BERKELEY, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/04/12 -- If you shred it, they will come. That's the theory -- physics theory -- behind the Tony Hawk: Rad Science Exhibit coming to UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science beginning May 26 which answers the question: How can a visit to a local skatepark demonstrate important physics principles? On Saturday, June 2, the world's most famous skateboarder and exhibit namesake, Tony Hawk, brings the gravity defying answer to Berkeley in a free open-to-the public tag-team demonstration with Berkeley physics professor Joel Fajans.

"Tony Hawk is famous for skateboarding, and UC Berkeley is famous for science," said Gretchen Walker, Associate Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science. "This is a great match, like centripetal force to a kickflip."

At the opening event on June 2nd, Hawk, along with other professional skateboarders, will perform an exciting demonstration on a specially designed vertical skate ramp set up just outside The Hall. There will be a DJ and a fun skate vibe, but rather than the usual sports commentary, professor Fajans will provide insights into how physics is being applied.

"Physics relates to everything that we do," said Fajans. "This cool new exhibition shows how a visit to a local skatepark can demonstrate important physics principles."

The Rad Science exhibition will allow visitors to put themselves into the role of skateboarders and scientists as they explore over 25 interactive experiences including:

• Bodacious Board Balance - Ride stationary skateboards designed to test your balance in classic tricks like "grinding" and "manuals" on the safety of a padded surface.
• Newton's Pool - Go inside an empty swimming pool to experiment with the laws of motion and see how a pool's unique characteristics created the origin of extreme skateboarding.
• Skateboard Evolution - See skateboard designs from the first in 1962 through today and learn how physics has driven the evolution of decks, wheels, and axles.
• Tony's 900 Vert Theatre - Take a trip back in time to witness the first time Tony Hawk ever preformed the 900 (2.5 revolutions in mid air)
• Wipeout Ambulance - See how inventions like helmets, kneepads, and wrist guards have helped dissipate the extreme forces of a wipeout.

Tony Hawk: Rad Science is created by Las Vegas based Exhibit IQ. The exhibition is designed to bring important science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles to life with an authentic skate culture design and hands-on activities that show science at work.

The exhibit runs at the Lawrence Hall of Science from May 26 through September 3, 2012, and is sponsored in part by Scholarshare. The Hall is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and general admission is $6-12. Children under 3, members, and UC Berkeley students and staff receive complimentary admission.

The opening event is on June 2nd at 1:00 p.m. Tickets for the event include admission to the exhibition and are $20, kids under 3 are free. Tickets for members and UC Berkeley staff and students are $7.00. Event capacity and parking is limited and advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended.

For more information:
http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org
twitter@berkeleyscience / #radscience
www.facebook.com/lawrencehallofscience
510-642-5132.

Special opportunities for press photography and video will be available for the hour before and during the June 2nd demonstration and time will be allotted for Q&A with Tony Hawk, Joel Fajans, and leaders from the Lawrence Hall of Science and Exhibit IQ.

Visitors are encouraged to share in excitement of the event through social media using hash tag #radscience, and the Hall will be partnering with Veetle to share live footage of the event online and on monitors around the Hall and inside their auditorium.

About The Lawrence Hall of Science:
The Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley investigates, creates, and evaluates educational materials and methods, professional development programs, and hands-on learning experiences for science centers, schools, community organizations, and homes. Every year programs from the Hall serve millions of students, over 165,000 visitors, and more than 20,000 teachers nationally and internationally. The Hall is committed to providing every person access to high quality, effective science and mathematics learning opportunities to enrich lives, inform communities, and advance society. For more information visit www.lawrencehallofscience.org

About Tony Hawk:
Tony has won numerous awards, including Make-A-Wish's Favorite Male Athlete, Teen Choice Awards' Choice Male Athlete and Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards' Favorite Male Athlete, beating out such sports icons as Shaquille O'Neal, Tiger Woods, and Kobe Bryant. From video games to skateboards to online media to clothing to world tours, Tony has dominated the action-sports market with his laid-back style. He is the most recognized action-sports figure in the world and, according to some marketing surveys, one of the most recognizable athletes of any kind in the United States.

Tony regularly appears on television and in films, and hosts a weekly show on Sirius XM. His autobiography, HAWK - Occupation: Skateboarder was a New York Times bestseller and is currently available in paperback. In 2010 Wiley Publishing released How Did I Get Here? The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO.

As his income reached a level he never could have imagined, Tony made an effort to give back to the subculture that has given him so much. His Tony Hawk Foundation has donated more than $3.2 million to more than 450 skatepark projects throughout the United States. The foundation helps finance public skateparks in low-income areas, providing a safe place to skate and helping young skaters from Marathon, Florida, to Sitka, Alaska, build their self-confidence. Skateparks that received financial assistance from the Tony Hawk Foundation currently serve more than 3 million young Americans annually.