PORTLAND — The Southworth Planetarium at the University of Southern Maine will celebrate NanoDays on Monday by offering free special events for students in kindergarten through high school.

More than 200 science museums, research centers and universities are taking part in the nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering.

Nanoscale activities for elementary and middle school students will be held at 4, 4:30, 5 and 5:30 p.m. at the planetarium on Bedford Street. For middle and high school students, electron microscope demonstrations will take place at 4 and 5 p.m.

NanoDays is funded by the National Center for Research Resources, a division of the National Institutes of Health, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Door prizes will be given. Tickets are required for admission. Contact Gail Fletcher at gfletcher@usm.maine.edu or 780-4377.