{"id":66898,"date":"2022-09-15T14:37:03","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T21:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=66898"},"modified":"2022-09-15T14:37:03","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T21:37:03","slug":"2022-science-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/2022-science-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Pyramids, peaks and pathogens\u2014oh my!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2022 Festival of Science, a Flagstaff tradition since 1990, kicks off on Friday, Sept. 23, bringing more than 100 free, family-friendly events to the community\u2014many of them highlighting Northern Arizona University faculty and staff as presenters, lecturers and hosts.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s theme is Pyramids to The Peaks, giving participants the opportunity to learn about ancient cultures, the environment of the Colorado Plateau, wildlife, astronomy and biology as well as many topics at the intersection of the sciences and the arts. The festival offers a wide variety of presentations, hands-on workshops, interactive discussions, classroom talks and guided tours led by outstanding experts from across northern Arizona.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Expanding the festival\u2019s expertise to include a global perspective is prominent Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, who will deliver the W. L. Gore & Associates keynote presentation, \u201cMummies, Monuments and Mysteries,\u201d at NAU\u2019s Ardrey Auditorium. Hawass, who appears frequently on the Discovery Channel and PBS, will share his passion for archeological discovery in the fascinating world of pharaohs and Egyptian gods.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Locally known as \u201cThe Best 10 Days of the Year,\u201d the Festival of Science continues to be a cornerstone event for the Flagstaff community, with NAU playing a key role in the festival\u2019s success. Through active participation by NAU scientists, artists and educators, as well as a robust sponsorship commitment, the university supports the Flagstaff community through the festival in many ways, including the traditional science-themed ballet presented by NAU\u2019s Community Music and Dance Academy just before the keynote presentation. This year\u2019s ballet, \u201cPyrouettes,\u201d spotlights a collection of dances inspired by Egyptian archaeology, the desert and ancient Egypt performed to traditional and contemporary music from the region.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The NAU Research Spotlight Lecture Series features professor <\/span>Kevin Gurney<\/span><\/b> presenting \u201cClimate Change Data from the Building to the Planet,\u201d Regents\u2019 professor <\/span>Ted Schuur<\/span><\/b> discussing \u201c<\/span>How a Warming Arctic Affects the Climate and You\u201d <\/span>and associate professor <\/span>Jeff Foster<\/span><\/b> delivering \u201cBacterial Hitchhikers: How Global Migration Spreads Infectious Diseases Through Livestock.\u201d The lectures are an important way for NAU to highlight the university\u2019s scientific excellence within the local community; past lecturers have included assistant professors <\/span>Emily Cope<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>Jason Ladner, and Noami Lee, <\/span><\/b>associate professors<\/span> O\u2019neil<\/span><\/b> Guthrie<\/span><\/b> and <\/span>Gerrick Lindberg,<\/span><\/b> and professor <\/span>Egbert Schwartz<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A variety of other presentations and workshops are also led by NAU experts, including:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n