Are you looking for a fun way to introduce your child to the world of science? Look no further than the upcoming Very Cool Show, a program designed to inspire and educate young minds about the wonders of cryogenics and liquid nitrogen. With hands-on experiments, interactive activities, and our knowledgeable instructor, Mr. Freeze, participants will be offered an exciting learning experience suitable for children of all ages. If you’re looking for a Spring break activity for the whole family, this Show is the place to be.
Mr. Freeze, aka Jerry Zimmerman, has been a physicist at Fermilab for more than 27 years. Fermilab, located in Batavia, is America’s premier particle physics laboratory where researchers collaborate with scientists from around the world. Their education office brings high quality programming to schools and community events in the surrounding areas. As part of the education program, Zimmerman volunteers his time to perform as Mr. Freeze for roughly 20,000 children (about the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden) per year. His high-energy, educational demonstrations encourage kids to get excited about science! The Mr. Freeze shows are a part of Fermilab’s history that dates back to the 1970s. Perhaps you even saw a Mr. Freeze demonstration during your childhood.
The Library is very fortunate to have such a wonderful resource to provide programming to our customers. Library assistant Karen reached out to Mr. Freeze to schedule an appearance after hearing about his performance at another suburban library. “The Joliet Public Library had this program and after talking with their Children’s Department manager about the experience, I knew Aurora families would be very interested. There’s so much focus in our schools on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and this program was a perfect way to support those efforts.” Programs such as the Very Cool Show support the Library’s commitment to helping students achieve school success. Bringing unique experiences from the classroom into the real world helps young people see that a career in science is possible and within reach.
Expect chilling results Monday, March 27 at the Eola Road Branch as we explore the fascinating world of cryogenics and potentially encourage any budding researchers in the audience to pursue their dreams of a career in science. Mr. Freeze: A Very Cool Show has two performances at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the Eola Large Meeting Room. Be sure to arrive early to pick up free tickets for everyone in your party. After all, it’s not every day that you get to see fog in the Library or a frozen rose that could be shattered into ice!
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.