Published: March 2, 2004

How lizards, turtles and people run and the story behind liquid crystals will be highlights of two separate March 13 presentations at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

The CU Wizards show "How Animals Move" will take place at 9:30 a.m. in Cristol Chemistry and Biochemistry Building room 140. At 2 p.m. in Duane Physics room G1B30, the CU-Boulder physics department will present "Liquid Crystals" as part of its Saturday Physics Series. Both shows are free and open to the public.

CU Wizards is aimed at students in grades five through nine, while the Saturday Physics Series targets high school students, teachers and adults.

Todd Gleeson, dean of the CU-Boulder College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of integrative physiology, will present the CU Wizards show. During the show the audience will learn how muscles power motion and how muscle metabolism functions during exercise through a treadmill demonstration using people and animals.

CU-Boulder physics Professor Noel Clark will present the "Liquid Crystals" show. During the show Clark will discuss the optical and electrical properties of liquid crystals and show how they are used in today's high-tech society to display information in items like laptop computers and digital watches.

For more information about CU Wizards call (303) 492-6952 or visit . For more information about the Saturday Physics Series call (303) 492-4318.