GREENEVILLE – Mother Nature did not cooperate by providing a clear partial solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, but the viewing party at Tusculum University succeeded in other ways.
Tusculum students have fun at the partial solar eclipse party.
From the students, faculty and staff who came to the party in spite of the inclement weather to the community members who visited campus, the party brought people together for an hour of fellowship, fun, photos – and wearing funny glasses. In all, about 100 people attended the event, which demonstrated that people have an affinity for observing scientific wonders.
“We want to recognize that underlying interest in phenomena like this, and we want to use that type of enthusiasm further down the line when we create opportunities for people to appreciate science even more,” said Dr. Chuck Pearson, chair of Tusculum’s Natural Sciences Department. “Part of our responsibility as a university in this community is to explain the world around us, making it more understandable for everyone.”
Dr. Pearson said the College of Science, Technology and Mathematics has started conversations about holding other events to increase people’s knowledge of the scientific elements of the world. He joked that these other activities might be designed to be less dependent on Mother Nature’s help. Such initiatives will align with the civic engagement component of Tusculum’s mission and will build on the multitude of ways the College of Science, Technology and Mathematics has served the community.
“There’s a lot of positive that came out of today,” Dr. Pearson said.
Tusculum provided eclipse glasses to the first 100 people who came to the party, and many Tusculum family members and community residents hoped to see something special. Unfortunately, intermittent rain and heavy cloud cover obscured the view considerably. Some aspects of the partial solar eclipse were visible, such as darker skies that caused the outdoor lights on campus to become illuminated. The temperature dropped as well.
The event brought out faculty members Jordan Baker, left; Dr. Josh Martin, second from left; and Dr. Shelby Ward, right, along with Dr. Dan Donaldson, vice chair of Tusculum’s Board of Trustees.
Left to right, student Sariah Johnson, Dr. Chuck Pearson and student Skylar Georges test out their glasses at the partial solar eclipse party.
But big prize of seeing the moon partially cover the sun was just not in the cards. Dr. Pearson said the skies only became about 25-50% darker.
“We had the cloud cover over the sun get so intense that there was just no way for the light or the change in light that was substantial to break through,” he said. “We saw some points where the sun was able to break through and show little hints of the partial eclipse early in the afternoon, but at the times when we reached maximum eclipsing, the cloud blockage over the sun was total. What we saw was ambient darkness – not the sun passing through but all of the other effects of light in the sky being slightly less reinforced than they otherwise would be under full sun visibility.”
Dr. Pearson said this showed the power of clouds.
“The clouds were not just at the height that we saw them appear,” he said. “They went higher still into the sky, and they were really densely packed.”
In reviewing the event, Dr. Pearson commended Joseph Medeck, a sophomore chemistry major who worked closely with him to make the party a reality. Medeck also prepared a fact sheet about the day that he provided to attendees.
Jolin Hawk, second from the left, a Tusculum staff, member is joined by her family – husband, Eric, daughter, Lydia, and son, Lucas.
Student Joseph Medeck, right, hands out an informational sheet to fellow Pioneer Brynn Smith, left, as Dr. Chuck Pearson, middle, mans the eclipse glasses box.
Medeck said he was pleased with the viewing party.
“It served as a great opportunity for students and community members to get out and socialize with others, and even with no visible eclipse, noticeable effects of darkening and cooler temperatures were observed,” Medeck said. “The event served to bring together students and community members through a scientifically orientated event, and I hope to be involved in more events like this in the future.”
Dr. Pearson also thanked those who worked with the Bonner Leader Program, a service group to which Medeck belongs, for their assistance. He also praised the College of Science, Technology and Mathematics for providing funding to support the event.
More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.