Global science program comes to Hollidaysburg

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Science cafes have popped up all over the world, and the first one in Central Pennsylvania recently opened at Allegheny Creamery and Crepes.

Heather Saleme owns Alleghney Creamery and Crepes, which is located downtown.

She said her daughter attended a summer camp at Saint Francis University, where she met the director of science outreach Lanika Ruzhitskaya.

The two came up with the idea to bring the global project of Science Cafes to Hollidaysburg.

Each first Thursday of every month, a different scientist comes to Allegheny Creamery and Crepes to teach people about his or her specific field.

The event includes trivia, "Cosmic Cocktails" and hands-on activities including virtual reality -- all of which are framed around a theme, like astronomy.

The first themed science cafe event was in November, and December's theme is "Earth's Atmosphere: Then and Now."

"There are two science cafes in Pittsburgh. There are six in Philadelphia, one, surprisingly, in Erie, and there is nothing else, so I thought we have to fix it," Ruzhitskaya said.

Organizers said they try to pick themes that can be connected to the interests of Hollidaysburg and its residents.

"It's based on what is interesting in our community here. One of our thoughts perhaps is to talk about infrared and how to keep our homes warm because this is something very important, so it's a little bit of science and a little bit of what's important to the community," Ruzhitskaya said.

On science cafe nights, 20 percent of the profit is donated to Hollidaysburg Area High School for a new planetarium.

Rutzhitskaya said their plan is for the planetarium to be made with the most up-to-date technology, and that it will be open to the public.

The events are open to the public, and no tickets are required.

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