A polar researcher is on the James Madison University campus this weekend as part of a two day kick off for the John C. Wells Planetarium's new dome show "Ice Worlds."

This afternoon JMU students got a chance to meet Dr. Douglas Williams, the polar researcher from the University of South Carolina. He gave a presentation on his research and left some time for a question and answer session.

Students also also previewed the film. "It was really good, it showed a lot of really good points about the environment," said Morgan Wells a JMU sophomore.

Saturday, with the help of JMU faculty and students, Dr. Williams will lead "Go Polar! Ice, Polar Bears, and Cool Science in the Arctic" starting at 2 p.m. at Miller Hall on campus.

Planetarium Director William Alexander expects the free event will be fun for parents and kids alike.

The afternoon will be filled with hands on experiments, a showing of "Ice Worlds," a chance to learn about the arctic and climate change, along with an opportunity to touch real polar bear fur and a walrus tusk.

"It is also an opportunity for us to show that the planetarium has more to offer than just astronomy," says Alexander.

The John C. Wells Planetarium has shows for the general public each Saturday throughout the fall. This season they will be showing "Microcosm: The Adventure Within" at 2:30 p.m. and "Ice Worlds" at 3:30 p.m.

The planetarium is located in Miller Hall off Grace Street by Rockingham Memorial Hospital.