Paul Smith's College VIC to host sixth annual SAM Fest
Paul Smiths, NY (03/21/2019) — Paul Smith's College will hold a day-long festival of music, art and TED-style science talks on Saturday, April 27, at the Paul Smith's VIC.
The Science Art Music Festival, or SAM Fest, is now in its sixth 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 PSC biologist Lee Ann Sporn, and a showing of "A Matter of Degrees," a documentary by The Wild Center about the unexpectedly strong power of global warming. The theme of this year's event is "The Unexpected."
"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-style science talks interspersed with musical performances.
"We are not officially linked to the TED organization, but we like their vibrant and engaging style," Stager said. "There will be presentations on bat biology, environmental readings by students, highlights from a mountaineering trip to the Andes, and surprising insights into fermentation by our new microbiology professor Tess Ediem, all of which will blend science and the arts in creative ways."
Other guests will include loon biologist Nina Schoch who will present unexpected aspects of loon biology, PSC professor Janet Mihuc who will explore the hidden diversity of Adirondack moths, and ecologist Brendan Wiltse who will report on unexpected new invasive species in the North Country.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. with a "March for Science" from the campus entrance to the VIC. North Country musicians Dan Berggren, Celia Evans, Roy Hurd, Peggy Lynn, Larry Montague, Jamie Savage, and Isaac Stouffer will perform original music 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 acoustic music during lunch hour by Glenn McClure, PSC students, and 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.
Media Attachments
Curt Stager, one of the event's organizers and professor of natural sciences at Paul Smith's College.
A past "March for Science" from the Paul Smith's campus to the VIC.
Paul Smith's College
Andy Johnstone | Media Specialist | (518) 327-6049 | ajohnstone@paulsmiths.eduShare this Story
Recent News
- Paul Smith's College launches Summit Scholars scholarship program
- North Country Communities Invited to Shape Climate Resilient Strategies
- Improvements Planned for the VIC this Fall
- Paul Smith's College Mercantile Grand Opening
- District 115 NYS Assemblyman Billy Jones Joins HEOP Students at Paul Smith's College
- Adirondack Water Week to Celebrate the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere
- Paul Smith's College Offers Free Streamside Property Assessments
- Adirondack Watershed Institute Poised to Begin its 25th Season
- Paul Smith's College Students Train Saranac Lake High School Students to Stop the Bleed
- Paul Smith's College faculty member leading the charge on climate change education in the United States