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Media representatives are invited to experience hands-on science aboard Destiny, one of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s two traveling science laboratories on Thursday (June 5), during a special visit from Project Uplift.

Project Uplift, a program sponsored by Carolina’s Department of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs in conjunction with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, invites rising high school seniors from underrepresented populations every year to visit the Carolina campus for a general introduction to student life.

Thursday (June 5)
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
250 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill

The afternoon’s activities will begin with a 30-minute presentation in the Morehead Faculty Lounge on underserved populations in informal science education from Crystal Harden, director of outreach programs at the planetarium. At 3:30 p.m., about 20 students from Project Uplift will go out to the Morehead parking lot to board the Destiny traveling laboratory to practice using digital micropipettes and extract DNA from a strawberry.

The Destiny traveling science learning program is Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s formal science education initiative serving pre-college teachers and students across North Carolina. Destiny develops and delivers a standards-based, hands-on curriculum and teacher professional development with a team of educators and a fleet of vehicles that travel throughout the state.

Destiny and Discovery, two custom-built, 40-foot, 33,000-pound buses, bring the latest science and technology equipment to students who otherwise would not see a high-tech laboratory or what a career in science can offer.

Project Uplift is designed to enhance the diversity of Carolina’s undergraduate population. Rising seniors from historically underserved populations (including African American, Native American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, low-income and rural) who are in the top 25 percent of their class are invited to spend two days on campus for an introduction to student life. During May and June, approximately 1,000 rising high school seniors and other secondary students participate.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Web site: http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center contact: Claire Ruocchio, (919) 843-5915, clr@unc.edu
Department of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs contact: Miki Kersgard, (919) 843-6085, kersgard@unc.edu 
News Services contact: Susan Houston, (919) 962-8415, susan_houston@unc.edu

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