Mississippi News Nonprofit showed the silhouettes of unhatched chicks in fertilized eggs last year at the Mississippi Science Fest. Emily Summerlin learned all she needed about the fest from the look on the face of a little boy who saw it. He was about 6 or 7 years old. Summerlin, marketing and events specialist at Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, says that he was probably 6 or 7. On Saturday, the Mississippi Science Fest is a celebration hosted by LeFleur Museum district in Jackson. It features four museums offering hands-on, interactive fun that focuses on science, technology engineering and math (STEM), with a particular focus on Mississippi. A $10 single ticket allows families to spend the day at the Mississippi Children’s Museum and Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. There are shuttles, food trucks, and other amenities that allow them to explore, learn, and play. Saturday marks the second anniversary of the event, which was started by the Mississippi Children’s Museum in 2016. It includes all four museums within the district. In 2017, the science fest attracted around 3,000 people. Nicole Smith, event planner for the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, said that people were excited to see the variety of science industries in Mississippi. I don’t think that Mississippi is synonymous with science. But it does have a lot of it, including NASA’s Stennis space center, the timber and poultry industries, engineering and plastics. Saturday’s special show at the science museum features a one-woman show, “A Visit With Marie Curie”, featuring Susan Marie Frontczak, a living history scholar, performer, and playwright. The acclaimed program is geared to fifth-graders or older. Because of the limited space, it’s first come first served for the Q&A and show (with Frontczak still wearing his character) that follows. The show starts at 3:45 p.m. and seating begins at 2:45. Smith saw the play and decided to make it a part of her campaign. American Chemical Society sponsors the program along with their student chapters at Mississippi College, Belhaven University and Millsaps College. Marie’s lab in the early 1900s is like a friend. Smith said that it was important to hear her story and reflect on it. It could help you change your perception of science and the dedication required. The Marie Curie living history play connects with museum and Mississippi tradition, from biologist Cathy Shropshire’s popular portrayal of pioneering conservationist/museum founder Fannye Cook to the state’s active Chautauqua scene (the TED talks of the day) through the 1930s. Jen Myronuk is the STEM on Stage producer and co-founder. “It’s one those experiences where both the scholar and storyteller are one in the same. So it’s the closest thing you’ll get to meeting Fannye Cook and hearing the human stories behind their discoveries,” Jen Myronuk says. The filmed version of her play, “Humanity Needs Dreamers”: A Visit with Marie Currie, will be made available online as a speaking tour. It will be hosted in schools and communities throughout the state. The science museum will also feature a variety of exhibitors, including NASA’s Straw Rockets, the Mississippi State University Entomology Center, Seige Robotics, and many others. More than twenty-six exhibitors from Mississippi Children’s Museums are on hand for the festival, with each offering interactive fun throughout the museum. Waggoner Engineering has an augmented reality project about erosion. Susan Branson, director for external affairs, said, “They built it just to do this.” Branson states that children will be able to learn about soil erosion and how water affects the topographical surfaces. Last year, Branson said that kids were so engaged, it was hard for them to let go. Other exhibitors will include McNeely Plastics (Raytheon), Entergy Nuclear, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (Entergy Nuclear). Branson recalls the excitement on the faces of the children as they took in the science festival last year. “As they leave, they’re telling me, ‘This is the best day ever!’ Children are so dramatic anyway,” she said, laughing. Branson adds that children can see the possibility of a future and are able to recognize the importance of science. “What we’re trying is to broaden their possibilities.” There will be a turtle race at Sanderson Farms, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum and Friends of Mississippi River Basin Model. Andrea Patterson, the marketing director of the sports museum, says that families are looking for ways to engage their children in STEM and are seeking out activities that are unique and family-friendly. “That’s what the Mississippi Science Fest offers,” says Andrea Patterson, marketing director at the museum. Saturday’s special science fest scavenger hunting will be back this year, presented by C Spire. The Ag Museum features the Mississippi State University Mobile Environment and Energy Laboratory (MEEL trailer) which is a fully-automated and interactive demonstration that demonstrates all the latest technology required to run a poultry house. They’ve advanced far beyond the traditional egg-laying hen house. Summerlin states that there is a lot of automation involved in them and the technology behind it. Many people don’t know where their chickens are coming from. Poultry is the top state ag commodity. It’s important to educate our children about where their food comes. Another cool attraction is MSU’s sustainable bioproducts department and its Wood Magic Science Fair Mobile Unit. This unit highlights reforestation, plywood making, and many other topics. Summerlin says it’s targeted at elementary-aged children, but she’s 30 and was captivated by their stories. “A lot of people think farming is just farming, but oh man, there’s just so much more to it now.” For tickets, details and a complete list of exhibitors by museum, visit www.mssciencefest.org.