Paul Smith's College readying for fifth annual SAM Fest

Paul Smiths, NY (04/18/2018) — Paul Smith's College will hold a day-long festival of music, art and TED-style science talks on Saturday, April 28, at the Paul Smith's College VIC.

The Science, Art, Music Festival - SAM Fest - is now in its fifth year. It will feature performances by North Country musicians, science-oriented talks by faculty, students, and guest speakers, exhibits of works by local artists organized by Paul Smith's biologist Ann Sporn, and a showing of "It's Happening," a new documentary about the renewable energy revolution.

The theme of the upcoming event is "Renewal."

"The previous SAM Fests were great successes," said Curt Stager, professor of natural sciences at Paul Smith's College and one of the event's organizers. "This year's lineup is just as exciting."

A highlight of the festival will be TED-like talks by Paul Smith's College students. "We are not officially linked to the TED organization, but we like their vibrant and engaging style," Stager said. "I'm especially looking forward to the student presentations on signs of spring in the North Country, environmental poetry, landscape renewal, and turning Adirondack trees into musical instruments, which will blend science and the arts in creative ways."

Special guests will include archaeologist Tim Messner who will demonstrate the art and science of stone age technology, ecologist Brendan Wiltse who will use photography to explore wilderness ethics, and Adirondack Life editors Betsy Folwell and Annie Stoltie who will offer art-science perspectives on antlers and ear-burrowing insects.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. with a March for Science from the Paul Smith's campus entrance to the VIC. North Country musicians, including Celia Evans, Roy Hurd, Jamie Savage, Larry Montague, and Glenn McClure will perform between the talks, and there will be a wide range of displays and activities by visual artists from the North Country as well as live fiddle music during lunch hour by student Tyler Dezago and friends, and a performance by the Bobcat Steppers. Refreshments prepared by Paul Smith's College students and faculty will be on sale during the lunch hour, as well.

SAM Fest runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

For a full schedule of events and more information about the festival, visit www.samfest.org or contact Curt Stager at 518-327-6342 or cstager@paulsmiths.edu.

About Paul Smith's College
At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. We are the only four-year institution of higher education in the Adirondacks. Our programs - in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences - draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. For more information, visit paulsmiths.edu.

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