ATLANTA – Mercer University and Mercer Health Sciences Center are sponsors of the fifth annual Atlanta Science Festival, which culminates in the Exploration Expo, held March 24, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., in Piedmont Park.
The expo, which is free and open to the public, promotes science exploration, discovery and innovation with more than 100 interactive exhibits, hands-on experiments, mind-blowing demonstrations and performances.
Faculty and students from the College of Pharmacy, Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, School of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and College of Health Professions will offer the following demonstrations throughout the day:
Pharmacological Mixology
Dr. Joshua Kinsey, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice, will lead participants in mixing their own lip balm, complete with their choice of flavorings. This activity will demonstrate the concept of pharmacists preparing personalized medications for patients.
SAM
Fran Kamp, clinical associate professor and coordinator of the Learning Resource Center, and Suzanne Applegate, clinical assistant professor, will demonstrate a variety of lung and heart sounds using “SAM” – the College of Nursing’s Simulated Auscultation Manikin. SAM is an innovative teaching tool used to display normal and abnormal sounds such as wheezing and heart murmurs. Additionally, participants will learn how to count their pulse, feel a carotid pulse and use a stethoscope.
Machine Learning
Dr. Anthony Choi, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of Mercer’s Machine Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory, will explain implementations of machine learning in different environments. The first demonstration will be a live object classification hosted through a webcam on a laptop and also on mobile devices such as smartphones. The second demonstration will be a view of a neural network learning to play Atari games over time, following the program as it learns and demonstrating how different factors can change the way it behaves.
Human Primate Anatomy and Evolution
Dr. Craig Byron, associate professor and associate chair of biology, will integrate audience participation, data collection and analysis, and model-based study in order to explore the limits of human peripheral vision. Measurements on participants will be used to interpret vertebrate cranial anatomy, the histology of animal retinas, and some of the structural and functional connections in the evolution of visual systems.
The Power of the Mind
Dr. Craig Marker, associate professor, chair and program director of clinical medical psychology, will show how human perception is not always correct while demonstrating concepts of neuropsychology using several methods, including a rubber hand illustration station, classic visual perceptual illusions, a priming effect and delay audio.
