The Da Vinci Science Center presented live demonstrations by the author behind the blockbuster exhibition "Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body" Aug. 17 and 18.

Self-styled as her grossness herself, Sylvia Branzei led visitors through a series of yuck-filled activities highlighting the science of snot, poop and wounds.

Copies of Branzei's books were available for purchase in The Curiosity Shop, the center's retail store and the author was available to sign books after each of her demonstrations.

Sylvia Branzei's appearances highlighting what she calls "the grosser side of life" were sponsored by St. Luke's University Health Network was included with the regular Da Vinci Science Center admission.

Inspired by Branzei's books, the Grossology exhibition has been visited by more than 20,000 people since opening at the Da Vinci Science Center May 18.

The exhibition will continue at the Center through Sept. 2, as part of the Center's Year of the Human Body project with St. Luke's University Health Network.

Grossology lets visitors explore why their bodies produce mushy, oozy, crusty, scaly, and stinky gunk.

It uses sophisticated animatronics and imaginative exhibits to show visitors the good, the bad, and downright ugly about runny noses, body odor, and more.

Grossology features impolite stations for visitors, including an animatronic nose that flows snot called Nigel Nose-It-All; a skin climbing wall featuring pimples, warts, wounds, hair, moles and other skin blemishes; an area in which visitors can match body odors with the area of the body from which they came; and a larger-than-life burping cartoon character drinking from a three-foot soda can visitors pump.

Sylvia Branzei's original book, "Grossology," has sold more than 500,000 copies since it was first published in 1995 and was adapted for a children's television show.

Branzei has followed with titles such as "Animal Grossology," "Grossology Begins at Home," "Hands On Grossology," and "Grossology and You."

She also is co-author of the Eurekaville book series.