Get up close and personal with California wildlife when Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory presents "Back to Nature, Down to Earth," a showcase for the science of nature and earth, on Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Visitors Center, near the East Gate entrance.

The event is free to the public and will feature representatives from the Lindsay Wildlife Museum of Walnut Creek, who will be on hand with live animals, displays and literature about the creatures and critters of California. Other highlights include the Lab's "Fun With Science" demonstration, interactive LEGO robots, an energy exhibit, displays of endangered and threatened species that have found haven at the Lab, as well as an environmental diorama to demonstrate pollution via stormwater runoff; and an exhibit by the Explorer Post Scouts.

This is the second Science Saturday program sponsored by the Lab's Public Affairs Office. The first event, which focused on space and science, was held last November and drew an estimated 500 people.

"Our first Saturday event was so successful that we wanted to do another one," said Visitors Center coordinator Linda Lucchetti. "These Saturday programs are a fun way to make science accessible and interesting to the community, and especially children."

The event, which is part of the Laboratory's 50th anniversary celebration, will take place in and around the Lab's Visitors Center, which is located off Greenville Road.

For more information, contact Linda Lucchetti, (925) 422-5815 or lucchetti1@llnl.gov, or see the Web at http://www.llnl.gov/llnl/06news/Community/nature_expo.html