On the eve of Dunedin's latest New Zealand Inter-national Science Festival, California-based biochemist and businesswoman Dr Jilly Evans was certainly giving science an extra big hand yesterday.
By combining small amounts of baking soda and vinegar in a flask which she sealed with a rubber glove she sent the carbon dioxide-filled glove flying like a rocket in various directions during a session with an ODT photographer yesterday.
She will be back in action -albeit in more subdued format - in two "Science Rocks!" sessions for children, both fully booked, during the sixth international science festival on Monday.
Science was "not just about geeks", Dr Evans said as her clothing became progressively more spattered with white pieces of bicarbonate of soda.
Combining the two initial ingredients produced water, carbon dioxide gas and - yes - all that bicarbonate, she noted.
Dr Evans, who was born in New Zealand and spent her early life in Auckland, says everyone should learn more about science, irrespective of their age.
"It's a way of thinking and analysing and being thoughtful."
These days, she lives in San Diego, California, where she is vice-president of biology at Amira Pharmaceuticals.
The festival features more than 300 events and is devoted to "Everyday Science: It's all in your head".
Festival director Sue Clarke said she was keen to attract a wider range of people - including "big, burly blokes" - to science, which was being presented in a fun, exciting way during the nine-day festival.
Many children's events were booked out, but several were still available next week, including "Brain Box" sessions, starting at 10am each day at the ODT Science Festival Headquarters, at 20 Princes St, she said.
Booking can be made on the Internet at www.scifest.org.nz and door sales are still available for adult keynote speakers.
