“Tony Hawk is famous for skateboarding, and UC Berkeley is famous for science,” says Gretchen Walker, associate director of the Lawrence Hall of Science. “This is a great match, like centripetal force to a kickflip.”
“Tony Hawk: Rad Science,” a new exhibit at the Lawrence Hall of Science, lifts off Saturday with a sold-out appearance by the superstar athlete and video-game icon, who will perform with other professional skateboarders on a specially designed vertical skate ramp. The exhibit will allow visitors to put themselves into the role of skateboarders and scientists as they explore over 25 interactive experiences, including:
- Bodacious Board Balance – Ride stationary skateboards designed to test your balance in classic tricks like “grinding” and “manuals” on the safety of a padded surface.
- Newton’s Pool – Go inside an empty swimming pool to experiment with the laws of motion and see how a pool’s unique characteristics created the origin of extreme skateboarding.
- Skateboard Evolution – See skateboard designs from the first in 1962 through today and learn how physics has driven the evolution of decks, wheels and axles.
- Tony’s 900 Vert Theatre – Take a trip back in time to witness the first time Tony Hawk ever performed the 900 (2.5 revolutions in midair).
- Wipeout Ambulance – See how inventions like helmets, knee pads, and wrist guards have helped dissipate the extreme forces of a wipeout.
The exhibit runs at the Lawrence Hall of Science from May 26 through Sept. 3, and is sponsored in part by Scholarshare. The Hall is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and general admission is $6-$12. Children under 3, members and UC Berkeley students and staff receive complimentary admission.
For more information about the exhibit, or about viewing a video recap of Saturday’s demonstration, visit the Lawrence Hall of Science’s “Rad Science” exhibit page.
