Quantum Leap: Teen Physics Event @Central Library
Teens and tweens (ages 11-17): are you curious about physics? What about virtual reality (VR)? Explore both in this interactive program led by Stefano Colafranceschi, professor in the Integrated Sciences and Technology (ISAT) program at James Madison University!
Participants will be introduced to the basics of quantum mechanics through a short talk, followed by hands-on activities. Teens ages 14-17 will have the opportunity to explore quantum concepts using an immersive, game-based VR experience, while tweens ages 11-13 will take part in a physics-themed cookie activity (which you can eat!).
The program will run in two rotating sessions between 1:00-2:00 PM, allowing participants to experience multiple activities during the event! Registration is required for the VR experience and limited to ages 14-17, so click the "Register Now" button to save a spot. The cookie activity is open to all teens and tweens and doesn't require registration!
About Stefano Colafranceschi (from LEGO bricks to the Big Bang):
Professor Colafranceschi started his journey building epic space stations out of LEGOs, which eventually leveled up into a degree in Astronautics Engineering. But he didn't stop at building ships, he wanted to know how the universe was built. That turned him into an Applied Physicist, moving from building cool gear to cracking the code of reality itself.
That path led him to CERN, where he's spent a decade smashing protons together at super-dupa energy levels to kinda recreate the literal birth of the universe. As a scientist at the CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) Experiment (CERN), he helped discover the Higgs Boson, which was such a massive deal it snagged a Nobel Prize!
Nowadays, he's still working on high-tech CMS upgrades because he's pretty sure the universe is still hiding some secrets, and he wants to find them. When he's not playing with the world's largest science experiments, he's at JMU teaching classes on the tech that makes all this possible.
