Science Cheerleaders Visit the Philadelphia 76ers to Support
Philadelphia Math + Science Coalition
NBA 76ers game on February 18, 2014, to benefit the Philadelphia Education
Fund’s Philadelphia Math+Science Coalition, features interactive science exhibits
on the concourse, halftime performance by the Science Cheerleaders, in-game
citizen science project for research on the Space Station
PHILADELPHIA, PA. (January 30, 2014) – Get ready for an explosion of science at the
Philadelphia 76ers game on Tuesday, February 18. The Philadelphia Math + Science Coalition
announces “Science at the Sixers,” to take place when the Sixers host the Cleveland Cavaliers at
the Wells Fargo Center. 76ers fans can participate in several fun activities during this in-game
event to celebrate and increase student and adult interest in STEM – Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math.
In addition, portions of profits from the 50-50 raffle at the game will go towards supporting the
Math + Science Coalition, which envisions a future where Philadelphia public school students
will graduate from high school with strong math and science knowledge and skills, enabling
them to succeed in a 21st century STEM economy.
The events are coordinated by “Science Cheerleader,” an organization of more than 250 current
and former NBA and NFL cheerleaders. They playfully challenge stereotypes, inspire kids to
consider careers in science and technology, and encourage everyday people to get involved in
real science activities through citizen science projects at SciStarter.com. Science Cheerleader
was founded by Darlene Cavalier, a former member of the Sixers Dream Team.
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Science at the Sixers Activities
o Game time: February 18, 7:00 pm at Wells Fargo Center (3601 Broad St., Philadelphia,
PA 19140)
o Citizen Science on the Concourse: Engage with a dozen of the region's most exciting
research projects in need of your help. Interact with robots and sports-themed innovations
developed by hometown scientists. 6:00pm pregame through halftime
o Halftime performance by the Science Cheerleaders
o Catch a shirt and a microbe kit from the NBA's most powerful t-shirt launcher and help
with microbe sampling. Attendees will contribute to a citizen science research project on
the International Space Station (Read about Project MERCCURI below)
o Interactive Science Quiz on the JumboTron
o 50/50 Raffle to benefit the Philadelphia Education Fund and reward our Sixers
Hometown Hero Award Recipient and Science Educator, Ambra Hook
o Sneak Peak at what’s in store for the Philadelphia Science Festival this Spring!
To purchase discount tickets for this game, go to www.nba.com/sixers/promocode and enter
SCIENCE.
Project MERCCURI: Comparing Microbes from Philly to Those in Space
During the game, fans will have the opportunity to participate in Project MERCCURI, a citizen
science research project to compare microbes on Earth to those on the International Space
Station. Microbe collection kits wrapped in T-shirts will be shot into the stands. Fans will use the
kits at the game to swab their shoes and cell phones to collect microbes. Those samples will be
sent to the Argonne National Laboratory to be sequenced and added to the Earth Microbiome
Project. Meanwhile, astronauts at the International Space Station will be conducting tests on
microbes collected previously from Earth (including one from the Wells Fargo Center).
Scientists from UC Davis and NASA hope to gain insights into what is living at the ISS, how
microbes vary from different places on Earth and in space, and to compare growth of microbes
on Earth and in microgravity. See http://www.spacemicrobes.org for more information about this
important and fascinating research.
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Supporters of Science at the Sixers
Partnering organizations include The Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Education Fund,
SciStarter, and Science Cheerleader. Project MERCCURI is coordinated by Science Cheerleader,
SciStarter, and UC Davis, in conjunction with the Argonne National Laboratory. The Project is
made possible by Space Florida, NanoRacks, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
About The Philadelphia Education Fund
The Philadelphia Education Fund is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to
improving the quality of public education throughout the Philadelphia region. For nearly 30
years, the Ed Fund has enhanced teaching and learning; supported schools and students directly
to ensure young people finish their secondary education and realize postsecondary success; and
advanced critical agenda and dialogue – convening key constituents to deliver pivotal outcomes
on behalf of young people. The Ed Fund supports more than 16,000 students and 600 teachers in
30 schools across Philadelphia, and grants $1 million per year in last dollar scholarships to send
neighborhood high school students to college. Visit www.philaedfund.org
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Media Contacts:
Science Cheerleader
Darlene Cavalier
267-253-1310
[email protected]
Jeff Baxt
Communications Manager
Philadelphia Education Fund
215.665.1400 ext. 3351 (office)
267.994.3450 (cel)
[email protected]
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