鈥淭he celebration we hosted on campus was spectacular and drew visitors locally and from around the country,鈥� Chancellor Christina Drale said. 鈥淭he educational programs and displays showcased the academic talent we have on campus, and all of the volunteers helped make this an all-around fun event for everyone.鈥�

More than 200 volunteers helped the event become a huge success! The event was planned for many months by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Eclipse Committee, comprised of Ann Bain, Carrie Phillips, Gregory Guisbiers, Alicia Dorn, Aaron Birmingham, Angie Faller, Brian Berry, Justin Early, Kara Brown, Katina White, Larry Whitman, Leslie Hutchins, Meaghan Milliorn, Muriel Schrepfer, Ross Bradley, Regina Wade-Carter, Sarah Beth Estes, Sadie Lea, Tom Clifton, Toni Boyer, Tansel Karabacak, and Cody Decker.

The solar eclipse event helped spread word about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and its experts far and wide. Stories in the media generated 3.5 billion media impressions and 320 media alerts!

“It is my second time watching a total solar eclipse, but the magic still operates like the very first time! It is an incredible feeling of satisfaction to be able to watch this celestial show!鈥� said Dr. Gregory Guisbiers, associate professor of physics at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

Amidst a backdrop of celestial splendor, participants gathered at the Jack Stephens Center to witness this rare astronomical phenomenon, forging unforgettable memories and fostering a sense of unity and awe.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing event,鈥� said Dr. David Montague, associate vice chancellor for student affairs 鈥� student success. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so nice to see people here enjoying this experience and learning so many things. The energy today is very special indeed.鈥�

As the sun vanished behind the moon for nearly two-and-a-half minutes, the campus buzzed with excitement and scientific curiosity, marking a momentous occasion that will be cherished for years to come.

鈥淎 lot of people missed seeing a total solar eclipse that took place in the western United States seven years ago, but lots of people had access to this total solar eclipse and didn鈥檛 have to travel as far to see it,鈥� said Dr. Miles Blanton, advanced instructor of physics and astronomy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a novel event, and it’s so predictable. That鈥檚 what surprises a lot of people. You can predict it down to the minute. It feels like you are in control when we are not in control of so much of the natural world.鈥�

As the solar eclipse drew near, the crowd grew silent as the music stopped, the temperature fell, and a breeze could be felt in the air. As total darkness fell at 1:51 p.m., members of the crowd cheered, gasped, and cried as they witnessed the celestial event.

鈥淚t was so awesome to be here in this breathtaking moment,鈥� Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor of alumni and development, said after watching the eclipse. 鈥淲e had the perfect weather, and all the stars aligned for this amazing event. It is so wonderful that our university brought together so many people to have such a great event for the community.鈥�

The community event brought together a wonderful mix of the arts and the sciences. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock provided observation sessions with telescopes, an inflatable planetarium, a Foucault鈥檚 pendulum, Cavendish鈥檚 balance, gravity well, and meteorites on display. The Arkansas Space Grant Consortium provided 30,000 pairs of complementary solar eclipse glasses.

鈥淚鈥檓 a kid on the inside, and I came here to experience the solar eclipse,鈥� said Joshua Pack, a junior double majoring in chemistry and biology. 鈥淚 was surprised by the amount of stuff to do at the event. I don鈥檛 travel a lot, so this was a unique opportunity to see the solar eclipse in my hometown.鈥�

Employees and students from the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education had more than 30 people volunteer as face painters. Students designed a custom face painting template and solar eclipse sticker.

In one of many scientific demonstrations on display, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Emerging Analytics Center created a special virtual reality experience, Total Solar Eclipse VR 2024. The project was put together by students Carlos Ochoa, Cecily Mobley, Ashlly Lambaren, Colin McNerny, and Eric Helms with guidance from Jason Zak, lead artist, and Wesley Ferguson, research associate.

鈥淭he VR app we made takes you into space, where you can see the perspective of the total solar eclipse from a completely new angle,鈥� said Colin NcNerny, a senior electronic and computer engineering major. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 look directly at the Sun in real life without it hurting your eyes. In virtual space, you can look at the sun in great detail. We also created a Snapchat filter which shows the user wearing solar eclipse glasses, and you can see the eclipse reflected in the lenses.鈥�

Visitors traveled from near and far to take part in the day鈥檚 events.

鈥淢y son wants to be an astrophysicist, so Little Rock was a close drive to spark the imagination of our future generation,鈥� said Danielle Hart, who drove from Huntsville, Alabama, to watch the eclipse with her family at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚t was so absolutely incredible. That moment when the sky goes dark and the crowd cheers, it鈥檚 a very magical moment.鈥�

The solar eclipse celebration was sponsored by the Donaghey Foundation, Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

The post Thousands Enjoy Total Solar Eclipse Celebration at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock appeared first on News.

鈥淭his will be one of the biggest tourism events the state has ever seen,鈥� said Dr. Michael Pakko, chief economic and state economic forecaster at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Arkansas Economic Development Institute. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine any other event that will have the same significant number of visitors as we will get from this one weekend in Arkansas. We鈥檙e expecting to have a lot of visitors come to our region, and visitors tend to spend money so we鈥檙e expecting it to have a significant economic impact.鈥�

that Arkansas can expect to see anywhere from 200,000 to 450,000 people traveling within the state to see the eclipse, with an estimated 75 percent of travelers coming from out of state. That means Arkansas could see between 160,000 to 350,000 out-of-state visitors traveling to see the eclipse.

鈥淚 expect that to generate somewhere between $48 and $105 million in value added or GDP (gross domestic product) for the state,鈥� Pakko said. 鈥淭hat could generate about $27 to $60 million in income for Arkansans from the increased business.鈥�

Statistics from states in the path of totality during the 2017 solar eclipse suggest that visitors will spend an average of 3-3.5 days for the solar eclipse, Pakko said.

鈥淭he No. 1 category that will be most impacted by the eclipse is lodging, including hotels, motels, campgrounds, rental houses, and even staying with friends. Food and beverage is the next highest category, followed by transportation, recreation, and entertainment. We are looking at a typical tourist profile. People will come in for the weekend, shop, eat out, and look for other entertainment in addition to the solar eclipse.鈥�

Pakko advised that Arkansas businesses should be prepared for increased traffic the weekend before the solar eclipse.

鈥淭he best thing to do is to make sure you have plenty of staffing and inventory on hand because it is going to be a very busy weekend,鈥� he said.

As for traffic, Pakko warned Arkansans that they should plan ahead to avoid the post-eclipse traffic.

鈥淭he one thing that we should be aware of is traffic snarls,鈥� Pakko said. 鈥淭he experience of states in the path of totality during the 2017 solar eclipse is that people had staggered arrival times, so there weren鈥檛 significant travel issues leading up to the eclipse. As soon as it ends, that is when traffic tie ups are likely to happen. It will be wise to plan to hang out somewhere until the traffic passes.鈥�

You can learn more about Pakko鈥檚 economic predictions by visiting and learn more about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 free solar eclipse celebration at .

The post Arkansas Should See Big Tourism Boon from Total Solar Eclipse Weekend appeared first on News.

Drawing upon her expertise in information curation, Jenna Eastwood, assistant professor and teaching and learning librarian, has compiled a wealth of online resources, ranging from scientific articles and educational videos to interactive websites, providing accessible avenues for individuals to delve into the science and wonder of solar eclipses.

鈥淚 focused on open-access resources so almost all of these resources should be accessible to anyone, regardless of if they are on campus,鈥� Eastwood said. 鈥淭here are scholarly articles about eclipses as well as medical websites about how to safely view the solar eclipse. There is also a documentary about a photographer who chases solar eclipses around the world. I covered many different areas because solar eclipses are so impactful.鈥�

The variety of topics on the list include resources about the history of solar eclipses, an eclipse鈥檚 impact on animals, art, astronomy, and resources for K-12 students and teachers. Some of the resources that Eastwood thinks people will find the most interesting include:

• Encyclopedia of Arkansas articles detailing the history of
• 鈥溾�� 鈥� A documentary about Geoff Sims, a professional photographer and astronomer who has captured eclipses on many continents

Eastwood will also be on hand during 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 solar eclipse celebration on April 8 to give people advice on how to find great resources and information about solar eclipses.

鈥淚 would encourage people to see what kind of information they can find on the solar eclipse,鈥� Eastwood said. 鈥淚t really does impact so much of the world that there is a lot of interesting information and research that has been done with solar eclipses.鈥�

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Librarian Curates Comprehensive List of Open Access Resources for Solar Eclipse Enthusiasts appeared first on News.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will have two LightSound devices that will enable individuals with visual impairments to experience the solar eclipse through sound. The two devices are provided by the , who are distributing these devices for use at universities, schools, and nonprofits across the country during the solar eclipse on April 8.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will welcome the public and campus community to experience this rare and breathtaking event on campus. This day of science and observation for the whole family will take place from 10 a.m. 鈥� 4 p.m. Monday, April 8, with activities taking place both inside and outside the Jack Stephens Center.

Dr. Gregory Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy, said he requested to have the LightSound devices at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock because he wanted to have a welcoming and inclusive event where everyone could enjoy the solar eclipse.

鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock is one of the few places in Arkansas who will have LightSound devices available for public use during the solar eclipse,鈥� Guisbiers said. 鈥淭his is a celebration where we want everyone to feel included. The LightSound devices are one way that we are helping everyone to enjoy the total solar eclipse.鈥�

The LightSound prototype was developed for the 2017 solar eclipse as a tool for the Blind and Low Vision community to experience a solar eclipse with sound. The device uses a technique called sonification, which is the process of converting data (or light intensity in this case) to sound.

As the moon eclipses the sun during a solar eclipse, the sunlight begins to dim, and the LightSound device will output a change in musical tone. The device can be attached to headphones or to a speaker to project the sound for a group.

The device was first used during the 2017 solar eclipse in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Morehead State University, and the Kentucky School for the Blind. The LightSound Project has a goal of building 750 devices for the April solar eclipse and has donated more than 200 devices.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 event is funded by the Donaghey Foundation, , and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. For more information on 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 solar eclipse event, visit .

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Drawing on her extensive expertise in Native American history, Erin Fehr, assistant director and archivist at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Sequoyah National Research Center, will shed light on the significance of solar eclipses within Native American mythology, offering unique insights into the intersection of myth and science.

鈥淭here are 574 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes in the United States, and each of them has their own beliefs regarding solar eclipses,鈥� Fehr said. 鈥淭hey did use stories to explain this phenomenon to show that it wasn鈥檛 something to be scared of.鈥�

In her first talk, Fehr will give a presentation during a free family solar eclipse event at 3:30 p.m. April 3 at Argenta Public Library in North Little Rock. She will discuss how Native Americans view the eclipse and traditional stories surrounding the eclipse.

On April 5, Fehr will give a presentation, 鈥淪torytelling: Native Americans and the Eclipse,鈥� at 6 p.m. at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. In honor of the exhibition 鈥�,鈥� AMFA takes this extraordinary opportunity to explore the 2024 total solar eclipse through indigenous knowledge and storytelling. The talk is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Those interested can sign up for tickets .

According to Fehr, cultural narratives regarding the solar eclipse vary widely.

鈥淭he Navajos view the solar eclipse as a sacred time; it鈥檚 a time of quiet and meditation,鈥� Fehr said. 鈥淭hey stay inside, and they don鈥檛 eat, drink, or sleep. They reflect on their lives. When the eclipse is over, it鈥檚 seen as a time of rebirth and renewal. Some treat the solar eclipse like a new year and will make resolutions. Even though it鈥檚 a sacred time and they aren鈥檛 supposed to look at the sun, some will do so. It鈥檚 up to the individual families to determine.鈥�

The Cherokees, meanwhile, have a story that tells of a giant frog who swallows the sun.

鈥淲hen the frog swallows the sun, it goes dark,鈥� Fehr said. 鈥淭he Cherokee people have to figure out how to get the frog to spit out the sun. The men will take rifles and guns and shoot in the air and beat on drums. The women will take shell shakers and bang on pots and pans. They make lots of noise to scare the frog so the frog will spit out the sun. That is the end of the eclipse, and it ends with a celebration of the return of the sun.鈥�

Fehr said that solar eclipses have also been useful in dating significant events in Native American history.

鈥淲hen the Iroquois Confederacy was created, according to documentation of that time, there was a solar eclipse,鈥� Fehr said. 鈥淭hey know where the documents were signed, and they were able to trace the exact date to 1142. It鈥檚 because of the eclipse that they were able to date the birth of the Iroquois Confederacy.鈥�

Similarly, a cave drawing depicting a solar eclipse from the Pueblo people that lived in the Southwestern U.S. also has historic significance.

鈥淭here is evidence of an eclipse that happened in 1097 that is depicted in a petroglyph in Chaco Canyon,鈥� Fehr said. 鈥淭his may be the earliest historic documentation where Native people in what is now the United States witnessed a solar eclipse.鈥�

The total solar eclipse provides a unique opportunity to illuminate the rich tapestry of indigenous beliefs and their enduring relevance in understanding celestial events.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 interesting to learn how different cultures view a certain event,鈥� Fehr said. 鈥淎 total solar eclipse is a phenomenon that might be a once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience. This marks a great opportunity to learn more about these stories, traditions, and perspectives that we might not otherwise know about.鈥�

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Archivist Explores Intersection of Native American Mythology and Solar Eclipse appeared first on News.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock welcomes the public community to campus to experience this rare event. The event will take place from 10 a.m. 鈥� 4 p.m. Monday, April 8, with activities both inside and outside of the Jack Stephens Center.

鈥淚f we don鈥檛 observe the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, we won鈥檛 have another chance in Arkansas for the next 21 years,鈥� said Dr. Gregory Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭hat is why I encourage everyone to see the eclipse in April. For many of us, it鈥檚 a once-in-a-lifetime event.鈥�

Little Rock lies within the eclipse path of totality, and is expected to experience two minutes and 29 seconds of totality from 1:51-1:54 p.m., with the partial eclipse taking place from 12:33-3:11 p.m.

The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock School of Physical Sciences will hold guided observation sessions with solar telescopes from Celestron, transmitting the eclipse in great detail on large screens for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, there will be 50 telescopes with Solar Safe technology for children to observe the eclipse safely, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will be handing out 30,000 pairs of complementary eclipse glasses provided by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium.

Alaina Levine, author of 鈥淣etworking for Nerds,鈥� will be giving a guest lecture, 鈥淒on鈥檛 Eclipse your Future in STEM: Create Your Unicorn Career!鈥� at 10 a.m. in the Jack Stephens Center. For over 20 years, Levine has been helping emerging and established leaders build meaningful careers. Following the lecture, there will be a book signing, and Levine will meet with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, and staff to give them advice on how to boost their careers.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will also have an inflatable planetarium, a Foucault鈥檚 pendulum, Cavendish鈥檚 balance, gravity well, meteorites on display, and children鈥檚 activities, such as manufacturing pinhole viewing boxes, face painting, and bounce houses, available to help all family members enjoy their day at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Water stations and food vendors including Black China, Eat My Catfish, L茅a-L茅a鈥檚 Gourmet Dogs, Potbelly, Sodexo, and Ques All Smoked will be available.

Throughout the day, different 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock departments and centers will provide unique insights on the event through their presentations and activities. Some of these include a solar eclipse photo booth, eclipse history, Renaissance poetry, how to mathematically predict a solar eclipse, and the sun in Norse mythology.

鈥淭he eclipse event at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is a prime example of how different academic fields can come together to explore and learn,鈥� Provost Ann Bain said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful to everyone participating in this event, as their unique academic perspectives enrich the learning experience for all. We鈥檙e excited to offer this unique learning opportunity for our students and the wider community.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will have two LightSound devices that will enable individuals with visual impairments to experience the solar eclipse through sound. The devices are provided by the LightSound Project at Harvard University, who are distributing these devices for use at universities, schools, and nonprofits across the country during the solar eclipse on April 8.

Power Technology, as experts in lasers and the science of light for more than 55 years, will provide laser demonstrations, using the instruments they normally use to measure lasers to display real-time changes in both the brightness and spectrum of the sun during the solar eclipse.

The solar eclipse celebration is funded by the Donaghey Foundation, Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

For more information on the solar eclipse event, visit .

The post Join 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for a Spectacular Solar Eclipse Celebration on April 8 appeared first on News.

The answer isn鈥檛 as straightforward as one might think, according to Dr. Raffaela Lesch, an assistant professor of biology at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock who studies how domestication affects animals.

鈥淭he answer will depend a lot on how the animal is kept,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ost animals don鈥檛 panic or freak out with the sudden darkness. Indoor pets like cats probably won鈥檛 respond to the solar eclipse because they are used to having a lot of changes in their environment. Animals who have more experience with the outdoors may experience a level of confusion. Dogs, for example, might be a little impatient and walk around and try to figure out if they should trust their internal clock or what they are perceiving outside.鈥�

While some pets may display a level of confusion during the eclipse, Lesch said this isn鈥檛 anything to worry about. Pets may begin their nighttime routines, walk around, or seek treats or reassurance.

鈥淔or pets like cats and dogs, you can always give them a treat or a toy for the duration of the solar eclipse,鈥� Lesch said. 鈥淚t will be a very short time where it鈥檚 really dark. As long as we stay calm, the animals will be calm as well.鈥�

For pet parents who are worried about leaving their pets unattended during the solar eclipse, Lesch said that it shouldn鈥檛 be a problem for well-adjusted animals, but advised caution for pets who have separation anxiety.

鈥淚f they are used to being left alone, I wouldn鈥檛 be worried about it,鈥� Lesch said. 鈥淭hey might wake up and realize something is going on, but I wouldn鈥檛 have any concerns about them having any major fears about the eclipse, unless you have an animal that already has separation anxiety. In that situation, you should consider being there with your pet, so you don鈥檛 have a situation where the pet is scared, and another level of confusion is added on. In general, staying home alone during the eclipse shouldn鈥檛 be a problem for well-adjusted animals.鈥�

For animal lovers in general, Lesch said people can expect animals who are active at dusk and dawn 鈥� such as racoons, foxes, and opossums 鈥� may make an appearance during the solar eclipse when they normally wouldn鈥檛 be out at midday.

鈥淚f you live out in the countryside, it will be interesting to see what animals come out of the woods during the solar eclipse,鈥� Lesch said. 鈥淎nimals that have shifted their routines to avoid contact with humans usually don鈥檛 come out during the daytime, but they might peek their heads out of their hidey-holes during the eclipse.鈥�

Lesch鈥檚 advice for pet parents is simply to sit back and enjoy the show with their pets during the solar eclipse.

鈥淚 would say to just enjoy it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭ake time to observe your animals. If they show any changes in their behavior, they will mainly be confused. Take joy in observing what they do during the different stages of eclipses.鈥�

Lesch said that observing the whimsical behavior of chickens could add a delightful layer to the unpredictability of the cosmic event.

鈥淚f we think about chickens, they respond to the dark/light cycle a lot stronger than other animals, and we could expect them to have a stronger response to the sudden disappearance of daylight,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f someone has a flock of pet chickens, it will be especially fun to sit and watch what they are doing during the eclipse.鈥�

Visit to learn more about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock’s Solar Eclipse Celebration, and to watch a video of Lesch’s advice on pet behavior during the solar eclipse.

The post Conversations with Solar Eclipse Experts: Pet and Animal Behavior appeared first on News.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is excited to welcome the public and campus community to experience this rare and breathtaking event on campus. This day of science and observation for the whole family will take place from 10 a.m. 鈥� 4 p.m. Monday, April 8, with activities taking place both inside and outside the Jack Stephens Center.

鈥淚f we don鈥檛 observe the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, we won鈥檛 have another chance in Arkansas for the next 21 years,鈥� said Dr. Gregory Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭hat is why I encourage everyone to see the eclipse in April. For many of us, it鈥檚 a once-in-a-lifetime event.鈥�

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. Much of Arkansas lies within the path of totality with Little Rock expected to have two minutes and 29 seconds of totality. The partial eclipse will take place from 12:33-3:11 p.m. with the main event, the total solar eclipse, taking place between 1:51-1:54 p.m. in Little Rock.

The university’s School of Physical Sciences is organizing guided observation sessions equipped with solar telescopes from Celestron, allowing attendees to witness the eclipse with breathtaking detail as it is transmitted on large screens for all to enjoy. Additionally, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will have 50 telescopes featuring Solar Safe filter technology for children to safely observe the eclipse. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will also have 50 phone adapters, making it easy and safe for people to take a picture with their phone, and thousands of eclipse glasses for the crowd.

“The eclipse event at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is a prime example of how different academic fields can come together to explore and learn,鈥� Provost Ann Bain said. 鈥淲e’re grateful to everyone participating in this event, as their unique academic perspectives enrich the learning experience for all. We’re excited to offer this unique learning opportunity for our students and the wider community.”

Additionally, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will have an inflatable planetarium, a Foucault鈥檚 pendulum, meteorites on display, and a variety of demonstrations representing areas from the humanities to healthcare taking place throughout the day inside the Jack Stephens Center. Food trucks and children鈥檚 activities, such as manufacturing pinhole viewing boxes and face painting, will also be available to make sure all family members enjoy their entire day at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

, author of 鈥淣etworking for Nerds,鈥� will be giving a guest lecture at 10 a.m. in the Jack Stephens Center. For more than 20 years, Levine has been helping emerging and established leaders build meaningful careers. After the lecture, Levine will meet with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, and staff to give them advice on how to boost their careers.

The event is funded by the Donaghey Foundation, , and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

For more information on the solar eclipse event, visit .

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