A Newsletter for Members and Friends of the Museum of Science
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Science Fiction Meets Science Fact New traveling exhibition reveals how the two connect—and what could come next!
Take a look at the once-popular flip phone, and it’s hard to miss its similarities with the communicator from the original Star Trek television series. HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey influenced Siri, Alexa, and other
electronic voice devices (minus the creepy factor). And many intrepid innovators are still working on turning the hoverboard from Back to the Future Part II into reality.
Explore these and other connections between technology and pop culture influences from movies,
books, television, and additional art forms in POPnology, the Museum’s newest traveling exhibition
opening April 30. Embrace your inner POPnologist in this revolutionary visitor experience that
also highlights emerging technologies such as 3-D printed cars and robots through dozens of
hands-on experiences, arresting visuals, and more!
This Is How We Do It
The exhibit is divided into four areas, each tackling a different way
technology impacts our lives—“How We Move,” “How We Connect,”
“How We Live and Work,” and “How We Play.” See how far we’ve come in
the past century and the exciting possibilities that could be just around the corner.
Venture into “How We Play,” and stop by the Pentiductor Play Area to learn how
to make sounds and music with just your hands. Then, take a trip through the
APRIL – MAY 2017
Inside This Issue
• From Sci-Fi to Wi-Fi
• Cambridge Science Festival
• Amazing Amazon!
KEVA PLANKS CITY
evolution of television at the Pixel Pegs board. Move
over to “How We Move” and see how magnets could
be the future of transportation as the fuel for trains,
hoverboards, and more! In the Mars Rover Challenge,
you take control of the vehicle via remote control and attempt
to complete a mission on the red planet. And witness history
with Local Motors’ LM3D—the first 3-D printed car!
Learn about the past, present, and future of robotics as well
as their pop culture influences in “How We Live and Work.”
Attempt to rotate dinosaur eggs—using a robotic arm.
(Don’t wake up the mother!) Meet Baxter, a robot who per-
forms tasks without the aid of humans. Plus, build a
city-sized space station with KEVA planks that can handle all
the out-of-this-world challenges! And see how just about any-
thing can be created using 3-D printing technology.
How have phones inspired by pop culture influenced
our lives, and what might they look like in
2030? Find out in “How We Connect.”
An authentic replica of the communication
device from E.T. is featured along with
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POPnology Exhibit Opens April 30 | Member Preview April 29
information on new approaches to
contacting alien life. You can also
communicate with fictional aliens via
music and lights just like in the iconic
scene from Close Encounters of the Third Kind!
The Future Is Now
“[The exhibit features] something for kids and it has
something for adults,” says Edward Eyth, who was a concept
designer on many films, including Back to the Future Part II.
“There is interactivity in some of these [exhibit components]
that you can participate in. It’s a great overall experience.”
POPnology showcases several memorable items from Back
to the Future Part II, including Eyth’s visionary concept art
for the film as well as the iconic hoverboard and self-tying
shoes. Also, watch your favorite movies come alive when you
snap a selfie with the title character from the Alien films, say
hello to R2-D2 from the Star Wars franchise, and much more.
If you aren’t already a POPnologist, you will be after
exploring this exhibit, here for a limited engagement only!
POPnology® was created by Stage Nine Exhibitions and is distributed by Exhibits Development Group. Free with Exhibit Halls admission. Free for members.
BAXTER
3-D PRINTED CAR
It doesn’t get much more rewarding than a day at the Museum of Science. But what happens after all the visitors go home and the Sun sets along the Charles River? Find out the answer to this and other mysteries during one of our popular Member Overnights!
Mark Your Calendar
Choose from two upcoming opportunities to enjoy this exclu-
sive after-hours experience for elementary-school-age children
(ages 6 – 13) and accompanying adults—Friday, June 16 or
Saturday, June 24. Purchase tickets beginning April 11 for
Premier members and April 13 for Basic members.
Enjoy especially spacious Exhibit Halls and special
members-only programming, including a visit to
our newest temporary exhibition. POPnology
highlights the connection between pop culture
and technology through impressive visuals
and engaging hands-on experiences.
Brighten your night with a late-hour Lightning!
show in the Theater of Electricity. Eventually
you’ll want to go to sleep, but with an
exciting twist when you rest your eyes
surrounded by your favorite exhibits.
The fun continues the next morning
with a captivating, larger-than-life IMAX®
film in the Mugar Omni Theater. What a
way to conclude this memorable experience!
A Slumber Party Like No OtherMake lasting memories overnight at the Museum!
Overnight Details• Fee: $50 per person. Advance
registration required. Space is limited; first come, first served.
• Dinner options: Bring your own meal or visit the Riverview Café.
• Check-in is 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Program ends at 11:00 a.m. the next morning. Overnight parking rate is $5.
• Confirmation letters are sent with your overnight “survival guide” to help you prepare for a successful stay.
• For more information, contact
membership: 617-589-0180.
Member Appreciation Night Sunday, May 7 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Explore the Museum’s Exhibit Halls in a
less-crowded setting—just you and fellow
members. Enjoy exclusive activities as well
as complimentary tickets to the 4-D
Theater and Butterfly Garden!
Overnight Rules
To ensure a safe, enjoyable time:
• Children must be accompanied by adult chaperones (21+); a minimum of one chaperone per five children is required.
• Anyone under the influence or in possession of alcohol or drugs will be required to leave.
• Inappropriate behavior (includ-ing, but not limited to, ignoring guidelines or engaging in acts of aggression) will be grounds for dismissal.
Member Overnight Friday, June 16 or Saturday, June 24
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Citywide Science Celebration The Museum of Science is at the forefront of annual Cambridge festival.
For more than a decade, the Cambridge Science Festival has
focused on making science, technology, engineering, art, and
mathematics both accessible and fun through programs and
events around the city, including at the Museum of Science,
which straddles both Cambridge and Boston. The tradition
continues for the eleventh year with countless activities
and some very special guests.
Let’s Talk about the Weather
The stars are back to tell us about
what’s happening in the skies.
Meteorologists from WCVB Storm-
Team 5 will appear on the Gordon
Current Science & Technology Center
Stage April 18 – 20 at 12:30 p.m. each
day to share their expertise in the art
and science of forecasting.
Another can’t-miss festival feature is a free performance by
the North Cambridge Family Opera—a multigenerational
singing group. This year’s science-based theme: weather
and climate. See them live Sunday, April 23 at 4:00 p.m.
in Cahners Theater.
So Much to See and Do
Observe the Sun and possibly sunspots and solar flares via the
Museum’s safe solar telescope during Solar Lunch. In Shake
Things Up, use your creativity, teamwork, and problem-
solving skills to engineer a model building that can withstand
an earthquake! Plus, participate in Boston Marathon® Days
activities throughout the Exhibit Halls during the two days
leading up to the April 17 race. Learn the science behind
long-distance running and more.
And don’t forget about perennial visitor
favorites such as a Lightning! show in
the Theater of Electricity (featuring a
Cambridge invention, the Van de Graaff
Generator), Live Animal Story Time
presentations on the Shapiro Family
Science Live! Stage, the always
enlightening and comical Amazing
Nano Brothers Juggling Show in
Cahners Theater, Astronomy
After Hours on Friday evenings in the Gilliland
Observatory, and much more. You might even pop by our
new exhibit prototyping area, Behind the Scenes.
“Every year it’s so much fun for people to learn what types of
amazing activities are available all over Cambridge, including
right here at Science Park,” says Susan Heilman, Museum
educator and organizer of our portion of the festival. “It’s
wonderful for the Museum to be part of this community
where science is happening.”
Most Museum events are free with Exhibit Halls
admission. For more information: mos.org/events.
For a complete list of Cambridge Science Festival events:
cambridgesciencefestival.org.
Photos © Tyler Trahan
Cambridge Science Festival April 14 – 23
Discovering the Amazon’s “Beautiful Proof” New IMAX® film takes you back in time on a historic odyssey along the famed river.
Nearly 170 years ago, two young naturalists from England
traveled to South America to embark on what would become
an epic journey of scientific discovery and adventure along
the Amazon River. Henry Bates and Alfred Wallace were on
a quest to find life forms new to science and, perhaps more
important, to find evidence that species do change.
Wallace and Bates split up to cover more territory in the
vast Amazon with Wallace leaving after four years due to
illness. Bates continued for 11 years in this visually stunning
and bio-diverse region—eventually providing the proof that
Charles Darwin needed for his controversial theory of natural
selection, thereby boosting Darwin’s credibility.
Learn more about this significant piece of history with the
latest large-format production from SK Films, Amazon
Adventure, which opens April 14 on the IMAX® Dome screen.
Mimicry for Survival
Bates made his important discoveries in the fascinating world
of camouflage and mimicry where things are not always what
they seem! Venturing up the Amazon with his pet monkey and
guitar, Bates formed close relationships with the native tribes
and adopted their hunting and survival methods so he could
survive in this harsh environment that greatly differed from
his native England.
Challenged by yellow fever, landslides, robbery, starvation, and
encounters with jaguars, army ants, poisonous snakes, and
insects, Bates managed to do his research that determined
some of the species with the best chance of survival used
mimicry and camouflage to beat the odds.
See the evidence that Bates observes as he works like a
detective putting the clues together, including what appear
to be bird droppings that walk and water droplets that fly as
well as jungle cats that imitate the sounds of a small monkey
to fool their prey. Witness a fish that looks like a leaf floating
on the water’s surface and a spider that poses as a flower bud.
Darwin called Bates’s findings from the Amazon “the
beautiful proof” for natural selection. The evidence was
included in future editions of Darwin’s landmark book
On the Origin of Species as well as Bates’s own publication
The Naturalist on the River Amazons, which Darwin called
“the best book of natural history travels
ever published in England.”
Impressive Sights
The film showcases some of
the most colorful and intriguing
life forms in the world combined
with re-enactments of Bates’s travels.
Get ready for the journey of a lifetime
with Amazon Adventure. And unlike
Bates you won’t have to worry about
catching yellow fever, just the best seat!
Local Sponsor
Amazon Adventure Opens April 14 in Omni
Calendar of EventsApril – May 2017
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Exlusive Member Event
April May
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTSInformation is subject to change. Please confirm all dates and times: 617-723-2500, mos.org.
NanoDaysSpecial Event—Explore nanoscale science in the Exhibit Halls. 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Boston Marathon® DaysSpecial Event—Learn how the human body adapts to meet the demands of endurance sports. Also, April 9, 15, and 16.
Beyond the TelescopeExplore the universe in different parts of the spectrum to see what we can learn when we look beyond what human eyes can see. 7:00 p.m.
Stars of STEM CelebrationAttend the Museum’s annual gala. 6:00 p.m. ! $
Book Club for the CuriousJoin a discussion about Deep Life: The Hunt for the Hidden Biology of Earth, Mars, and Beyond by Tullis C. Onstott. Cambridge Innovation Center. 5:30 p.m.
Amazon Adventure OpensIMAX® Film—Naturalist Henry Bates takes an 11-year journey along the famed river where he makes landmark findings on animal behavior. M ! $
Cambridge Science Festival BeginsCitywide Event—Activities showcase the city’s position at the forefront of science. Through April 23.
GastropodEnjoy a three-course event for your eyes and ears during this special live recording of the popular podcast. 7:00 p.m. ! $
Stories Under the StarsHear true stories that explore the theme of “Planet Tales” in the Charles Hayden Planetarium. 7:30 p.m. ! $
Member Preview: POPnologySee the influence of pop culture on technology with engaging activities and exciting visuals. Exhibit opens to the public April 30.
Photographing a Black HoleLearn all about the black hole believed to exist at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy. 7:00 p.m. M
Grow Your Food IQ WeekendParticipate in hands-on activities and watch presentations from experts about growing, cooking, and sharing in a celebration of food with a STEM twist. Also, May 7.
Member Appreciation NightExclusive Member Night—Exhibit Halls open for our special guests: you, our members! 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
CosmosJoin the Boston Choral Ensemble for a night of music and an impressive cosmic show in the Charles Hayden Planetarium. 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Also May 18; 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. as well as May 14; 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. ! $
Book Club for the CuriousJoin a discussion about Life’s Engines: How Microbes Made Earth Habitable by Paul G. Falkowski. Cambridge Innovation Center. 5:30 p.m.
Breaking Waves: An Evening with Schuyler BailarThe first transgender athlete on an NCAA Division I men's team discusses the hurdles and milestones in his life. 7:00 p.m. M !
3Wednesday
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7Sunday
11Thursday
SYMBOL KEY
M Members may reserve tickets in advance and/or receive discounts.
! Reservations are either required or strongly recommended.
$ A fee is associated with this event or exhibit.
8Saturday
13Thursday
14Friday
26Wednesday
12Wednesday
27Thursday
29Saturday
24Wednesday
Exhibit Halls For more information: 617-723-2500, mos.org/exhibits.
New! POPnology Opens Sunday, April 30See how pop culture has influenced technology and gain insight into emerging innovations. Exhibition features props from iconic films like Back to the Future, robots, the first-ever 3-D printed car, and more!
Last Chance! Chocolate Through Sunday, May 7 Discover the unique cacao tree whose seeds started it all, unearth the origins of chocolate consumption, and discover how chocolate was transformed from a bitter drink of kings into the chocolate we love today.
Behind the Scenes: Help us test new exhibits!This new permanent exhibit offers a sneak peek into how exhibits get made. Help us create exhibits by testing out new exhibit ideas before they are in their final form.
Butterfly GardenExplore a living exhibit filled with sunlight, plants, and free-flying butterflies. Timed tickets required. Member price: $5.
Thrill Ride 360°Take a ride on a roller coaster you design in this full-motion experience! Timed tickets required. Member price: $5.
FEATURED PRESENTATION
Live presentations are offered throughout the day every day in the Exhibit Halls. For current schedules: 617-723-2500, mos.org/daily-schedule.
Afternoon ReportDaily; 2:30 p.m.Join our on-stage anchor in the Gordon Current Science & Technology Center for a rapid-fire news report touching on the latest science headlines.
Generously supported by Cabot Corporation.
Special Hours
Exhibit Halls hours are extended during school vacation week:
April 15 – 20 | 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
April 21 | 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (as usual)
April 22 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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Charles Hayden Planetarium
For showtimes and tickets: 617-723-2500, mos.org. Shows run approximately 35 – 45 minutes. Member price: $5.
FEATURED SHOWS
Magic Tree House® Space MissionBrother-and-sister duo Jack and Annie embark on a wondrous journey of adventure and learning to answer questions about space.
Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond Our SunThe discovery of exoplanets—the thousands of known planets that orbit stars beyond the Sun—may lead us closer to finding an Earth-like world. Produced by the Museum of Science.
Explore: The UniverseLeave Earth behind and blast off to explore our solar system, the Milky Way, and beyond. Journey through the cosmos with a Planetarium educator as your star pilot.
Music Under the DomeFriday and Saturday eveningsJoin us in the Charles Hayden Planetarium and experience one of our innovative and immersive music offerings.
Mugar Omni TheaterFeaturing New England’s only IMAX® Dome screen. For showtimes, tickets, and a complete list of films now playing: 617-723-2500, mos.org. Shows run approximately 50 minutes. Member price: $5.
Sponsored by
FEATURED FILMS
New! Amazon Adventure Opens Friday, April 14Follow naturalist Henry Bates on his 11-year journey of risks and thrills in nineteenth-century South America, where he made landmark findings on animal behavior.
Last Chance! National Parks AdventureThrough Thursday, April 13Visit Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Everglades, and more on the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
Journey to SpacePatrick Stewart narrates this celebration of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program and the plans for ushering in a new era of unprecedented deep space exploration.
Gilliland ObservatoryFree, thanks to the generosity of the Lowell Institute.
Astronomy After HoursFridays; 8:30 – 10:00 p.m.On clear nights, view stars, planets, the Moon, and other astronomical phenomena from the roof of the Museum’s garage! On cloudy nights, tour the inside of our Observatory and participate in astronomy-related activities run by our knowledgeable staff. For more details and weather-related closure information, call our hotline at 617-589-0267, updated by 5:30 p.m. every Friday.
4-D TheaterFor showtimes and tickets: 617-723-2500, mos.org. Shows run approximately 15 minutes. Member price: $5.
Ice Age: No Time for Nuts 4-DJoin Scrat, Ice Age’s resident nut-crazed saber-toothed squirrel, as he time travels in his zaniest adventure to date, Ice Age: No Time for Nuts 4-D.
ICE AGE™ & © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Thomas & Friends™ 4-D: Bubbling Boilers!Join Thomas & Friends in this thrilling 4-D adventure as they encounter big surprises while racing to an exciting celebration on Sodor.
© 2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited.
Wild Survivors: Animals in 4-D Filled with jaw-dropping sequences in digital 3-D with added special effects, this film takes a never-before-seen look at the ingenious tactics animals have developed to survive and thrive in a danger-filled world.
© BBC 2017
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Adult OfferingsFor more information: 617-723-2500, mos.org/events. Funded in part by the Barbara and Malcolm L. Sherman Fund for Adult Programs and by the David and Marion Ellis Endowment Fund.
SUSTAINING LIFE
An ongoing study of the splendor, mystery, and importance of our food and water.
GastropodWednesday, April 26; 7:00 p.m.What’s the story behind some of our favorite dishes? How does everything from microbes to metals affect the taste of what we eat? In this special live recording of the podcast Gastropod, co-hosts Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley serve a three-course feast for your eyes and ears.
• Fee: $15; purchase tickets in advance at mos.org/events.
• Funding provided by the Barbara and Malcolm L. Sherman Fund for Adult Programs.
ON BEING HUMAN
Exploring the layers of the human experience.
A Reno Family Foundation Symposium
Breaking Waves: An Evening with Schuyler BailarWednesday, May 24; 7:00 p.m.A record-breaking swimmer in high school, Schuyler Bailar was aggressively recruited by most Ivy League women’s swim teams. Now, two years later, Schuyler competes on a prestigious men’s swim team, the first transgender athlete to compete in any sport on a NCAA Division I men’s team. Join Schuyler as he discusses the hurdles and the milestones in his life and the world of transgender youth. Reception with light snacks and a cash bar to follow.
• Funding provided by the Reno Family Foundation Fund. This program is free thanks to the generosity of the Lowell Institute.
• Advance registration begins Monday, May 8 for members (Wednesday, May 10 for the general public) at mos.org/events.
WHEN SCIENCE MEETS ART
Shattering the boundaries between art, science, and technology.
Stories Under the Stars: Planet TalesThursday, April 27; 7:30 p.m. Come to the Charles Hayden Planetarium for an evening of live storytelling, radio, and music under the stars. Hear true stories (some astronomy related, some not) that ex-plore the theme of “Planet Tales.”. Some program content may not be suitable for young audiences.
• Fee: $15; purchase tickets in advance at mos.org/events.
• Hosted by science reporter Ari Daniel and co-produced by Ari Daniel and the Museum of Science. Music performed by Mike Effenberger and Nick Phaneuf.
CosmosThursdays, May 11 and May 18; 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.Sunday, May 14; 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.Join the Boston Choral Ensemble to explore the universe through sight and sound! The program includes live choral music concerning stars, planets, and the heavens as you watch a cosmic show overhead designed just for the occasion in the Charles Hayden Planetarium.
• Fee: $20 ($10 for students and seniors); purchase tickets in advance at bostonchoral.org/cosmos.
OUR WORLD, OUR UNIVERSE
Investigating the unknown, here and out there.
Beyond the Telescope: A Universe of a Different ColorWednesday, April 12; 7:00 p.m. Pink planets and green galaxies? Is space really so colorful? Join Kimberly Kowal Arcand, visualization lead for NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, as she explores the universe in different parts of the spectrum to find out how much we can learn about the cosmos when we look beyond what human eyes can see.
• This program is free thanks to the generosity of the Lowell Institute.
• Register in advance at mos.org/events.
Photographing a Black HoleWednesday, May 3; 7:00 p.m.Dr. Sheperd Doeleman, director of the Event Horizon Telescope Project, and Katherine Bouman from MIT talk about the Event Horizon Telescope, which scientists say could take a picture of a supermassive black hole believed to lie hidden in the heart of the Milky Way.
• Free; advance registration begins Monday, April 17 for members (Wednesday, April 19 for the general public) at mos.org/events.
AND MORE
Find out even more offerings at mos.org/events.
Stars of STEM CelebrationThursday, April 13; 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.Show your Museum support! Enjoy a celebratory evening of dinner, drinks, and interactive experiences as we toast the honoree of the 2017 Stars of STEM—our generous Premier Partner MathWorks for its dedication to inspiring curious minds of all ages.
Following the dinner, please stay for our second annual Sparks After Dark: The Stars of STEM Celebration After Party hosted by The Innovators. Enjoy dancing, late night snacks, science-themed entertainment, and more!
• For more information: 617-589-0185, [email protected], mos.org/starsofstem.
• Individual ticket includes seated dinner, evening program, and after-party admission. (For after-party only, please visit mos.org/sparksafterdark.) Sponsorship opportunities are available for both.
Tall Ships Cruises Museum of Science members will have a special opportunity to view the Tall Ships when they visit Boston this June. We are offering members-only cruises through the Charles River Boat Company. Watch your email for more details or visit mos.org/member-events.
Member Tips
• Take advantage of extended school vacation week hours: mos.org/hours.
• Bring your current membership card for immediate Exhibit Halls entry as well as discounts in the Museum garage, store, and café.
• Reserve tickets in advance. Call 617-723-2500 or visit mos.org just a few days before your arrival. Use your confirmation email to go straight to your venue.
• Take public transportation or have a backup plan for parking in case the Museum garage reaches capacity. See mos.org/parking for ideas.
• Avoid peak times by arriving before 10:30 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m. Museum parking is first come, first served. Garage payment is by credit or debit card only.
• Arrive at least one hour before scheduled shows to allow time for parking. Late entries to timed shows are not permitted.
Create Your Online Account!
Set up an online account linked to your membership and you will be able to:
• Update your contact information
• Purchase and print your tickets at home
• Email tickets to a mobile device
• Upon renewal you will receive electronic passes you can redeem online, by phone, or in person.
Go to mos.org/my-account. Enter your email address and create a password. On the next screen, enter your name as it appears on your membership card and click Merge Membership. Enter only one name, even if there are two members printed on your card.
Questions? Contact the membership department: 617-589-0180, [email protected].
Exclusive Member EventsFor more information, 617-589-0180, mos.org/members.
Member Preview: POPnologySaturday, April 29; 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Be among the first to see this new temporary exhibition that blends the past, present, and future as punctuated by pop culture in a revolutionary experience.
• Free. No reservations required.
• Entrance is limited to the number of Exhibit Halls admissions permitted with your membership level. Bring your active membership card with you.
• For more information: 617-589-0180.
Member Appreciation NightSunday, May 7; 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.Enjoy a members-only journey through the Exhibit Halls in a less-crowded setting and enjoy exclusive activities, plus free Butterfly Garden and 4-D Theater admission!
• Free with complimentary parking. No reservations required.
• Entrance is limited to the number of Exhibit Halls admissions permitted with your membership level. Be sure to bring your active membership card with you.
• Butterfly Garden and 4-D Theater tickets are first come, first served.
• For more information: 617-589-0180.
Let’s Celebrate July 4th!Ticket Sales Start in April Celebrate with family entertainment, science activities, and the Boston Pops Concert live via radio, capped by fireworks over the Charles River. The annual members-only event takes place on the Museum’s garage roof. Detailed ticketing and ordering information available on mos.org in late April.
• Ticket availability is limited to the number of Exhibit Halls admissions permitted with your membership level.
• Tickets go on sale for Discoverers and Explorers Thursday, April 27; Premier Level members Tuesday, May 2; and Basic Level members Thursday, May 4.
• All tickets are sold first come, first served.
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The Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs receive important support from individual members and donors like you. Additional support provided by:
The Massachusetts Cultural Council Media Partner
Museum of Science 617-723-2500 mos.org
The Museum of Science gratefully acknowledges the support of our Premier Partners:
EventsFor more information: 617-723-2500, mos.org/events.
NanoDaysSaturday, April 8; 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Imagine, discover, and explore a world too small to see. Celebrate nanoscale science and enjoy activities throughout the Exhibit Halls, including The Amazing Nano Brothers Juggling Show, guest research presentations, and hands-on activities.
• Free with Exhibit Halls admission.
• For more information: mos.org/nanodays.
Boston Marathon® DaysSaturdays, April 8 and 15, and Sundays, April 9 and 16; during regular Exhibit Halls hoursLearn the science behind long-distance running from Museum educators and volunteers, guest speakers, and biology-related components in the Hall of Human Life. On race day (Monday, April 17), watch a live feed of the race—and try to spot the Museum’s marathon runners!
• Free with Exhibit Halls admission..
• For more information on activities: mos.org/events. For information on the Museum’s Boston Marathon® fundraising team: mos.org/marathon.
Cambridge Science FestivalFriday, April 14 – Sunday, April 23Did you know that the world’s largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generator (star of our famous Lightning! show) was developed in Cambridge? Learn about this and more during the festival, which showcases science, technology, engineering, and math in one of the strongest hubs of STEM in the United States!
• Free with Exhibit Halls admission.
• For more information: mos.org/events and cambridgesciencefestival.org.
Grow Your Food IQ WeekendSaturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7; 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Learn about growing, cooking, and sharing through hands-on activities and presentations from food experts. Discover the connections between food and science, technology, engineer-ing, and math.
• Free with Exhibit Halls admission.
• For more information: mos.org/events.
Sign up for Summer Courses!
Looking for stimulating fun for your kids this summer? Sign up for a week (or more!) of science courses running July – August.
Students entering grades 1 – 8 can choose from morning or afternoon classes—or create a full day of fun!
• For more information and to register: mos.org/courses.
• Summer courses are offered early to Museum members. Not a member? Join today: 617-723-2500, mos.org/members.
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3 Museum of Inspiration Bostonguide.com, a website that introduces
travelers to the various things to do and see
in the Hub, recently ran a profile of Todd
Sperry, the Museum’s senior vice president for
marketing strategy and communications. Sperry
shared his enthusiasm for the Museum that he
had even before joining the staff last year and
recent news, including Michael Bloomberg’s
generous and unprecedented $50 million gift
to the institution. Sperry described the Museum
as “a place to come and get inspired!”
4 Recognition for Museum President Ioannis Miaoulis, Museum president and
director, received the Philip Hauge Abelson
Prize from the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS) during a
ceremony at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. Rush
Holt, CEO of AAAS, said Miaoulis’s recognition
was for his successful efforts to “champion the
public understanding of science and engineering
[and] cultivate interest in engineering among
K – 12 students,” among other achievements.
Specifically noted was Miaoulis’s work as the
founding director of the Museum’s National
Center for Technological Literacy®.
1 Pixar Exhibit Journeys On The Science Behind Pixar—which explores how
Pixar Animation Studios combines science,
technology, engineering, and math with art
to create some of the world’s most popular
films—was a huge hit at the Museum when
it was on exhibit from the spring of 2015 to
January 2016. And the exhibition developed
by the Museum in collaboration with Pixar
Animation Studios is still running strong!
The first step on a 10-year tour was the
Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Then it
took a cross-country trip to the California
Science Center in Los Angeles, where the
exhibit will be through April 16. Next up: the
Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul!
2 Running for Traveling Programs Museum Innovator Aleks Jan Jonca is on
the Museum’s 16-member team running in
the 121st Boston Marathon® on April 17. “I
am running in the Boston Marathon and
fundraising because I believe in the Traveling
Programs mission to bring the Museum
experience to people who don’t generally have
that opportunity. Similar programs in my
childhood were instrumental in my decision
to pursue a career in engineering.” Since 2010
Museum runners have raised over $690,000
for Traveling Programs. Meet more runners
and support the team at mos.org/marathon.
Museum News
4
Pho
to ©
Mic
hael
Mal
yszk
Did You Know? The DeLorean, the iconic car from the Back to the Future trilogy, was not a hit off-screen. Production ended after just two years due to poor sales. See the actual DeLorean used in Back to the Future: Part III in the Museum lobby when POPnology is here April 30 — September 4!
1
General Information
DIRECTIONS AND PARKING• PLAN AHEAD A state project on the Longfellow Bridge is rerouting traffic in front of the
Museum. Please allow extra travel time or consider taking public transportation. For updates: mos.org/traveltips.
• Address 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114• Detailed Directions mos.org/directions • Parking Museum garage parking is available first come, first served. Members receive a discount.
BOSTON DUCK TOURSTickets sold on the front plaza. DUCKs depart from the driveway near the T. rex. Tours run daily, April – November. For reservations: 617-267-3825, bostonducktours.com.
EVENT PLANNINGHost your next event at the Museum of Science! Food services provided by Wolfgang Puck Catering. For information: 617-589-0125 (Monday – Friday), [email protected]. Members are eligible for special rates.
ACCESSIBILITYFor information or accommodation requests: 617-589-3102, [email protected], mos.org/accessibility. Please request ASL interpreters at least two weeks in advance.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCESWilliam and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center
A transformational $50 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies solidifies the Museum’s position as one of the world’s premier educational institutions by ensuring the ability of our educators to create and share world-class exhibits, programs, and K – 12 curricula on a global scale.
Field Trips
For information about Museum field trips and other opportunities for educators, such as the Teacher Partner Program: [email protected], mos.org/educators.
Traveling Programs
Bring a fun and interactive Museum program to your pre K – 8 school or community center! For information and reservations: 617-589-0354, [email protected], mos.org/travelingprograms.
Sparks! APRIL – MAY 2017
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
Director: Carl Zukroff
Editors: Christopher DelConte, Jonathan Friedman
Art Director: Lori Sartre
Designers: Fanny Dines, Nicole Guzzo, Lianne Stoddard
CONTRIBUTORS
Anna Brophy, Gabriel Mosse, William Walsh
Sparks is published bimonthly. Circulation: 55,000
© 2017 Museum of Science, Boston All rights reserved.
STAY CONNECTED WITH THE MUSEUM COMMUNITY!
For updates, special offers, and fun science:
Member E-News at [email protected]@
Photo © Nicolaus Czarnecki
EXHIBIT HALLS HOURS
• Saturday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Open until 7:00 p.m. July 5 – Labor Day)
• Friday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
• Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Eve 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day Closed
Subject to change and extended during Massachusetts school vacations. For updates: mos.org/hours.
TICKETS AND MEMBERSHIP
Advance reservations recommended. For current prices and to purchase tickets: mos.org.
For membership information: 617-589-0180, [email protected], mos.org/members.
QUESTIONS? Call Science Central at 617-723-2500.
Sparks!A Newsletter for Members and Friends of the Museum of Science
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Salem, NH
Permit #151
APRIL – MAY 2017
LAST CHANCE Exhibit Closes May 7
FREE FOR MEMBERS!
Photos (top, left to right): © 2002 Photodisc; Cacao bean used with permission of Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate, Incorporated; © Lindt & Sprüngli, Switzerland. Photo (bottom, middle): © The Trustees of the British Museum.
POPnology See cover story