There will be many hands-on activities.

VALDOSTA — The College of Science and Mathematics and the Department of Biology at Valdosta State University will present Science Saturday: Tree of Life from 9 a.m. to noon April 13 in the Hugh C. Bailey Science Center.

Science Saturday: Tree of Life is described as a fun-filled and educational opportunity for community members to explore the scientific study of life.

Attendees of all ages will be able to learn about leapin’ lizards and slitherin’ snakes, frog acoustics, seahorse fossils, plant pigment chromatography and more. There will be a species scavenger hunt, fun with betta fish, and find out whether or not plants feel stress. Science Saturday is supported by VSU’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Initiative and is part of an ongoing effort to “inspire the next generation to learn more about these subject areas.” Faculty in the College of Science and Mathematics said in a press release they understand that the nation’s future economic prosperity is closely linked with student success in the STEM fields.

Educators across the nation and at VSU say they are committed to improving STEM instruction for students in preschool through 12{sup}th{/sup} grade, increasing and sustaining public and youth engagement with STEM, improving the STEM experience for undergraduate students at the college level, better serving groups historically underrepresented in the STEM fields, and designing graduate education for tomorrow’s STEM workforce, according to a VSU press release.

Science Saturday activities are free of charge and open to the public. Parking is available in any of the parking lots around Main Campus, with the most convenient lots located along Georgia Avenue between Oak Street and Patterson Street. A VSU parking permit is not required for this event.

Science Saturday: Tree of Life marks the end of VSU’s spring Science Saturday calendar. Activities will resume in the fall.

Contact SciSat@valdosta.edu for more information.