Pacific Science Center Science Luminaries Series

SEATTLE SCIENCE FESTIVAL’S LUMINARY SERIES BRINGS SCIENCE AND THE ARTS TOGETHER IN THOUGHT-PROVOKING, BREATHTAKING PERFORMANCES AND PRESENTATIONS

Tickets on sale now!

SEATTLE – APRIL 26, 2012 – This summer, learn from many of the world’s most inspired scientific thinkers about cutting-edge issues of our time.  Topics to be tackled in this innovative series include cyber security, the future of genomics, the next generation of space exploration, computer games, and mitigating the world’s leading cause of disease.

Discover the mysteries of the world around us through the Seattle Science Festival’s Luminaries Series which will bring together performances by world-class artists and multi-media presentations by brilliant and inspiring thinkers.

The Science Luminaries Series is a month-long program consisting of five provocative and entertaining evenings that will celebrate the exploration of science and technology through a new cultural paradigm that interweaves TED-type technical presentations with cultural performances.

“These innovative presentations and artistic performances will demonstrate, at the highest possible level, that science is an integral part of our community’s culture,” said Ellen Lettvin, Ph.D., Seattle Science Center Festival Director and Vice President for Science & Education at Pacific Science Center. “This series is taking an unconventional approach to attract audiences who may not typically be drawn either to technical talks or to artistic performances, but are intrigued by the concept of a program that integrates the two; it aspires to enhance scientific literacy in our community as well as to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers.”

The Luminaries Series begins Friday, June 1 with Reinventing the Toilet, at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Renowned social entrepreneur Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization and the World Toilet College in Singapore and British author Rose George, whose book The Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste/The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why it Matters, will discuss the important role the toilet has played in saving lives and improving health in industrialized nations, and the challenge of reinventing this technology so it can benefit the more than 2.5 billion people who currently lack access to adequate sanitation.

Luminaries Series: Reinventing the Toilet, is presented in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, whose recently launched Reinventing the Toilet Challenge is developing new technologies that will reduce water-borne disease and improve the lives of billions of people worldwide.

Subsequent Luminaries Series events will be held each weekend throughout June:

Luminaries Series: Hackers at Town Hall – Saturday, June 9, 2012, 8 p.m.: Identity theft, cyber-attacks, viruses, worms, and botnets…these terms strike fear into the hearts of all computer users, whether individuals, corporations or governments.  Think you are safe from these cyber-perils, well think again!  Meet Yoshi Kohno, Professor of Computer Science; Deborah Gracio, national security expert; and Pablos Holman, IT security expert, and a notorious hacker.  These talented and dynamic speakers will explore several different aspects of this critical topic, complemented by ‘the Inadvertent Hacker:  an Operetta’ performed by musician Amy Denio.

Luminaries Series: Evolution at the Paramount Theatre –
Saturday, June 16, 2012, 8 p.m.:  Presenters at this brilliant event are world renowned palaeontologist Dr. Jack Horner of Jurassic Park fame and award-winning biologist Dr. Leroy Hood whose inventions have revolutionized biomedicine and are credited with ‘unlocking much of the mystery of human biology’.  Interwoven with these presentations will be a performance of the world’s first peer-reviewed rap, New York’s acclaimed ‘Rap Guide to Evolution’, as well as a stunning performance of the work ‘Euclidean Space’ by Seattle’s critically acclaimed Spectrum Dance Theater.

Luminaries Series: Space at the Museum of Flight’s newly opened Space Gallery – Friday June 22, 2012, 8 p.m.: This fascinating event featuring astronauts Dr. Bonnie Dunbar and Dr. George 'Pinky' Nelson as well as Mark Sirangelo of Sierra Nevada Corporation, will explore the topic of space along with inspiring artistic performances.

Luminaries Series: Gaming at Benaroya Recital Hall – Friday, June 29, 2012, 6 p.m.:  This event will feature some of the game industry’s most imaginative and dynamic visionaries, including Kim Swift, developer of Portal and creative director for Quantum Conundrum, Marty O’Donnell, producer and sound designer for many successful games including Halo, Myth and Oni, and Chris Taylor, creator of the Dungeon Siege and Total Annihilation series. Following the lecture, take the red pill and let the Seattle Symphony transport you into The Matrix. Watch this groundbreaking film on the big screen while the Orchestra plays the soundtrack live at 8 p.m.

Tickets to the Science Luminaries Series events for individual student, general admission, preferred seating and VIP reception (includes meet and greet with Luminaries Series speakers) can be purchased for individual events or for the entire series  at seattlesciencefestival.org. Ticket prices range from $10- $125.

In addition to a generous grant from lead sponsor JPMorgan Chase Foundation, program support for the Seattle Science Festival comes from The Boeing Company, Next 50 Seattle Center 2012, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft Corporation, Ordinary People Foundation, Intellectual Ventures, Google and Washington STEM, media partner, KOMO 4 and exclusive print partner, The Seattle Times.

The 2012 Seattle Science Festival is a collaboration of the region's cultural, educational, research and business communities. Collaborators to date include: University of Washington, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Institute for Systems Biology, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), EMP Museum, Seattle Opera, Northwest Association for Biomedical Research, PATH, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle Children’s Research Center, Seattle Public Schools, Seattle University, Washington NASA Space Grant, Washington STEM and many more organizations. Visit the Seattle Science Festival website for more details and to view the current event calendar.

Located under the arches near the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center serves approximately one million guests on site and more than 300,000 students, teachers and families throughout Washington state each year. As the Science Center approaches its 50th anniversary on October 22, 2012, the institution is as committed as ever to serving the community and being an engine for creative and critical thinking for the Pacific Northwest. Science education is at the heart of Pacific Science Center's mission. As part of that effort, the Science Center is proud to be part of the Seattle Science Festival to connect with, and help inspire, the next generation of scientists.

PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER CAMP HONORS CHALLENGER ASTRONAUT RON MCNAIR APRIL 9

PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER CAMP HONORS RON MCNAIR; Blacks in Science presents the 25th annual Ron McNair Camp-In at Pacific Science Center, April 9

SEATTLE – In 1986 Dr. Ron McNair died when the Space Shuttle Challenger he was aboard exploded after it launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, also taking the lives of his fellow astronauts. A physicist recognized nationally for his work in the field of laser physics, Dr. McNair was also notable for being the second African American to fly in space.

For the past 25 years Pacific Science Center, an independent, not-for-profit educational institution, in partnership with Blacks in Science (BIS), has proudly presented the Ron McNair Camp-In. This special overnight adventure at Pacific Science Center gives children the opportunity to be inspired and learn by discovering science in a relevant, engaging way.

Join us as we iinvestigate the science of science fiction through a Humanoid Robotics Hands-on Science Workshop, fly through space in the Galaxies Planetarium Show and visit our special engagement exhibit at this year’s annual Ron McNair Camp-in.

Details:
Ron McNair Camp-in
Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave North
Under the arches, near the Space Needle
Saturday, April 9-10
5:30 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday
To register: 206 443-2925 or visit us online.

As with all of our overnight camp-in programs, the children and their adult chaperones enjoy a hands-on science workshop, live science demonstrations, planetarium shows, an IMAX® film, laser show, and the unique opportunity to roam the Science Center and explore after the public goes home. This camp is geared to boys and girls ages 8-12 and their adult chaperones.

Dr. Ron McNair was a scientist from North Carolina A&T University. He earned his Ph.D. at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. McNair maintained his commitment to African American children by introducing them to science at a young age in order to help them develop to their full potential.

BIS promotes enrichment and interest in the world of science among African American and all interested children. BIS has never turned a child away; offering scholarships as needed. One of Pacific Science Center’s key goals is to make science and science education accessible to everyone, especially those who do not have easy access to such opportunities.


Pacific Science Center: http://www.pacsci.org/
Blacks in Science: http://www.blacksinscience.org/

Pacific Science Center: Free Open House For Educators This Saturday - 02/05/2011

This message is posted on behalf of Pacific Science Center:

Celebrating Teachers! - Educator Open House Feb. 2011 Pacific Science Center would like to thank Washington state educators and celebrate their efforts in the classroom by inviting them to the Educator Open House this Saturday, February 5. This free engagement includes admission to current exhibits, Laser shows, IMAX films, the Willard Smith Planetarium, Tropical Butterfly House and more. Educators and their guests will receive special pricing to see Harry Potter: The Exhibition between 8 -10 a.m. Registration 8-11:30 a.m. Light refreshments served until 10 a.m. - Exhibits open all day.

http://www.pacsci.org/openhouse/

Pacific Science Center Receives NASA Grant To Connect The Community To Our Universe

And now for some good news. I received the following notice from Wendy Malloy of the Pacific Science Center and I am more than happy to post it on behalf of PSC:


Pacific Science Center Receives NASA Grant To Connect The Community To Our Universe

SEATTLE – May 13, 2010 – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded a $1.1 million grant to Pacific Science Center to develop NASA Now, a program to increase educational outreach in earth and space sciences while inspiring young adults to pursue careers within the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

As an independent not-for-profit educational institution, funding for this five-year grant will help Pacific Science Center expand its efforts to reach out to diverse audiences and provide science learning experiences to everyone, especially those who do not have easy access to such opportunities.

"Being selected by NASA for this award is gratifying for so many reasons,” said Bryce Seidl, president and CEO for Pacific Science Center. "This grant allows us to reach underserved audiences, takes advantage of our existing Discovery Corps program, links to other partners like the UW and aligns so well with the science outreach objectives of NASA.”

As one of the nine informal education providers selected in NASA's 2010 Competitive Program for Science Museums and Planetariums, Pacific Science Center will build NASA Now using a three-tiered approach. The program's first objective is to present data from NASA in a clear and immersive way by updating the Science Center's planetarium with a state-of-the-art digital projector system.

Next, the Science Center plans to expand its outreach offerings to schools and communities by adding a second portable digital projector to its Science On Wheels Space Odyssey program, incorporating up-to-date science information and discoveries. In addition, NASA Now will subsidize the cost of this program delivery for schools with a high number of students in the free- and reduced-price lunch program.

Finally, the grant will allow Pacific Science Center to create the Track for Earth and Space Science Achievement (TESSA) program. As a component of the Science Center's youth development program, Discovery Corps, TESSA allows teens to explore careers in earth and space science alongside astronomy undergraduates.

TESSA's participating youth will help write content for Pacific Science Center's planetarium shows, assist in delivering programming, update our exhibit floor with current space science information and receive mentoring opportunities with the University of Washington Pre-MAP (Pre-Major in Astronomy Program).

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"Science centers and planetariums contribute significantly to engaging people of all ages in science, technology, engineering and math," said James Stofan, acting associate administrator for NASA's Office of Education. "NASA wants to give the informal education community access to a variety of agency staff and resources while offering professional development opportunities for informal science educators and encouraging the formation of collaborative partnerships."

The selected organizations will partner with NASA's Museum Alliance, an Internet-based, national network of more than 400 science and nature centers, planetariums, museums, aquariums, zoos and related organizations. The projects will engage the public and educators by providing NASA-inspired space, science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning opportunities.

Congress initiated the Competitive Program for Science Museums and Planetariums in 2008. The first group of projects began in 2009. NASA's Office of Education and agency mission directorates collaborated to solicit and review the grant applications.

PCS news for 03-12-2010

Posted on behalf of the Pacific Science Center:

Hubble 3D Premiere A Star-Studded Affair
Instead of Hollywood stars, this movie debut featured stars in the sky. This amazing film, shot with an IMAX 3D camera in space, shows how a crew of astronauts repaired the Hubble Space telescope. The images from Hubble 3D are incredible. Learn more about the movie premiere in this article from CollectSpace.com and read more about the mission in this interview with astronaut Mike Massimino. Then get set for the opening of Hubble 3D at Pacific Science Center's Boeing IMAX Theater March 19. Tickets are on sale now.

Seeing 'Alice?' 3D Is A Must
Thousands have been flocking to theaters across the country to watch the newest interpretation of the classic Alice in Wonderland story. But if you're going to see it, you really must see it in 3D, as this LA Times reviewer points out. And if you're going to see it in 3D, you really owe it to yourself to see it on the biggest screen in Seattle. Alice in Wonderland An IMAX 3D Experience is now playing at Pacific Science Center's Boeing IMAX Theater. Buy Tickets.

Go For A Run, Celebrate Science
If you plan to be among the thousands taking part in the St. Paddy's Day Dash this Sunday in Seattle, be on the lookout for some participants sporting Martian antennae and lime green t-shirts! OK, so they're not real antennae, they're costumes some Pacific Science Center staffers will be wearing as they run and walk the course. Letting everyone know about our current exhibit, Facing Mars. Don't be surprised if they hand out some goodies along the way. Hope to see you there!

Web: http://pacificsciencecenter.org

Hubble 3D to Premiere at Pacific Science Center’s Boeing IMAX Theater on the largest screen in Seattle March 19

Posted on behalf of the Pacific Science Center:

SEATTLE – Pacific Science Center’s Boeing IMAX Theater launches its newest space film Hubble 3D March 19. This giant-screen film is the latest in the Smithsonian’s space-related IMAX film series and is the seventh film created by IMAX’s award-winning space team.

Hubble 3D chronicles NASA’s historic Hubble Space Telescope, the first major optical telescope to be placed in space. Development for the space observatory began in 1970, but technical glitches and other space-program setbacks delayed its launch until 1990. Since then, NASA performed five service missions that improved the telescope and enabled it to make in excess of 800,000 observations and capture more than 500,000 images of more than 25,000 celestial objects from within the solar system and beyond.

The film contains several minutes of IMAX 3-D footage captured by NASA’s STS-125 Atlantis astronauts, including their intricate space walks during the final service repairs to the telescope. This footage will give audiences the sensation of being in space while performing some of the most difficult tasks ever undertaken in NASA’s 50-year history.

Pacific Science Center’s Boeing IMAX Theater’s six-story screen and 3-D technology will showcase the breathtaking images of the universe captured by the Hubble telescope in a truly immersive format. Viewers will feel like they are among the stars as they observe the splendor of nebulae and other galaxies and witness the life cycle of celestial bodies. They will also gain an understanding of the efforts needed to ensure the success of the Hubble mission.

Hubble 3D was directed by veteran IMAX filmmaker Toni Myers (Space Station 3D) and was narrated by Academy Award Nominee Leonardo DiCaprio (Shutter Island). It was produced by IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures in cooperation with NASA.

Pacific Science Center’s Boeing IMAX Theater is located at 200 Second Ave. North, under the arches, near the Space Needle, in Seattle. For information on tickets and showtimes, please call 206/443-2001 or visit the website at www.pacificsciencecenter.org

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Pacific Science Center (pacificsciencecenter.org) is an independent, not-for-profit educational institution that inspires lifelong interest in science, math and technology by engaging diverse communities through interactive and innovative exhibits and programs in every county of Washington state and beyond.