In the atrium of Smith Hall, replicas of fossil shark teeth were printed in 3-D as part of the first Science Sunday of 2014 put on by the University of Alabama Museum of Natural History.
The free event also featured fossil displays, a guest lecture and the unveiling of a skull from Xiphactinus audax, a late-Cretaceous predatory fish.
Allie Sorlie, education outreach coordinator for the museum, said the event was designed as a fun, family-friendly program.
“This Science Sunday was all about 3-D printing and how it can be used in paleontology,” Sorlie said. “We had crafts, coloring and other activities for kids, including making a Xiphactinus kite.”
Jamey Grimes, an art instructor who works with the 3-D printing lab on campus, said the printers provide a substantial educational opportunity.
“3-D printing is a great way to bring multiple fields together,” Grimes said. “It works on an educational level, like kids getting hands-on with printed shark teeth, as well as a full-scale research level, where the best way to study a specimen and to keep it intact is to use scans and models.”
Several student groups were in attendance, including the UA Geology Club. Lee Drago, a senior majoring in geology, represented the club at Science Sunday.
“We go out to see practical uses of what we learn in classes,” Drago said. “The fossils here are a big thing for us. We’re trying to generate more interest in the club and geology in general.”
Organizers also used the help of student volunteers to host the event. Elizabeth Schweers, a senior majoring in geography, has volunteered for similar events at the museum.
“I volunteered for Science Sunday and last year’s National Fossil Day event,” Schweers said. “It was a lot of fun to see how excited all the kids were.”
The event concluded with a lecture by Dana Ehret, curator of paleontology, about the abundance of fossils that could be found in the Black Belt region of Alabama.
“I like doing these kinds of things, especially reaching out to the community,” Ehret said. “It’s important for kids to be able to see and touch real fossils and learn about the state.”
Sorlie said she hopes to see more people attend future events at the museum.
“The museum is a great resource,” she said. “I think sometimes people are a little timid about coming on campus when they’re not students, but hopefully events like this will generate some more interest.”
The next Science Sunday is scheduled for Sunday, March 2. The event will explore the origins of the universe by looking at planets, stars and meteorites. The event is free and open to the public.
