November 20, 2024
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IVCC to host Scifest for children, adults

Lunar moon samples, inflatable planetarium among the evening’s highlights

By Shaw Local News Network
At a previous Scifest celebration, Illinois Valley Community College instructor Matt Johll shows children that reading books can ignite their curiosity.

At a previous Scifest celebration, Illinois Valley Community College instructor Matt Johll shows children that reading books can ignite their curiosity. (Photo provided by Fran Brolley)

Illinois Valley Community College’s CHEM/STEM Club presents its popular annual Scifest for children and adults from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 21, in the gymnasium.

Guests at the free event will discover the wonders of chemistry, biology, geology and physics, said IVCC chemistry instructor Matt Johll.

While laying on a bed of nails, Matthew Johll has a student smash cinderblocks on top of him to demonstrate that while appearing dangerous, the energy of the hammer is absorbed by the block being fractured.

While laying on a bed of nails, Matthew Johll has a student smash cinderblocks on top of him to demonstrate that while appearing dangerous, the energy of the hammer is absorbed by the block being fractured. (Photo provided by Fran Brolley)

“We are planning hands-on experiments and amazing demonstrations,” Johll said.

The evening will include lunar moon samples collected by NASA on multiple space missions and demonstrations involving an inflatable planetarium, imploding barrel, fluidized sand bed, augmented reality sandbox, flame sound tube, bed of nails and more.

For information, contact Johll at 815-224-0468 or matthew_johll@ivcc.edu