SEED Day
Science Education Enrichment Day (S.E.E.D.) is a family themed festival celebrating science, technology, engineering and math.
While we anticipate the return of our in-person SEED Festival in 2021, we hope you will join us October 12-16, 2020 for our FREE Virtual STEM Expo. Experience interactive STEM content and access STEM presentations from the comfort of your home or classroom.
Family Science Days
The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center is excited to present the all new Family Science Days offering enriching science opportunities for families with elementary and middle level learners in biology, astronomy, environmental science, physical science, geology and more!
Mars in our Night Sky - Fall 2020
Mars is close to Earth in the fall of 2020, which results in some interesting things to observe in the night sky. Get outside and see the Red Planet first hand. The next time that Mars and Earth will be in a position to observe events like this will be in December 2022.
- Closest Approach: Tuesday, 10/6/20, 10:19 AM EDT - Mars is closest to earth.
- Opposition: Tuesday, 10/13/20 7:20 PM EDT - The Sun and Mars are on exact opposite sides of Earth.
- Moon-Mars Close Approach: 10/28-10/29/20 - After dark on 10/28, the Moon will continue getting closer to Mars into the early morning hours of 10/29. After dark on 10/29, the Moon will be close to Mars but getting further away through the night.
- Retrograde Motion: 9/4/20-11/2/20 - Mars appears to move “backward” in our night sky. This occurs only when Mars and earth are closest together. Earth “catches up” to Mars and passes the Red Planet when their orbits are close together. To see this, you will need to note the location of Mars against the backdrop of stars. You could compare this every few days to see the retrograde motion.
Ruth Patrick Science Education Center Open
We are happy to report that the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center is open. We are taking care to follow best practices in addressing COVID-19 concerns. We are planning schedules for student programs throughout the 2020-21 academic year.
In recognition that schools might not be able to transport students to us, we are making alternative plans to engage students in our programs. We will contact teachers who submitted program requests as we are working on scheduling over the summer.
Celebrating 30 years of infusing a love for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center (RPSEC) is a cooperative effort between the University of South Carolina Aiken, business, industry, the South Carolina Department of Education, and schools in the Central Savannah River Area of South Carolina and Georgia.
Its programs challenge the present and inspire the future to effect systemic change in science, mathematics, technology, and environmental education. Its hands-on approach to teaching is designed to help people experience the beauty, the order, and the power of science and mathematics, as well as the interest and fun of discovery.
In order to promote lifelong learning and empower individuals to make informed decisions, the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center uses innovative methods to influence the quality of science and mathematics education, models effective instruction, and enhances students' and teachers' knowledge.
