HPU Joins Qubein Children’s Museum to Offer Fun Science Activities
High Point University students invite local children to learn more about science through monthly science activities at the Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum. Children explored making ooblek with assistance from Dr. Eric Rokni, an HPU assistant professor of physics, during a visit to the children’s museum.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Feb. 4, 2025 – High Point University students and faculty in the Wanek School of Natural Sciences invite local children to join them in fun, hands-on activities at the Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum. “What in the World? Wednesdays” will be held at the museum on Feb. 12 and March 12 from 12-3 p.m.
“Our activities are faculty- and student-designed to engage children in the wonder and fun of science. With our students leading the way, children can see that everyone, including themselves, can be scientists,” said Dr. Briana Fiser, interim dean of the Wanek School of Natural Sciences. “For our students, these events are great opportunities to share their passion for science while also developing communication skills to share scientific knowledge in general language for audiences of all ages.”
Each themed session is sponsored by a different HPU club or organization in the Wanek School of Natural Sciences. Last fall, HPU students helped children relate to physics and chemistry and learn about various careers in the sciences. Next up are activities exploring biology, neuroscience and botany. The HPU Mobile Community Lab and Natural Science Fellows Program will also provide activities in addition to inflatable mobile planetarium shows from HPU’s Culp Planetarium.
“Parents won’t want to miss out on this fun and exciting opportunity,” said Lisa Garrison, education and program director for the Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum. “What in the World? Wednesdays is an inspiring, hands-on science adventure that lets kids dive into real-world experiments while interacting with actual scientists from High Point University. Kids get to see firsthand how science is not only fascinating but all around us — ready to explore and discover at any moment.”
This collaboration between HPU and the children’s museum began last summer as part of HPU’s Summer Research Program in the Sciences (SuRPS). Each SuRPS research group was asked to design a station to present during the inaugural SciQuest Spectacular in June. For that event, HPU students and faculty inspired kids with an insect petting zoo, extracting DNA from strawberries, exploding gummy bears, inflatable mobile planetarium shows from HPU’s Culp Planetarium and more. The success of that summer event led to the start of regular, monthly outreach events.
