Vandal Science Days: A Two-Day Event Blending Science and Music in Idaho

The University of Idaho’s College of Science presents Vandal Science Days, a two-day event that offers attendees the opportunity to participate in a variety of science-based activities. Taking place on Friday and Saturday, April 19th and 20th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Integrated Research and Innovation Center, this event is free to the public and welcomes people of all ages to engage in hands-on activities, workshops, and presentations.

Vandal Science Days will intersect with the Lional Hampton Music Festival happening throughout the week. Attendees can expect food, prizes, hands-on activities like fossil digging and comet making, and special presentations by faculty. Some of the topics that will be covered include arsenic usage in beauty products and archaeochemistry.

On Friday, presentations will be held throughout the day. The schedule includes a showcase of “Virtual Reality Demos” by students at 11 a.m., a presentation on “Arsenic For Health and Beauty and other dubious practices” by Claire Qualls at 1 p.m., and a “Geology Top Model” fashion show by geology undergrads at 2 p.m.

Saturday’s presentation will begin at 11 a.m. with John Anderson presenting “Virtual Realities for Sustainable Future: XR Application in Planetwalking Science.” This will be followed by a presentation at 1 p.m. by Melia LaFleur on “From Yellow Powder to Black Power and Archaeochemical Journey.”

In addition to Vandal Science Days, the Lional Hampton Jazz Festival will be hosting various workshops that explore the connections between science and music