"Mad Science" Ignites Imagination In Troy

TROY (WWJ) - With the space shuttle Endeavour's lift-off this week, WWJ's Ron Dewey says youngsters in Troy were given a chance to learn about rocket science, maybe igniting their curiosity.

A group of preschoolers launched model rockets with their friends from Mad Science of Detroit on Tuesday.

"Photon Phil", known to grown-ups as Phil Peck of Mad Science Detroit, gave preschoolers a lesson on how rockets work.  The mad scientist in charge let them push the ignition button on a series of model rockets.

Mad Science aims to ignite interest in science among kids, Peck said, at a time when schools are cutting back.

"When children understand things like being pushed forward and lifted up and these are the terms we talked to them about in terms of space flights because that's how shuttles work," said Peck.

Peck says it is a matter of breaking down the science in terms they understand.

"Our mission is to get kids excited, let them understand the science, especially with the science around them," said Peck.

Four-year-old Adam Marshall was one of the children that got to launch a rocket.  He said he never had seen a rocket take off before.

His mother, Martha Marshall, hopes that this will spark interest in math and science for her son.  With this, she believes one day he could build things, such as engines. 

"Legos for now," she joked.

Besides Tuesday's presentation, Mad Science Detroit also performs presentations at schools and summer camps throughout the year.