ITHACA, N.Y. -- A series of events sponsored by Cornell University's Department of Physics and Laboratory for Elementary-Particle Physics (LEPP) and other Cornell outreach programs along with the Tompkins County Public Library and the Ithaca Sciencenters are helping mark the World Year of Physics, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's revolutionary scientific breakthroughs in the year 1905.

Officially declared the World Year of Physics by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, the global celebration has been endorsed by the United Nations and the U.S. Congress. The local celebration kicked off May 7 at the Tompkins County Public Library and will continue during several upcoming Saturdays, including Saturday, May 14.

The local schedule of events:

Saturday, May 14 

• 2:30-5 p.m. Barnes Hall, Cornell: Scientific lecture, "From Einstein to Superstrings," by University of Oxford professor Brian Foster, followed by a violin concert by Jack Liebeck. Read more about this event.

Saturday, May 21 

• 10-11:30 a.m. Tompkins County Public Library: Physics booths with hands-on activities for visitors and demonstrations by Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) scientist Ken Finkelstein on "Why the Sky Is Blue" and LEPP scientist Yulin Li on "Electrifying Experiments." 
• 11:30-noon. Story time at Tompkins County Public Library -- "Radiant Rainbows." 
• 1-4 p.m. Ithaca Sciencenter: Physics activities for children and their families sponsored by the Cornell Center for Materials Research, Cornell's Center for Nanoscale Systems and the Sciencenter. Physics trivia contests will be held on the half-hour, and a paper airplane building workshop will take place.

Saturday, June 11 

• 1-4:30 p.m. Wilson Laboratory at Cornell: Open House with public tours offered on the hour (LEPP and CHESS); spark chamber and cloud chamber demonstrations; "Physics of Juggling" show and explanation, liquid nitrogen and static electricity demonstrations. Refreshments will be served.