Press Release

For Immediate Release	Contact: Caryl Lucas
May 2, 2006	Phone: 609-292-4302

SECRETARY WELLS AND THE NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM
CELEBRATED 26TH ANNUAL SUPER SCIENCE FESTIVAL
Two-day event offered more than 20 exhibitors, science
experiments, demonstrations, lectures and brilliant laser shows

Trenton, NJ – On Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30, Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells welcomed residents of all ages to the New Jersey State Museum’s 26th annual Super Science Festival, the Museum’s largest annual event with approximately 5,000 attendees from all across the state, and surrounding areas.

“The Super Science Festival is an amazing opportunity for our families and children to learn about the natural wonders of the sciences and space,” said Secretary Wells. “We are excited about this year’s wide variety of science exhibitors, demonstrations and experiments. Our goal is to engage our young people and encourage them to explore careers in science, engineering and mathematics,” she added.

This year’s celebration, sponsored in part by the Friends of the New Jersey State Museum, PSE&G, and the Trenton Thunder, transformed the Museum’s outdoor plaza into a gigantic laboratory, featuring hands-on astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology and biology activities. Families learned how to make slime with the American Chemical Society, explored the fascinating world of bugs with the American Entomological Society, and heard lectures by the Museum’s own paleontologists on the “Giant Dinosaurs of Patagonia” and “Fossil Collecting in the Rockies.” These are just a few of the activities that were available all weekend for visitors.

During the festival, representatives from 20 scientific organizations were on hand to conduct experiments and other fun activities designed to introduce young people to science. In addition, Mad Science of West New Jersey presented Fire and Ice, and used simple but interesting science experiments and demonstrations to help audiences discover the process of science. As part of the festivities, a brilliant laser light show, Laser Space Chase-3D and an astronomy star program, Hubble Vision, which uses images from the Hubble Telescope, were offered in the Planetarium for festival goers.

The New Jersey State Museum is a division of the Department of State. For more information on the Museum or Planetarium shows, call (609) 292-6464 or visit our website at www.newjerseystatemuseum.org. The Museum’s Galleries at 225 West State Street are open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm and are closed Sundays and State holidays. Admission is free. Metered parking is available on West State Street. On weekends, free parking is available in parking lots adjacent to and behind the Museum.

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