As the annual MSMS Science Carnival swiftly approaches, excitement is rising amongst both faculty and students. Science Carnival is a school event that serves as both a community service project and a science fair.

Each year, science teachers set up booths for various science demonstrations, ranging from a piece about the metric system to a demonstration of inertia using tablecloths. Students can perform an assortment of jobs such as: presenting a demonstration, leading some of the groups of children through the gym, or helping to set up and take down the carnival itself.

The attendees are typically school children from the surrounding areas; this year the children are coming from the county schools surrounding Columbus. Talking to some of the science faculty members, it was obvious that they were excited for the opportunity to share science with these kids. “Water lock is always a hit with the kids,” said Dr. Elizabeth Morgan, chemistry teacher.

Biology teacher Dr. Bill Odom expressed a similar sentiment while talking about the new Pet Vet Station, stating “Our students are very excited about participating, and I think the little kids that are scared to death (by animals) will hopefully overcome their fears by seeing other kids their age interact with the animals.”

The Pet Vet Station, explains Dr. Odom, is “a collaboration with MSU’s vet school; specifically, it’s the travelling vets that go around the state. They’re going to have live animals and teach how to approach an animal. They will also try to teach about the health of animals.”

Senior Lyndsey Risinger, a presenter at this year’s Pet Vet Station, was also excited, saying “I really enjoy working with animals, so I was excited that there was a new opportunity to teach kids about them with the new station.

“I’m super excited to present; we’re going to be working with certified vets and vet students at the station, so it will be very educational to interact with them,” she added.

Junior Tyler Greenlee, a presenter at the Metric Units Station, said, “I love kids and being given the opportunity to represent MSMS makes me happy … the metric system is easy to understand and I feel it’s important to instill knowledge of the metric system in kids at a young age.” Overall, this year’s Science Carnival looks like it will be a good, educational time for all involved.