NIH makes a scene at USA Science and Engineering Festival

Exhibits, activities and performances to be featured

The National Institutes of Health is making waves with exciting exhibits, interactive fun for all ages and special science performances at the 2nd USA Science and Engineering Festival this weekend, April 28-29, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The festival shows attendees that science is fun, intriguing, and accessible to people of all ages. NIH will feature over 30 exhibits in Area 17 of Hall B.
Included in the many unique exhibits and stage shows will be a rock guitar performance by NIH Director Dr. Francis S. Collins. On Sunday, on the Curie Stage in Hall C at 11:30 a.m., he'll be strumming songs on his guitar that delight the ears and educate the mind. "This festival is exactly what we need to energize the next generation of young scientists in the United States," said Dr. Collins.

Guests can play a 3-D game where they'll battle against bacteria, learn about the lobes of the human brain, or toss a football while wearing goggles that simulate being under the influence of alcohol. From 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, you can meet Dr. Carol Greider, an NIH grantee from Johns Hopkins University who received a Nobel Prize for research on the structure of telomeres, which are important in the lifespan of cells. Click here for a full list of NIH exhibits.

NIH will host Career Exploration for people to learn about careers in science. Meet with NIH scientists, health communicators and other health professionals Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Career Pavilion in Hall A to find out why they love science.

"Hundreds of NIH scientists and staff have committed so much to provide challenging and interactive exhibits. I'm looking forward to taking part and sharing how rewarding science can be," noted Collins in previewing the program.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov/.

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