Rick Lee and Alex Nagy have a way of finding the fun and excitement in science. Lee, a scientist with General Atomics in San Diego, and Nagy, an engineer from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in New Jersey, will be taking
Rick Lee and Alex Nagy have a way of finding the fun and excitement in science.
Lee, a scientist with General Atomics in San Diego, and Nagy, an engineer from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in New Jersey, will be taking the stage for a public performance at 7 p.m. on Sept. 12.
The duo, returning here for their 4th Annual Kaua‘i In STEP Conference, have previously brought their lively, stimulating science show to the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall stage. In those shows, they mesmerized audiences by demonstrating the different concepts of physics, science and math in a real-world setting where a volcano erupts on stage and people are on the receiving end of air cannons.
While here, Lee and Nagy will be working with science and math students from different schools on the island, and will have one show set aside for the public.
Additionally, at last year’s performance, organizers were able to introduce students who have succeeded in securing jobs in the field of science, math and engineering.
The pair have performed the science stage show for thousands of students and teachers in California, Nevada, New Orleans, Seattle and Quebec City, Canada. On a previous appearance, a TGI reader of kauaiworld.com asked if he could make arrangements to have the pair perform in his state.
Lee and Nagy are also part of a research team at General Atomics that collaborates with other organizations and people around the world involved in studying the plasma state in nuclear fusion processes that will eventually lead to electrical power sources that will last millions of years.
“We are lucky that the scientists come and perform for our students,” Baptiste said.
In addition to having people learn by watching the show, it provides an incentive for students to pursue interest and careers in math, science, engineering and technology, the mayor said.
Richard Kuga of Envisioneering, one of the people coordinating the tour of the visiting scientists, said this year’s show is about a month earlier than previous visits due to the Department of Education calendar and testing schedules.
Kuga met with Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan Baptiste to review the pre-event materials and advise Baptiste of the change in schedule.
Kaua‘i In STEP is a partnership between government, business and industry, education and the community geared to motivate students to pursue careers in the technology fields.
It is a project of Team Tech Kaua‘i.
