Science + Art Saturdays begin this weekend at Randolph—register now!

A session about taking the perfect selfie, held at the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College last year.

This fall, Randolph College will continue its popular (and free) Science + Art Saturdays, featuring a wide range of scientific and creative ventures.

Each session begins at 10 a.m., includes lunch, and is open to any high school student. Laboratory activities are taught by Randolph faculty, and interactive tours and art workshops are taught by staff from the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College. Any student who attends four or more science sessions will be recognized as a Randolph College Science Scholar, and any student who attends all four art sessions will be designated a Maier Museum of Art Scholar. Certificates will be awarded during a reception in the spring.

Science + Art Saturdays are an extension of Randolph College’s Central Virginia Science Festival, held in the spring. Peter Sheldon, a physics professor who helped begin both programs, said Science Festival and Science + Art Saturdays are intended to show how science connects to other disciplines and is a part of everyday life.

“The purpose of Science + Art Saturdays is to give high school students genuine, hands-on college experiences,” Sheldon said. “And in addition to our well-known science programs, we have the resources of the Maier Museum of Art at our disposal, so it seemed natural to offer these experiences to students as well.”

The first session, entitled “Wilderness and Waffle Houses,” takes place this Saturday at the Maier. Students will explore depictions of the American landscape and the distinct ways artists have portrayed the world around them. They’ll also have the opportunity to create their own work of art.

Other sessions this fall include “The Science of Skywatching,” which will have students learning to spot atmospheric phenomena, and “Art and Activism,” inspired by Randolph’s 106th Annual Exhibition of Art, Carceral States.

For a full list of sessions or to register for sessions this fall, please visit http://web.randolphcollege.edu/sciencesaturdays/.