Over 150 free events put on by over 250 organizations state-wide for this upcoming science-themed celebration:

The Arizona SciTech Festival will take place February-March 2012 and will offer a series of hands-on activities and workshops, conversations and debates, exhibitions, concerts, guided walks and tours.

28 events in Pima County alone, too numerous to list. Pick up a brochure (I got mine at Bookman’s on Grant/Campbell), or go online at www.azscitechfest.org, find the Events Calendar, click on Pima County:

http://azscitechfest.org/events

Some of these science events with coincide with Tucson Gem & Mineral Show (Feb. 9), the Tucson Festival of Books (March 10 & 11), and the UA Living Beyond 100 series of six lectures, which I blogged about yesterday (click here), which runs from January 24 to February 28.

One of the highlight events in Tucson appears to be the one on Sat. Feb. 18 – Science in the City-

“Arizona Technology Council, Providence and Downtown Tucson Merchants: Experience science in downtown as never seen before with interactive science activities, demonstrations and exhibits. Features include downtown merchants demonstrating the science of their profession and interactive science exhibitions form local schools”.

Other science related activities such as Zero Gravity and Mathematics Road Show will be in the Interactive Park on Congress. Tucson schools and Pima JTED will showcase their projects at various venues including the Children’s Museum Tucson, Science Downtown, and the Pima County Joel D. Valdez Main library. Where: Congress St. Movie & Interactive Park, Scott Ave. and Stone Ave. When: 2 to 6 pm. Cost: Free.

Sounds like a great way to get your child/ren interested and passionate about science as a career. Or to renew your own interest in science and technology. So mark your calendars for any of these SCITECH Festival events.

And don’t forget to check out the Mars & Beyond exhibit in the Rialto Building at 300 E. Congress St., scheduled to be there till June. I visited it on January 7 and found several of the exhibits quite fascinating, esp. a 3 dimensional globe depicting each of the planets and moons, and a film about the Hubble Space Station with incredible images from outer space.

October 27, 2011 from 4:30-6:00 pm
UA Centennial Hall (east of Park Avenue & Main Gate Square), 1020 E University Blvd.

Do you know who’s behind the screen? Here are a few things to consider:

Malware attacks have increased by 400% since 2010.

More than 36 million Americans have been victims of identity theft. Arizona continues to be in the top two states for this crime, which is the top complaint to the Federal Trade Commission.

Many of us use only one or two passwords across many sites, including our banking sites.
Only 57% of computer users use security software, and of those, only 64% have their software set to update automatically.

The average Facebook user doesn’t know one-fifth of the people listed as friends.
How do you keep from being a victim? Plan to attend the UA’s Cyber Citizen Forum, which is being hosted as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Stop.Think.Connect.™ Campaign.

This community forum is designed to share information on identity theft, fraud and phishing, social networking security, cyberbullying and cyberpredators.

Door prizes include:
iPads
Gift cards
iPod
Printers
Digital camera
Netbook

Please note: must be present to win

This event is free and open to the public — plan to attend, and bring a friend!
Good security info, plus the chance to win fabulous prizes?
No brainer – join us!

For more information, please contact the Information Security Office at 621-UISO (8476) or

CIO-ISO@email.arizona.edu.

UA Information Security website: http://security.arizona.edu/about-us

Free “Disaster in Japan” U of A College of Science public forum at Centennial Hall, March 29, 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.). The March 11, 2011 9.0 earthquake, 10 meter tsunami and nuclear crisis from the Fukushima nuclear plants will be the topic. Centennial Hall is at 1020 E. University Blvd. just east of Park Avenue.

Info from: http://cos.arizona.edu/now/

The five speakers scheduled will explore the science that has driven these natural and man-made catastrophes. This expert panel will be moderated by University of Arizona Provost Meredith Hay and will include:

Susan Beck
Professor, Geosciences, University of Arizona
Beck will provide an overview of the earthquakes and tsunamis that are at the core of Japan’s catastrophe. Her research involves using broadband seismology to understand mountain belts, earthquakes and faulting. Current studies include earthquakes and Earth structure associated with subduction zones and strike-slip plate boundaries.

Eric Betterton
Professor and Department Head, Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona
Betterton will describe the transport of radioactive particles in the atmosphere and the possible consequences for the western U.S. Betterton’s research focuses on atmospheric and environmental chemistry, including aerosols, cloud condensation nuclei, frozen solution chemistry, microphysical and chemical properties of winter precipitation, urban air quality, and ground water remediation.

Paul Bonavia
Chairman, President and CEO, UniSource Energy Corporation
Bonavia will examine the unfolding consequences of this disaster on energy policies worldwide. Prior to joining UniSource Energy in 2009, Bonavia served as Presidents of the Utilities Group and Commercial Enterprises at Xcel Energy. Bonavia serves on the Dean’s Board of Advisors of the UA College of Science.

Baldassarre Stea
Professor and Department Head, Radiation Oncology, University of Arizona
Dr. Stea will provide an understanding of the effects of radiation on human health. Stea is board-certified in radiation oncology and treats patients with lung cancers, melanoma, brain tumors and pediatric cancers.

John Williams
Professor, Nuclear and Energy Engineering, University of Arizona
Williams will provide an insiders’ perspective on the challenges presented by the nuclear reactor technology. As director of the UA Reactor Lab, Williams coordinated the recent decommissioning of the University of Arizona’s 52-year old TRIGA nuclear reactor.

More about this Science Now forum in Arizona Daily Star:
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/education/college/article_ab16388a-7f74-51b3-ae6f-251a9f051abf.html

Family update: I did receive word via email that my 2nd/3rd cousins in the Sendai area are well, but concerned about the potential nuclear crisis. Thank you for your prayers & messages of support.