Vandal Science Day

An exciting event to do science

Vandal Science Day is a free and open-to-the-public annual event hosted by University of Idaho's College of Science. This engaging day of discovery features hands-on workshops, presentations and interactive learning experiences led by College of Science faculty members and students. Participants of all ages are invited to explore various scientific fields and see science come to life.
 

Event details

Date: Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Integrated Research and Innovation Center (IRIC)
Audience: Open to all ages, with a focus on high school students and their families
Cost: Free

Questions? Contact Amy Kingston at amykingston@uidaho.edu.

Experience science firsthand

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in science activities and demonstrations
• Engage with faculty and students leading innovative projects
• Explore various scientific disciplines through interactive exhibits
• Gain insight into real-world applications of scientific research

Event schedule

All Day | Hands-on science activities and demos 
Explore over 25 tables featuring hands-on science activities and demos. Tables are open on all three floors of the IRIC building.

All Day | Snail Hunters documentary 
10-minute documentary excerpt about evolutionary biology research in the Galapagos. Starts every 15 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.

9:30-10 a.m. | Sharkabet Alphabet art viewing 
View Ray Troll’s Sharkabet (whimsical paintings of prehistoric shark species from A to Z) and fossils from Idaho’s own prehistoric helicoprion shark. This tour will repeat at 10 a.m., depending on demand.

9:45-10:15 a.m. | “What’s all the fuss about fossil plants?” 
Hear a talk on paleobotany from Indah Huegele, collection manager at the Idaho Natural History Museum in Pocatello.

10:45-11:15 a.m. | Discover NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Titan 
Learn about the Vandal partnership with NASA that will send an octocopter to Titan in 2028 to explore the possibility of life on the largest moon of Saturn.

11:30 to noon | Tour of Dr. Paul Rowley’s Biology Lab 
Limited to first 20 participants. Tour the Rowley lab, which houses research on how so-called “killer toxins” attack fungal cells. This has huge implications on microbrewing.

Noon to 1 p.m. | Pizza lunch provided 
Grab pizza and soda in the kitchen area on the IRIC first floor and find a spot to eat. See the lunch handout for suggestions.

12:30-1:30 p.m. | DIY ice cream station 
Learn how to make ice cream instantly with liquid nitrogen and get a bowl to try. While supplies last.

1-1:30 p.m. | Polymorphic Games tour 
Tour this computer lab in which scientists and computer programmers work together to make science-based video games.

1:30-2 p.m. | Ruben’s Tube demonstration 
See a demonstration of the Ruben’s tube, a physics device that uses flames to demonstrate acoustic standing waves.