Super Science Day set Saturday at UC Davis

Campus museums

Bohart Museum of Entomology, Room 1124 of Academic Surge, Crocker Lane (formerly California Drive)

Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, 1394 Academic Surge, Crocker Lane

UC Davis Botanical Conservatory, Kleiber Hall Drive

Center for Plant Diversity, Sciences Laboratory Building, off Kleiber Hall Drive, near Briggs Hall

Anthropology Collections, Young Hall, off A Street

Geology Collections, Earth and Physical Sciences Building, across from Academic Surge Building

While the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens are gearing up for Super Bowl Sunday, UC Davis is preparing for a Super Science Day — the second annual Biodiversity Museum Day.

The event, free and open to the public, will run from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday when six museums or centers that engage in education and research involving insects, vertebrates, fossils or plants will host open houses.

They are the Bohart Museum of Entomology, the Botanical Conservatory, the Center for Plant Diversity, the Geology Museum, the Anthropology Museum and the Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology.

The event showcases UCD’s research collections and museums; each has a collection that documents the biodiversity of life in California.

All participating museums have active education and outreach programs, but not all accessible to the public. On Saturday, they will be.

“This will be the only time during the year when many of these collections of rare objects can be visited by the public,” said Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum and a professor of entomology. “Our staff is excited to show off some of our more important specimens. The event is perfect for all ages; we have something for everyone.”

Visitors can go behind the scenes to learn how research is conducted, and to see some of the curators’ favorite pieces. They can explore displays and talk with scientists, and participate in fun activities and crafts.

All museums are on the main campus, and parking is free. Maps, signs and guides will be available at each site.