The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center is a partnership between the University of South Carolina-Aiken, local industry, and public school districts in the Central Savannah River Area (http://rpsec.usca.edu/) .
Visitors to the center can experience science and mathematics in challenging and exciting ways. If you visit when the lobby is open you can see that many science, mathematics and engineering applications are architecturally integrated into the building itself. You can also see the “Living Periodic Table”, the Interactive Nucleus, and a mesmerizing Foucault pendulum. The Science Center is also home to an observatory and to the DuPont Planetarium. The DuPont Planetarium is open for public showings.
STAGE ONE: The posted coordinates will take you to US Geological Survey benchmark DE3269 (this happens to be the first benchmark we ever logged). Standing on this benchmark, you will be at the base of a horizontal sundial. The horizontal sundial and nearby obelisk sundial are oriented in such a way that they are really one large sundial. The plaza around the sundials has lines for hours, lines for the summer and winter solstices, and a line for the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. From this point, look around you and answer the following questions. The answers can be found on the sundial, and on the bronze plaque to your left by the side door to the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center:
A = Number of words inscribed on one side of the horizontal sundial.
B = Number of Aiken County Commission for Higher Education commissioners with a middle initial of "W".
C = Number of Aiken County Commission for Higher Education commissioners that are listed as "Dr".
D = Number of Aiken County Councilors that have "Jr" in their name.
E = Total number of Aiken County Councilors.
F = Number of Aiken County Legislation Delegation Representatives minus the Aiken County Legislation Delegation Senators
Checksum: A+B+C+D+E+F = AxBxF
FINAL STAGE: Use your answers to the questions above to complete the coordinates:
N 33 34. A B C
W 081 46. D E F
The initial cache was stocked with a variety of space related items from the Science Center gift shop. We hope you find this multi to be fun and educational, and keep this theme going! FTF prize was a pair of tickets to a show at the Dupont Planetarium AND an unactivated Travel Bug dogtag. Good luck!
** CONGRATULATIONS to GEOHOLIC28 for the FTF!!! **