day: Conference/Public Lecture on Chemical Laboratory

30th April 2009 – 7th Day: Conference/Public Lecture on The Future of Science and Technology Education in Contemporary Nigeria

Honoured committee

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Cardinal Secretary of State, Vatican’

Cardinal Paul Poupard, President emeritus, Pontifical Council for Culture

Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture

Archbishop A.J.V. Obinna, Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province

Mons. Lorenzo Leuzzi, Director, Office for University Pastoral Care, Vicariate of Rome, Italy

Prof. Nicola Cabibbo, President, Pontifical Academy of Science

Chief Mrs. Chukwu, Commissioner for Works, Imo State Nigeria

Chief Collins Ofoegbu, U.S. based

Chief Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, Proprietor DAAR

Communication – AIT television Nigeria

Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, Vice-Chancellor of Abia State

University, Abia

Prof. Jude Njoku, Commissioner for Education, Imo State Nigeria

Prof. Juluis Okojie, Executive Secretary National

Universities Commission

Prof. Anthony Okere, Acting Vice-Chancellor, Imo State

University, Owerri, (IMSU)

Prof. Celestine Onwuliri, Vice-Chancellor, Fed. Univ. of Sci.&Tech. Owerri (FUTO)

Prof. G. Vittorio Silvestrini, President, Fondazione IDIS Città della Scienza, Naples, Italy

Promotion committee

Mons. Melchor Sanchez de Toca y Alameda, Undersecretary Pontifical Council for Culture

Dr. Vincenzo Lipardi, Fondazione IDIS-Città della Scienza Executive Committee, President of Ecsite, the European Network of Science Centres Museums

Rev. Fr. Dr. Tobechi E. Anyadike, President, Association for the Assumpta Science Center Owerri (ASCO) and Director of the ASCO project

Scientific committee

Prof. Anthony I.Okere, Chairman

Prof. Chucks I. Ogbonnaya, Abia State University, Co-chairman

Prof. Placid Njoku, President, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, Abuja

Prof. Francis Njoku, University of Nigeria Nsukka

Mons. Paul Amakiri, President Nigerian Directors of Catholic Education

Assoc. Prof. Simon Anyanwu, Abia State University

Rev. Fr. Dr. Jude C. Ike, Former Chancellor Archdiocese of Owerri

Rev. Fr. Christian Iwuagwu, Director EUCARE Farms, Agbala, Owerri

Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Njoku, Chaplain, Imo State University

Mr. Emeka Ani, Assumpta Press Owerri

Dr. Emma Esenwa, Federal University of Science and Technology, Owerri

Prof. F.C. Eze, Federal University of Science and Technology, Owerri

Prof. Jibrum, Imo State University

Prof. Tony Mereni, Federal University of Science and Technology, Owerri

Prof. M.I. Obioha, Federal Politechnic Nekede PLYNEK

Dr. Offurum, Imo State University

Dr. J.N. Ogbulie, Federal University of Science and Technology, Owerri

Dr. Mrs. Toochukwu E. Ogbulie, Federal University of Science and Technology, Owerri

Prof. Martin Ogwuegbu, Abia State University

Prof. A.I Onuchukwu, Federal University of Science and Technology, Owerri

Engr. Augustine Onukwufor, Exxon Mobil Oil Company

Prof. V.C. Onwuliri, Federal University of Science and Technology, Owerri

Dr. Donald Osuigwe, Federal University of Science and Technology, Owerri

Prof. Ubochi, Imo State University

Dr. Luigi Amodio, Fondazione IDIS-Città della Scienza Director, Naples, Italy

Working group

Fondazione Idis-Città della Scienza, Naples, Italy: Dr.ssa Anne Marie Bruyas, Dr. Guglielmo Maglio, Dr. Davide Petrone

Associazione Assumpta Science Center Owerri (ASCO), Italy

Assumpta Science Centre Owerri, General Secretariat Coordinator Sylvester Nwosu

Coordinator in Nigeria for the office for University Pastoral Care Roma: Rev. Prof. Simon Anyanwu

Thanks to

Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigeria

National University Commission, Nigeria

Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Nigeria

DAAR Communications, AIT Television, Nigeria

Chemistry Department, “Lauree Scientifiche”, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Dr.ssa Isa Rampone, Dr.ssa Giulia Gaeta Marmo, Federico Brigida, Chemistry BAR, Italy

Association Scienza Viva, Calitri, Italy

CEICC Municipality of Naples

All the students of the ASCO Association

All the staff of Città della Scienza involved in the training and design of the Festival