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Ready, set, GO!: We don't want to hear you say "There's nothing to do"

By Journal & Courier
Friday, April 7, 2006

Bug Bowl

Coordinator Mike Mullis leads the way for new activities at this year's Bug Bowl.

Saturday and Sunday: With Tom Turpin moving on to different responsibilities, the Bug Bowl, one of the highlights of the annual Purdue University Spring Fest, has a new face. Meet Mike Mullis, the new outreach coordinator for Purdue's entomology department. He has taken over dozens of features that make up Bug Bowl. The Purdue graduate also is in charge of the millions of little insect legs and the thoraxes they belong to. While Turpin still will be in charge of the cricket spitting competition, Mullis has helped spearhead some new bug events including the Entomology Quiz Bowl, which pits teams of fi fthgrade students against each other to see who knows the most about insects. There's also the new partnership with the physics department. At 12:30 p.m. Saturday, physics students will try to use scientifi c principles to combat a roach infestation. The entomology students will try to prove how nothing can fully stop a tenacious species of insects. Some Bug Bowl favorites that will be back for 2006: cockroach racing at Roachhill Downs, the Insect Petting Zoo and those yummy chocolate-covered crickets on a stick. On the rest of the Spring Fest grounds, Purdue University's other science departments will show what they're all about to the community. The School of Veterinary Medicine will show off traditional and exotic zoo animals, and, for the fi rst time, Purdue Athletics will have a tent. Kids and adults will have the chance to throw a football, hit a tennis ball and try on a real football uniform. With good weather, this weekend's Spring Fest could outdraw 2005's impressive crowd of around 43,000 visitors.

  • When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
  • Where: Purdue University
  • How much: Free
  • On the Net: www.ces.purdue.edu/sfest/