Scientist Saturday: Diatoms

Saturday, February 24, 2018

1:00 PM-4:00 PM

Discover current research and meet real scientists at Scientist Saturdays. See hands-on demonstrations of scientists’ exciting research and ask all the questions you want from 1 to 4 p.m. The program welcomes guests of all ages to interact with the scientists, who are happy to converse with you about their current research. Come back for new guests each month. Free with general admission. No registration required.

This month, meet graduate students Alison Minerovic and Nina Desianti, who study beautiful and intricate microscopic algae called diatoms. Diatoms are frequently used to determine water quality. Minerovic and Desianti will show off diatom specimens from their ongoing projects in New Jersey. They’ll show you how to examine rock scrapings from freshwater streams and diatoms from coastal sediment cores. You can even play a matching game where you will learn how to compare specimens to published literature.