DETROIT – Visitors will have an opportunity to explore the future of energy first-hand when The New Detroit Science Center hosts a day-long event of hands-on activities, alternative-power demos, rides and special energy challenge team appearances on Earth Day April 22.
The event is organized in association with General Motors, Lockheed Martin and NASA – partners of the exhibit SPACE: A Journey to Our Future – and NextEnergy, and will feature approximately 15 participating organizations.
Kevin Prihod, president and CEO of The New Detroit Science Center, described the event as a way for families to get a hands-on look at the technologies that will power our future.
“Our future energy needs will be met by a combination of more efficient uses of remaining fossil fuels and a variety of new sustainable fuels. Our goal for Earth Day is to make future energy technology more accessible for the public to explore.”
Scheduled activities include solar-powered mini-car races, live fuel cell demonstrations and a display of GM’s Hy-Wire prototype fuel cell vehicle, as well as talks, games, contests and giveaways. Appearances by the Challenge X team, UM Solar Car Team and Kettering University’s fuel cell powered golf cart are planned at various times throughout the day.
Also on hand will be a bus specially equipped with GM’s Hybrid Propulsion System. Visitors will be able to take short rides on this bus on a route around the Science Center as a demonstration of how alternative energies work in the real world, while a video by science personality Bill Nye explains the technologies at work. Volunteers will be on hand to explain the positive impact of hybrids, alternative power sources, advanced technologies, and the coming hydrogen economy.
For more information, click on DetroitScienceCenter.Org
