Open House

Every February, the Magnet Lab invites the public to spend the day at this world-class research laboratory, and every February, they come by the thousands.

Learning how the MagLab makes powerful magnets.
Children making electromagnets.
Child playing with iron filings.
Learning about magnetic levitation.
Child exploring with magnets.
Creating smoke rings.
Rainbow bubbles demo at 2017 MagLab Open House
Flowers frozen in liquid nitrogen,
 

The 2017 Open House is over! Thanks to the more than 8,000 people who came to experience the drama, mystery and romance of science and the movies. Check back later this year to find out more about the 2018 Open House.

This free event features something for visitors of every age: hands-on demonstrations, self-guided tours, activities from our educational partners, food, and the chance to meet and chat with our scientists and other MagLab staff. It's also a chance to do good for the community: The canned goods we collect as the unofficial price of admission go to America's Second Harvest Food Bank of the Big Bend.

Open House offers an up-close look at our record-breaking 45-tesla hybrid magnet, our 900-megahertz superconducting magnet and other powerful research instruments. A special Exploration Station features hands-on science fun designed especially for families with young children.

With information and activities targeting a variety of ages, this event has become a popular family outing and is a can't-miss opportunity to show children how fun science can be. That doesn't mean the fun and learning are over once our visitors leave. We've been busy building up online demonstrations of some of what you'll see at Open House, so you can extend and apply what you've learned long after the day's over.

Video: 2017 Open House Celebrating the Drama, Comedy & Mystery of Science

Image Gallery: 2017 Open House

View this photo set on Flickr
View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://nationalmaglab.org/news-events/events/for-community/open-house#sigProIdc4476b5b64

2017 Open House by the Numbers

 
Number of visitors 8,000
Pounds of food collected for America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend 2,175
Number of performances of Mozart's Cosi fan tutti 5
Quarts of dairy products used to make Einstein Ice Cream 120
Number of science demonstrations 100+
Pounds of potatoes fired in Potato Cannon 210
Number of participating organizations 35
Last modified on 30 March 2017
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