MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Wood is a major part of Americans’ daily lives. In fact, wood consumption in the U.S. is five and a half pounds per person per day. This is just one of the fascinating facts fourth graders will discover about wood when they visit Mississippi State University’s Wood Magic Science Fair.

MSU will host about 4,000 children, teachers and visitors Oct. 6 through 10. They will learn about forestry, sustainable bioproducts and wildlife.

The weeklong event will be at MSU’s Sustainable Bioproducts Complex, formerly the Forest Products Laboratory, at 201 Locksley Way in Starkville.

The Wood Magic Science Fair is sponsored by the MSU College of Forest Resources, the MSU Extension Service, the Mississippi Forestry Association and the Mississippi Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

Children will visit 12 stations including “Sawmill,” “OSB and Plywood Making,” “Bubbling Bazookas” and “Chem-is-tree,” where they will learn about topics such as lumber manufacturing, composites, wood preservation and tree variation, among others. Students also will participate in activities that teach them about a variety of wood properties and products, papermaking and furniture manufacturing, just to name a few.

For more information on the Wood Magic Science Fair, contact David Jones at 662-325-8454 or david.jones@msstate.edu. Details about each station can be found at http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/forestp/wmsf.