the department of physics and astronomy and department of aerospace engineering at texas a&m university invite audiences across texas to get up-close and personal with science and technology next month at the 2013 physics & engineering festival an entertaining and informative weekend scientific extravaganza for all ages no fees or tickets are required for the free annual event scheduled for saturday april 6 from 10 am to 5 pm at the george p mitchell 40 physics building on the texas a&m campus activities will begin at 10 am with hands-on science exhibitions and engineering technology demonstrations and conclude with a 4 pm public lecture by internationally recognized harvard university astronomer and author dr robert p kirshner about the accelerating universe throughout the day participants are encouraged to unleash their inner scientists aboard a square-wheeled bicycle run through a pool of cornstarch and try their hands at generating electricity or shooting balloons with lasers four of more than 100 fun experiments and displays illustrating basic scientific and engineering technology-related concepts and principles all exhibits are manned by texas a&m faculty staff and students the departments of physics and astronomy and aerospace engineering will be joined by representatives from the departments of chemistry mathematics atmospheric sciences and biochemistry and biophysics this years festival will showcase dozens of exciting new demonstrations built by student teams affiliated with the university-funded deep (discover explore and enjoy physics and engineering) program more than 60 deep students were involved in creating the new demos and many will be on hand to present their work in addition to exhibits the daylong festival will feature three fantastic bubble shows (11 am 1 pm 2 pm) by internationally acclaimed bubble artist and physics showman tom noddy also known as the bubble guy whose exquisite bubbles lively humor and engaging sense of fun leave his audiences both delighted and intrigued attendees also will have the opportunity to meet nasa aerospace engineer and texas a&m graduate dr george james 86 as well as nobel prize-winning texas a&m physicists dr dudley r herschbach and dr david m lee in three successive lecture sessions scheduled for 11 am 1 pm and 2 pm respectively in the stephen w hawking auditorium at 4 pm kirshner will present the accelerating universe: einsteins blunder undone in the primary lecture hall of the mitchell physics building in addition to detailing what subsequently became a nobel prize-winning discovery kirshner will share insight from his lifelong career in astrophysics which features many texas a&m ties prior to saturdays events dr john l junkins distinguished professor of aerospace engineering and holder of the royce e wisenbaker chair at texas a&m will deliver a free public lecture impending close encounters with asteroid apophis on friday (april 5) at 7 pm in the hawking auditorium tickets are not required for the event in which junkins will discuss earths approaching dates with astronomical destiny close encounters with the 1 000-foot asteroid apophis in 2029 and 2036 and the interesting learning opportunities each presents for astronomers and aerospace engineers all events are sponsored by a texas a&m tier one program (top) grant the department of physics and astronomy the department of aerospace engineering the george p and cynthia woods mitchell institute for fundamental physics and astronomy and the texas a&m college of science the event is an affiliate festival of the 3rd annual usa science and engineering festival for the latest details regarding the 2013 physics & engineering festival including event directions and parking information please visit http://physicsfestivaltamuedu -atm- watch a video glimpse of what to expect at the 2013 physics & engineering festival on you tube: contact: shana k hutchins (979) 862-1237 or shutchins@sciencetamuedu