Hanford Observatory

November, 2005

Fall 2005 field trips to LIGO Hanford Observatory are testing the mettle of several new hands-on exhibits, and frequent utterances of "fun!" indicate that the devices are passing the tests with high marks. Science students from Wapato High School visited LHO on November 8 and went head to head with the Giant Slinky, the Pendulum Snake and the Vibrating String along with activities installed previously. Facilitating the visit were Wapato math instructor Randy Wheeler and Yakima Valley/Tri-Cities MESA high school coordinator Laura Cook. On the LIGO side, outreach coordinator Dale Ingram moved the students through the day's agenda. Staff scientist Michael Landry shared with the them some insights on gravitational waves and on the training and career experiences of a physicist.

LIGO field trips customarily include a welcome and introduction, a period of student investigation on the exhibits, a presentation from a scientist along with questions and answers and a walking tour of the site that includes a visit to the control room. The science themes of a visit revolve around gravity, wave behavior (including light) and the excitement of using science to make discoveries. Eleven exhibits and activities provide experiences with these themes. Students are encouraged to open their imaginations to the ways that these concepts play out in LIGO. The Giant Slinky, Pendulum Snake and Vibrating String were produced for LIGO by The Exploratorium in San Francisco, a world leader in the development of captivating hands-on exhibits.

Guests who enjoy these science machines should add a visit to LIGO Livingston to a future trip itinerary. Over thirty Exploratorium-produced exhibits will eventually fill the The LIGO Science Education Center (SEC), currently under construction at the Livingston site. The center will form the hub of a multi-partner program funded by the National Science Foundation that enhances teacher training and science instruction through the use of these activities in the context of LIGO science. Partners in the SEC endeavor in addition to LIGO and the Exploratorium are Southern University at Baton Rouge and Louisiana Gear Up/Louisiana SIP.