Dinner With A Scientist 

For the first time in Merced County, scientists met at UC Merced for an evening of fine food and conversation with middle and high school students who are prospective scientists.

The Merced County Office of Education in conjunction with the University of California, Merced hosted the university’s first Dinner With a Scientist on March 27, 2007.

The event gave Merced County students grades 6-10 the opportunity to interact with scientists from a variety of fields of study over dinner in a professional environment. Chosen by Merced County teachers who attended, mostly Science STARTS (Science Technology Assistance for Rural Teachers and Small Districts) teachers, the students have shown a special interest in science. There were about 135 students, teachers and scientists at the event held in the Yablokoff–Wallace Dining Center at UC Merced.

Dr. Christopher Viney, Professor for the School of Engineering at UC Merced and science columnist for the Merced Sun-Star, was the keynote speaker at the dinner.

In addition to a keynote speaker, each table was assigned at least one scientist. The first at UC Merced, Dinner With a Scientist events have also been held in Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties for the past five years.

Besides UC Merced and MCOE, the event is sponsored by Science STARTS and the San Joaquin County Office of Education.