My DSC: The Official Blog of The Detroit Science Center

HOLIDAY IMAX FILM CLASSIC RETURNS THIS WEEKEND!

2010-11-10T13:35:00.003-05:00

Infuse a little magic into your holiday season with the stunning, stop-animation film The Light Before Christmas, returning to the Chrysler IMAX Dome Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 13. The film begins with a cold, blustery Christmas Eve, when two lost children, Katie and Makean, are rescued by their friend, The Candleman, an old sage who imparts wisdom, hot chocolate and stories. Knowing a little holiday magic will raise the children's spirits, The Candleman opens a weathered book and begins to read the classic tale, "The Night Before Christmas." To their astonishment, Katie and Makean find themselves as characters in the poem, where they experience the wonder and delight of Santa's visit to their home, complete with Hob the Elf and a full team of reindeer.

Click HERE for show times and information on other great Chrysler IMAX Dome Theatre films.

What is Mole Day?

2010-10-22T12:04:00.008-04:00

Mole Day is designated as October 23 each year to celebrate Avogadro’s Number, approximately 6.02×1023 which defines the number of particles (atoms or molecules) in one mole of substance. It is only a coincidence that Avogadro slightly resembles the animal by the same name.

Chemistry activities are ongoing throughout the Detroit Science Center, presented by American Chemical Society from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Chemistry Demonstrations by University of Detroit Mercy students will be on the Chrysler Science Stage at 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.

The Detroit Science Center thanks our National Chemistry Week supporters:

and the Aline Underhill Orten Foundation

Bug Exhibit Creeps into the Detroit Science Center!

2010-10-20T10:38:00.008-04:00

The Detroit Science Center will explore all things buggy from October 27 – November 7, 2010.

In celebration of Rose Pest Solutions’ 150^th anniversary, they are bringing a comprehensive collection of bug specimens from around the world to the Science Center. The collection, belonging to world-famous bug collector Dan Capps, was at one time the largest personal collection of bugs in the world! The exotic and tropical specimens include beetles, walking sticks, butterflies, moths and much more.

Birthday Kick-Off and Press Event – October 27 (begin 11:00 am)

The exhibit will kick off with a special press event to celebrate Rose Pest Solutions’ 150^th birthday. The anniversary celebration is open to the public and will include talks by Dan Capps, Russ Ives (President of Rose Pest Solutions), and some interactive “Show & Tell” presentations featuring live bugs and specimens as well as Incredible Edible Insects with the Bug Chef. Finally and most importantly, you can’t have a birthday without cake! Free cake will be available to visitors while supplies last, of course! The cake will not contain any bugs—we promise!

Special Presentations

We will have additional special presentations throughout the short run of this exhibit, including more presentations by Rose Pest Solutions’ entomoligists such as Show & Tell with Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian and chef demonstrations by Gene White, AKA “The Bug Chef”.

Oct 30: Presentations with Mark “Shep” Sheperdigian (part of Spooky Science) includes live bugs, learning the basics of insect identification, how to create an insect collection and much more @ 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm

Nov. 7: Incredible Edible Insects with The Bug Chef. Visitors will learn about the overall health value of eating insects and sample tasty treats such as Chocolate Chirp Cookies, Bug-A-Boo Brownies, Jell-O-Shots called “Wigglers,” chocolate covered crickets and mealworms, and “Buglava.” Shows @ 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30pm

About Rose Pest Solutions

Rose Pest Solutions has its roots in the nation's oldest pest management company - Rose Exterminator Co., originally known as Rose's Rat Exterminator Co., founded by Solomon Rose around 1860 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rose Pest Solutions currently serves Michigan and Ohio in extermination services for both residential and commercial markets.

Dan Capps

Dan Capps is an avid bug collector whose collection includes a wide variety of specimens from the insect world, including everything from butterflies with wingspans the size of a dinner plate to walking sticks as long as a man’s forearm. At one time, it was the largest insect collection in the world before Capps began donating portions of it to museums and schools. It also has been on display at the Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago) and Disney World’s Epcot Center, along with hundreds of schools and museums nationwide.

Dan Capps is also in the Guinness Book of World Records holding world cricket spitting record since June 1998 at 32 feet and one-half inch.

Gene White (Bug Chef)

Mr. Gene White is a native Ohioan who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Glenville State College, Glenville, West Virginia. Gene's career in Urban Pest Management began in 1981 with experience as technician, sales consultant, supervisor,

district manager, and corporate trainer. In 1993, he enrolled at Purdue University and completed his MS degree in Entomology in December of 1996 and is an ESA Board Certified Entomologist. He currently works as the Director of Education and Training for Rose Pest Solutions in Troy, Michigan.

Gene’s professional activities include memberships in the Entomological Society of America, Pi Chi Omega and the American Society for Training and Development. He is currently the chair of the Purdue Entomology Development Council and member of the Michigan Pest Management Associations’ education committee.

Mark Sheperdigian

Mark Sheperdigian is an entomologist delighted to serve with Rose Pest Solutions as an ambassador for entomology, science education, and the urban pest management industry. Known better as just “Shep”, he has attained a presence both locally and nationally within the pest management industry. Eternal optimism and a positive mental outlook are his most prominent characteristics.

Graduating in 1982 from Michigan State University with his Bachelors of Science in Entomology, Sheperdigian has spent the last 26 years working in the urban pest management industry. Over that time, he has held a variety of positions in service, sales, management and technical support. He currently serves as Vice President of Technical Services for Rose Pest Solutions based in Troy, Michigan.

Chemistry Fun

2010-10-18T14:50:00.004-04:00

As we continue National Chemistry Week at the Detroit Science Center, we are all about chemistry!

You Know You’re a Chemist When…

All your shirts have holes.
You know what saline water is composed of.
You hear that someone had a bicycle crash and you think that he couldn’t handle working with Naphthalene.
You stare at the bottle of water and begin to wonder how you would separate all those ions.
You hear the word “Molar” and teeth are the last thing on your mind.
The first thing you reach for in the morning are your prescription goggles

Chemistry makes up many of the everyday things that we use, but being in Detroit, we lean a little automotive. Courtesy of Gary Weaks, a Detroit Science Center docent and professional chemist, here are some fun chemistry facts about automotive paint:

1) Did you know that your car wears sunblock? It's true. Ultraviolet light is that part of the radiation coming from the sun that has a shorter wavelength than visible light (so we can't see it). However, just as it can damage our skin and cause sunburn, it can also damage the polymers that form the paint on your car. Paint manufacturers will add a family of polymers known as ultraviolet light absorbers (UVA's) to filter out the ultraviolet light while letting the brilliant, visible colors still shine through. Without UVA's your car's paint would crack and fall off in only a few months in the bright sunshine.

2) Did you know that white paint is white for the same reason that snow is white? Snow is frozen water, a colorless, clear material. However, when formed into crystals (snow flakes) it bends the light that travels though it. This bending is caused by the fact that light travels slower through water than it does though air. This difference in the speed of light is known as the refractive index. Pile up billions of crystals and bend the light billions times, and any image is lost, but the light is not. It just gets scattered and we see all colors at the same time, or white light! This is also why clouds are white. In paint, chemists will add Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) if it is to be white in color. Titanium Dioxide is also a colorless material. In a crystal form known as Rutile, it has the highest refractive index of any known material. Thus, the light entering it is returned completely scattered and it appears to us a white light.

3) How much paint does a car need? Your car's metal skin is protected by a very thin layer of paint. Typically, it is only about 5 to 8 microns, or the thickness of a couple sheets of notebook paper. A micron is 1/1000 of an inch! On average, it requires about 2 gallons of liquid paint to accomplish this thickness of coating. Some of the liquid paint is lost to inefficient transfer (it misses the car when being spray-painted) and some is lost through evaporation. The remaining material forms a protective and colorful coating.

So Much Fun, It's SCARY!

2010-10-15T11:49:00.002-04:00

The Detroit Science Center has so much fun in October that it's SCARY! But the good kind, appropriate for all ages!

As you make your October plans, be sure to add the Detroit Science Center as a must-see destination!

Here's our line-up of activities in October:

Oct. 17 - 23: National Chemistry Week Special chemistry demonstrations and presentations

Oct. 23: Mole Day
Celebrating Avogadro's Number which is a geeky way of saying molecular chemistry fun

Oct. 27: Rose Pest Solutions Birthday Celebration and Bug Exhibit Launch
Bug presentations, the unveiling of a remarkable bug exhibit and birthday cake!

Oct. 27 - Nov 7: Rose Pest Solutions Bug Exhibit & Special Presentations
Creepy-crawly bugs of all types and special presentations throughout including entomologists, a bug chef and other experts.

Oct. 30: Spooky Science
Safe Halloween fun with a science twist for all ages. Kids in costume get in free with a paid adult. Activities and goodies through the Science Center as well as the Detroit Children's Museum.

For more information on these activities, visit our website or contact us via phone (313.577.8400).

It's All About Chemistry!

2010-10-14T14:15:00.009-04:00

The Detroit Science Center is concocting the formula for fun for National Chemistry Week, October 17 – 23, 2010.

Oct. 17 – Chemistry Week Kickoff

Chemistry demonstrations in the Centennial Lab by Emil Lozanov, Wayne State University professor at 1:15, 2:15, 3:15, 4:15 and 5:15 p.m.

“You Be the Chemist” by PVS-Nolwood Chemicals, Inc on Level 2 throughout the day.

Oct. 20 – 22 – Demonstration Days

Special DNA activities in our Cell Lab and Centennial Lab Chemistry Demonstrations hourly

Oct. 23 – Mole Day

Mole Day is designated to celebrate Avogadro’s Number, approximately 6.02×10²³ which defines the number of particles (atoms or molecules) in one mole of substance.

Chemistry activities are ongoing throughout the Detroit Science Center, presented by American Chemical Society from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Chemistry Demonstrations by University of Detroit Mercy students will be on the Chrysler Science Stage at 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.

The Detroit Science Center thanks our National Chemistry Week supporters:

Aline Underhill Orten Foundation

DSC Fan Mail: A Membership Well Worth the Investment

2010-09-21T17:06:00.005-04:00

Please accept our most sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for the exceptional learning experience that our son, Karol, enjoyed on 19 September at the Detroit Science Center.

The new and improved Science Center is truly a marvelous place. As members we visit the Science Center every month, and discover something new every time. We are often amazed that there is so much to learn, from floor to ceiling.

The Detroit Science Center is an extraordinary storehouse of scientific information, and fortunately the Science Center is staffed by individuals of the utmost skill, intellect, and dedication.

Individuals such as Nino Torres strive to make science exciting and interesting. He has a talent for making each presentation new, vibrant, and informative. If anyone leaves one of his presentations without being educated and entertained, it is probably because they are comatose. It is readily apparent that Nino has a wealth of scientific knowledge at his command, and he maintains a highly professional demeanor, yet every time we visit the Science Center, he makes us feel as though we are his closest friends. Because of the efforts of individuals such as Nino, our beloved son Karol is far advanced in science over his contemporaries. For this, Nino and the Detroit Science Center have our heartfelt gratitude.

We most certainly will be renewing our membership in the Detroit Science Center, and urging our friends and associates to join. Our membership in the Detroit Science Center is one of the best investments in our son's education that we have ever made.

Thank you, Nino. Thank you, Detroit Science Center. Your efforts on our behalf mean more to us than you can imagine.

With most sincere respect and esteem,

The Lesnick Family

The DSC Loves Scouts!

2010-09-20T16:04:00.007-04:00

Scout out some science fun at the Detroit Science Center! We offer camp-ins and workshops for scouts in several different badge areas. Scouts receive a badge, pin or other recognition for select workshops.

Check out our website for the many programs offered to scouts of all levels. There are additional programs for young scouts at the Detroit Children’s Museum. At the Detroit Children's Museum, we just installed a new display case in celebration of 100 years in scouting. We have a copy of the first ever Scoutmasters handbook, an Eagle scout patch and many more items.

This year (2010) is the 100^th anniversary celebration of Scouting in the U.S.! In celebration, the Detroit Science Center will be attending the 2010 Centennial Rendezvous (a national jamboree-like experience) sponsored by the Great Lakes Council, the coordinating body for scouting in the tri-county area. The Science Center will be there on Saturday, September 25^th, presenting science-based demonstrations and promoting our Scout programs for 2010/11. The objective of the Rendezvous is to instill values, leadership and character in each of the approximately 27,000 scouts in the Great Lakes Council area.

The 2010/11 scout program at the Detroit Science Center begins on Saturday, October 2^nd, with a Cub Scout Academics belt loop program on weather. The highlight of the program will be a talk presented by WDIV-TV Local 4 weathercaster Andrew Humphrey.

If you know a scout group looking for some engaging workshops or camp-in, please contact our Manager of Scouts Programs and Outreach, Don Klaser at dklaser@sciencedetroit.org.

Announcing Weather Day at the DSC!

2010-09-15T14:46:00.010-04:00

Have you noticed how much attention weather gets on social media? I challenge you to go to Facebook on any given day and not find someone posting something about the weather! It's a part of our everyday lives, whether we like it or not!

While we all have our opinions about the weather, our interest at the Detroit Science Center is in better understanding it! On October 2, we'll have an exciting line-up of activities related to weather!

Here's our Weather Day line-up:

10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Weather related educational activities

11:00 a.m. Planetarium show "Blown Away"

1:00 p.m. Dr. Groves reading of "The Weathers" on the Science Stage

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Scout weather program (pre-registration necessary)

2:30 p.m. Andrew Humphrey (Channel 4 meteorologist) presentation in Planetarium

3:00 p.m. Planetarium show "Blown Away"

Andrew Humphrey is an Emmy award winning meteorologist and reporter at WDIV-TV Local 4. In addition, he is proud to have earned the AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) distinction. Andrew is also a Trustee of the Detroit Science Center.

Dr. O. D. Groves, Ed.D, is a recipient of the Editor's Choice Award from the National Library of Poetry, a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

About Blown Away: Discover the forces that drive our weather and seasons, follow "Drippy" the rain drop as he travels around the water cycle, and learn where tornados and hurricanes come from, and how lightning strikes in this exciting exploration of our weather and climate.

Cub Scout Program: We will also have a special Cub Scout program about weather that day! The Weather Belt Loop workshop will feature the ‘Water Cycle Game’, the creation of a simple weather station that collects rainwater and shows temperature, the Humphrey talk and the Blown Away planetarium show. Scouts that successfully complete all 3 requirements will be awarded a Cub Scout ‘Weather’ belt loop along with a DSC Scout workshop patch. To register, contact reservations at 313.577.8400, option 5.

Motorsports Hall of Fame's 2010 Induction Ceremonies

2010-08-26T12:57:00.004-04:00

MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA HOSTS

GRANDEST INDUCTION CELEBRATION EVER
Racing Luminaries Hope to Inspire the Next Generation

Racing legends Dale Armstrong, Joie Chitwood, Alan Kulwicki, Jeremy McGrath, Ken Squier, Jerry Titus and Rich Vogler were inducted yesterday, August 25, into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in the organization’s 22nd annual induction ceremony at the Fillmore Theater.

With Honorary Chairman Chip Ganassi presiding, the induction ceremony was the culmination of the organization’s largest celebration ever, spanning two days of activities at the Detroit Science Center, now home of the Motorsports Hall of Fame, and at the Fillmore Theater.

“Family” and “future” were themes that pervaded this multi-generational celebration of motorsports that looked back at the lives of legends with an eye towards inspiring future generations of drivers, engineers and enthusiasts. “Driving is fun…it brings people together, it brings freedom and independence, and it is up to us to make sure that the next generation makes that connection,” said Ganassi.

The black-tie ceremony was once again hosted by Jim Mueller, track announcer for Michigan International Speedway and other ISC tracks, with Ned Jarrett, Marty Reid, Kyle Petty, Neal Pilson, Jim Farley and Gary Lee serving as presenters.

About the Inductees

Inductee: Dale Armstrong Category: Drag Racing

Well known as the mechanical genius behind the phenomenal success of Kenny Bernstein, Armstrong had an outstanding driving career himself, winning 12 NHRA National events in the 1970s. As a driver, he won the 1974 U.S. Nationals in the Pro Comp class and a season championship in 1975 that featured victories in the U.S. Nationals and World Finals. In his final Funny Car appearance as a driver, he set a national elapsed-time record of 5.891 seconds.

Inductee: Joie Chitwood (d.) Category: Historic

Accepted by Joie Chitwood III

Known as “The Chief,” Chitwood had two successful careers; one as a racer and another as a world-renowned stuntman. He was the AAA East Coast Sprint Car Champion in 1939 and 1940. He was the CSRA Sprint Car Champion in 1942. He raced at Indianapolis seven times, placing 5^th on three occasions. He was the first driver to wear a seat belt at the Brickyard. His popular and long-running Joie Chitwood Thrill Show led to stunt work in motion pictures and television. Chitwood died in 1988.

Inductee: Alan Kulwicki (d.) Category: Stock Cars

Accepted by Coby Brooks

Hard working and fiercely independent, he worked his way up from the short tracks of the Midwest to become the first owner/driver since Richard Petty in 1979 to win the NASCAR Cup championship when he dramatically captured the title in 1992. The NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1986, Kulwicki inaugurated the “Polish Victory Lap” when he celebrated by circling the track clockwise after he won for the first time at Phoenix in 1988. Kulwicki died in April 1993, during his reign as NASCAR champion, when his plane crashed en route to a race in Bristol, Tenn.

Inductee: Jeremy McGrath Category: Motorcycles

This native Californian became the most popular motorcycle racer of the 1990s and perhaps all time. From 1993 until his retirement in 2002, McGrath obliterated every record in AMA Supercross racing en route to eight national championships. His unique crowd pleasing riding maneuvers, while leaping the high-flying jumps of Supercross, helped launch the sport of freestyle motocross. His tremendous fan appeal gave impetus to the rapid growth of Supercross, but his popularity transcended the sport. McGrath appeared regularly on national television shows and commercials, along with starring in video games that topped the sales charts during his reign as the “King of Supercross.”

Inductee: Ken Squier Category: At Large

The owner of the voice that introduced millions to stock car racing began his career as a track announcer in the 1950s. While owning radio stations that formed the Radio Vermont Group, he acquired the Thunder Road track in Barre, Vt., and later became the lead voice of the Motor Racing Network providing NASCAR coverage on national radio. He was one an ABC motorsports announcer in 1964 before moving to CBS for the first flag-to-flag live coverage of the Daytona 500 in 1979. His call of that historic event is credited by many to have been a major contributor to a significant growth spurt for the phenomenal popularity of NASCAR. He still plies his trade as a commentator on SPEED & FOX.

Inductee: Jerry Titus (d.) Category: Sports Cars

Accepted by Rick Titus

During the 1960s, the glory days of Trans Am racing, Titus was one of the series’ dominant drivers. His five wins in 1967 won the championship and the manufacturer’s trophy for Ford. He placed third in points in 1968 and 1969. An accomplished writer and editor of Sports Car Graphic Magazine, Titus was killed in a racing crash at Road America in 1970. Titus' name is remembered annually by the America Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association when it presents its choice for driver of the year with the “Jerry Titus Memorial Award.”

Inductee: Rich Vogler (d.) Category: Open Wheel

Accepted by Eleanor Vogler

In 1980, Vogler became the first driver to capture both the USAC sprint and midget titles in the same season. He also won the midget crown in 1978, 1983, 1986 and 1988. He won additional sprint car titles in 1980 and 1989. A five-time Indy 500 qualifier, Vogler’s best showing was an 8^th place finish in 1989. His record of 134 national event wins in various divisions of United States Auto Club competition ranks second behind only Inaugural Hall of Fame inductee A.J. Foyt. Vogler's last victory came when, at age 39, he lost his life in an accident on the final lap while in the lead of a sprint car race at Salem Speedway in his home state of Indiana.

This year’s annual induction celebration also served as the formal debut of the new relationship between the Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Detroit Science Center, which is the current home to the Hall’s impressive motorsports collection and actual Hall of Fame member displays. The alliance between the two organizations is bringing renewed focus to the technological innovations that are vital to success in motor racing.

The Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame is operated by the Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation Inc. Currently housed in the Detroit Science Center in the Motor City’s Museum District, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America features more than 30 racing and high performance vehicles. The constantly changing collection features racing machines from the world of Indy Cars, Stock Cars, Sports Cars, Can-Am, Trans-Am, Sprint Cars, Powerboats, Truck Racing, Drag Racing, Motorcycles, Air Racing and even Snowmobiles.

Donate Blood on Aug. 20

2010-08-19T15:08:00.002-04:00

The Detroit Science Center and American Red Cross are holding a blood drive at the museum on Friday, Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Blood types currently at emergency level inlcude O Positive, O Negative, A Negative and B Negative. All blood donors will get $3 off museum admission.

Cruise On In For Cool Membership Savings

2010-08-19T12:06:00.003-04:00

Future Cruisin' 2010 is underway! Come on down to compete in a cool Pit Crew Challenge, adult tricycle races, Pinewood Derby races and more. Snag a stylin Future Cruisin' t-shirt or hat. Grab some great food from one of our outdoor vendors or the DIA. Check out the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. See NASCAR: The IMAX Experience on Michigan's largest IMAX screen.

Bring the family and enjoy all this for only $59 with the purchase of a discounted Detroit Science Center Family Level membership. Restrictions apply. Click HERE for more details.

Rev Your Engines for Future Cruisin'

2010-08-18T16:06:00.003-04:00

Get ready to rev your engines Aug. 19-22 at the Detroit Science Center's first annual Future Cruisin' event. This one-of-a-kind celebration of advanced automotive technology will feature fun activities for all ages, a classic car showcase and competition, pit crew challenge, Pinewood Derby car races and much more.

DSC Has 60 Days to "Land" Blue Angel

2010-08-17T12:27:00.003-04:00

One of the United States Navy's most striking and versatile military aircraft, the "Blue Angel" McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, will soon be landing at the Detroit Science Center...if the museum can raise $100,000 by Oct. 15, 2010 to transport the plane to Detroit from Pensacola, Fla.

The plane, valued at $36 million, will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit gallery designed to excite and inspire young people to consider careers in aerospace and military technology. It would be the first Blue Angel F/A-18 to be displayed in a Michigan museum.

Anyone interested in supporting the project should contact Velda Garcia Fayz at 313.577.8400, ext. 456, or vgarcia@sciencedetroit.org for more details.

Chef Moretti unveils the "Slapshot Sandwich" at the DSC

2010-08-14T20:47:00.005-04:00

Celebrity Chef Salvatore Moretti, who cooks for Madonna,Tony Bennett, NBA’s Larry Bird and others is known for creating sauces with spectacular flavors. He appeared at the Detroit Science Center on Friday to an enthusiastic crowd!

“Every great Chef has to be a food scientist”, Chef Moretti explained. “Technically, Endorphins are a brain chemical called “Endogenous Opiod Peptides” that function as Neurotransmitters..."

While on the Chrysler Science Stage on Friday, Chef Moretti created the Slapshot Sandwich live, which consists of a chicken cutlet with a combination of veggies, cheese, and a special sauce, which is Chef Moretti's own marinara sauce. Chef Moretti now has a full line of delicious, preservative-free sauces available at Walgreens stores.
Creating this sandwich in your home is simple and fast.

Slapshot Sandwich Recipe

Ingredients
Oil
Sliced bell peppers--green, red, yellow
Sliced onions
Moretti's Marinara sauce
Shredded cheese (mixed blends work well)
Seasonings, as desired--garlic, red pepper flakes, etc
Cooked chicken patty
Bun

Saute the peppers and onions and spices over medium heat until caramelized. Add approximately 1/2 a jar of Moretti's marinara sauce on low heat until cooked through. Put pepper/onion/marinara sauce over sandwiches and sprinkle with shredded cheese and serve. It's a beautiful thing!

Track Attack! The DSC's making progress on our giant Pinewood Derby track!

2010-07-28T09:46:00.013-04:00

As you've probably heard, the DSC is in the process of building a giant Pinewood Derby Track for our Future Cruisin' event. We'll have Pinewood Derby Car Races on Saturday, Aug. 21 and Sunday, Aug. 22 from 10 am to 4:30 pm. Here's a couple pictures of the track in progress:

Here's a look at the first turn. Your car will hit this one going mach 4!

The top of the track starts in the clouds on level 4 of the DSC!

More pics to come - this is going to be AWESOME! More information and updates can be found on our Future Cruisin' Facebook page or follow Future Cruisin' on Twitter!

Special $59 July membership offer! Become a Detroit Science Center member before July 31 and you might win Cedar Point tickets!

2010-07-27T15:31:00.007-04:00

Click flyer to enlarge:

This Wednesday at the DSC: Stack those cups!!

2010-07-26T17:15:00.016-04:00

This Wednesday the DSC offers a special treat in our event lobby: Michael Haig the cup stacking champion of the WORLD! (Well, in the four and under division, but really that just makes it that much cooler!)

Not sure what that entails? Click here to watch Michael in action!

Michael will be here along with Cindy Bir, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Wayne State University and star of ESPN’s “Sports Science” and the National Geographic Channel’s “Fight Science.” Professor Bir will share her knowledge on the connection of hand-eye coordination and speed to sports performance. Michale will show those principles in action! Visitors will be given the chance to see how fast they can stack the cups!

Check out this activity in the Events Lobby from 11:00AM – 2:00PM this Wednesday, July 28! This event is included with General Science Center Museum admission.

Pinewood Derby Car Workshops at the DSC!

2010-07-19T10:19:00.027-04:00

During Future Cruisin' the Science Center will be unveiling the "Giganta Track" - a Pinewood Derby track so large, Guinness Word Records has been contacted! We want to help YOU get ready to compete, so we're offering two Pinewood Derby Car workshop sessions at the Detroit Science Center!

When: July 31st and August 8th

Time: 11 am - 2 pm

Cost: $15

Includes: complete PDC Kit, tools and instruction. Everything you need to leave with a finished Car!

Price also includes free admission to one race day, either Aug. 21 or 22.

Parent or guardian: 1 accompanying parent is free to attend workshop. Only child has free admission on race day.

For more information, click here.

Leo Greene (alias Batman), age 5, begins working on his Derby Car.

His Papa is going to help him make the Batmobile!

Have you started work on your derby car? We want pictures! Post shots of your family working on your car to our Facebook page or e mail them to futurecruisin@sciencedetroit.org.

(Your Car Here!)

2010-07-16T13:34:00.015-04:00

Have a sweet ride? Showcase your car at the Detroit Science Center during our Future Cruisin' event! Details here.

Find Future Cruisin' on Facebook and Twitter!

HUBBLE BLASTS OFF FROM THE DETROIT SCIENCE CENTER’S CHRYSLER IMAX® DOME THEATRE JULY 3

2010-06-30T13:55:00.009-04:00

For nearly 20 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has dazzled us with unprecedented views of the cosmos -- from the splendor of our celestial neighborhood to galaxies billions of light years away. Now on July 3 at the Detroit Science Center’s Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre, audiences will blast off alongside the Atlantis STS-125 crew, witness up-close some of the most challenging spacewalks ever performed, and experience firsthand Hubble’s awe-inspiring imagery, from the heart of the Orion Nebula and our Milky Way to the edge of the observable universe. Recounting the amazing journey of the most important scientific instrument since Galileo’s original telescope, Hubble will immerse moviegoers in the great wonders and astounding beauty of our universe.

"It’s been said that The IMAX Experience® is the next best thing to being in space, and with IMAX, the audience really is there,” said Producer/Director Toni Myers. “Fifteen years ago we made a film about space exploration that included Hubble, when it started sending back the first images. Today, we have Hubble’s entire phenomenal legacy of data to explore. With IMAX, we can transport people to galaxies that are 13 billion light years away—back to the edge of time. Real star travel is here at last.”

Through the power of IMAX, Hubble will enable moviegoers to journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings, and accompany space-walking astronauts as they attempt some of the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history. The film will offer an inspiring and unique look into the Hubble Space Telescope’s legacy and highlight its profound impact on the way we view the universe and ourselves. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, Hubble reunites the Space Station filmmaking team, led by Producer/Director Toni Myers. James Neihouse, Director of Photography, also doubles as the Astronaut crew trainer. Judy Carroll is Associate Producer, and Graeme Ferguson, Co-founder of IMAX and pioneer Producer of many IMAX space films, is Executive Producer. Hubble is an IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures production, in cooperation with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The film has been rated G and has a running time of 43 minutes.

Please note that the Detroit Science Center will NOT be showing Hubble in 3D, but rather in the only domed IMAX theatre in Michigan - a surrounding experience with no glasses needed!

How Despicable Are You?

2010-06-23T15:46:00.018-04:00

Enter to win a pair of tickets to the new Steve Carell film DESPICABLE ME! Take a sinister photo of yourself in front of the DESPICABLE ME display at the Detroit Science Center. Then post your photo on our Facebook page! Contest ends Friday, June 25 at 3 PM.

MEMBERS: Don't miss the FREE Hubble IMAX Preview for Members Only on Wednesday June 30!!

2010-06-23T10:18:00.003-04:00

Follow that Dinosaur ... to the Detroit Children's Museum!

2010-06-21T13:19:00.012-04:00

Detroit is going to the dinosaurs! The Detroit Science Center’s T-Rex exhibit relocated to his new home at the Detroit Children’s Museum this morning. Many drivers experienced a Godzilla-like moment when T-Rex took on Detroit, traveling up Woodward Avenue from the Science Center to the Children’s Museum! Here are some pics for those who missed it!

Hey hey waitaminute Mr. Postman... Is that a T-Rex in my rear view?!

T Rex insisted on stopping by Comerica Park to see if they had dino-sized seating. Go Tigers!

T-Rex was on his best behavior as he passed a Detroit Police officer - lest his reputation preceded him.

"What? 'Yo Gabba Gabba' is coming to the Fox! Those guys are so cute - I could just eat them up!"

New home, sweet home!

REV YOUR ENGINES FOR FUTURE CRUISIN’ 2010 AT THE DETROIT SCIENCE CENTER

2010-06-18T12:43:00.016-04:00

Four-day Event Will Feature Fun Family Activities, Pit Crew Challenge, Car Competition and More!

Get ready to rev your engines Aug. 19-22, 2010 at the Detroit Science Center’s first annual Future Cruisin’ event. This one-of-a-kind celebration of advanced automotive technology will feature fun activities for all ages, a classic car showcase and competition, pit crew challenge, Pinewood Derby car races and more.

At the heart of this four-day event is the Advanced Technology Car Showcase & Competition, designed to award trophies and prizes to car enthusiasts who have designed, fabricated and successfully implemented the most advanced technology into their classic cars. Categories include green vehicle (advanced and experimental technology), powertrain, undercarriage/chassis, interiors, paint and body, mural/artistry, audio, design modifications, safety, historical, an award for uniqueness, and an overall “Best of Show.”

In addition to the Showcase & Competition, visitors attending the Detroit Science Center’s Future Cruisin’ event can enjoy four days of activities, including:

An exciting Pit Crew Challenge

Pinewood Derby car races

A Segway riding course

NASCAR: The IMAX Experience in Michigan’s largest and only Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre

The official Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, now located at the Detroit Science Center

An Adult Tricycle Obstacle Course and much more!

Entry forms, guidelines and additional information on the Advanced Technology Showcase and Competition, Pit Crew Challenge and Pinewood Derby are available at our new Future Cruisin' site - check back often for updates!

Save at the DSC and enter to win passes Toy Story 3 when you donate to Toys for Tots!

2010-06-11T12:34:00.027-04:00

Donate a Toy and Play with Us! TOY STORY 3 has teamed up with Toys for Tots to collect toys for local kids and teens! Bring in a new, unwrapped toy to the Detroit Science Center and receive one free museum admission with a purchase of another museum admission. Toys also can even be purchased on-site at the museum’s new Explore store. Michigan’s largest Science Center will be set-up as a toy collection site from Friday, June 11-Friday, June 18. Donation hours are Monday-Friday 9AM- 3PM and Saturday-Sunday 10AM – 6PM.

Enjoy more than 200 hands-on exhibits that explore space, life and physical science at the Detroit Science Center! Paid museum admission includes hands-on exhibits, live theater shows, planetarium and an IMAX® film.

Guests donating toys will receive a movie prize while supplies last and be entered-to-win a family four pack of tickets to the 3D advance screening on Tuesday, June 15, 7PM at Uptown Palladium.

“Toy Story 3” welcomes Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz (voice of Tim Allen) and the whole gang back to the big screen as Andy prepares to depart for college and his loyal toys find themselves in… day care! These untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice, so it’s all for one and one for all as plans for the great escape get underway. A few new faces—some plastic, some plush—join the adventure, including iconic swinging bachelor and Barbie’s counterpart Ken (voice of Michael Keaton), a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants (voice of Timothy Dalton) and a pink, strawberry-scented teddy bear called Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear (voice of Ned Beatty). Directed by Lee Unkrich (co-director of “Toy Story 2” and “Finding Nemo”), produced by Pixar veteran Darla K. Anderson ("Cars," "Monsters, Inc."), and written by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Michael Arndt (“Little Miss Sunshine”), “Toy Story 3” is a comical new adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D.

Disney.com/TOYSTORY * Text TOYS to DISNEY (347639)

OPENS NATIONWIDE JUNE 18th

Please note: TOY STORY 3 is NOT playing at the Detroit Science Center’s Chrysler IMAX Dome Theatre. The museum is only a toy donation site.

Don't Forget: Father's Day (June 20) is a Ford Free FunDay AND our Kids Town Fair at the DSC!

2010-06-09T14:35:00.023-04:00

Join us for fun-filled activities throughout the day at the third annual Kids Town Fair Sunday June 20 from 10 am to 5:30 pm! Take a trek on the moonwalk, let your child’s imagination soar with story time by our own Cat in the Hat, grab some deals on books from Scholastic, finger-paint your fun mural memories and enjoy many more surprises!

Members, join us for a special opening at 9 a.m. with goody bags from Zakoor’s Party Novelty and nutritious breakfast treats provided by Whole Foods Market while supplies last!

DETROIT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM FREE GRAND RE-OPENING CELEBRATION IS JUNE 26-27, 2010

2010-06-08T14:12:00.013-04:00

Enjoy an Outdoor Block Party, Hands-on Activities, Planetarium Shows and More!

This summer the nation’s third oldest children’s museum will once again welcome the laughter and curiosity of young children through its doors when the Detroit Children’s Museum celebrates its grand re-opening June 26-27, 2010. Admission will be free for all visitors on opening weekend.

Now part of the Detroit Science Center, the Children’s Museum has long been one of Detroit’s cultural gems. Featuring a collection of more than 100,000 artifacts ranging from dinosaur bones to dioramas, masks, costumes and dolls from around the world, an extensive collection of rocks, fossils and crystals, and more; plus a “touch the stars” planetarium; and hands-on art and activity stations, the museum will offer visitors a unique look at world cultures, art, history and science.

Visitors on opening weekend will see some old favorites including the Silverbolt horse sculpture and Champ, the Bengal tiger, plus new displays featuring changing artifacts from the museum’s vast collection. In celebration of the grand re-opening, the museum will hold an outdoor block party with music, science shows, face painting, activities from Arts & Scraps, the Eastern Market Family Farmer’s Market, and performances by the Grateful Dads and Detroit School of Rock and Pop.

Opening day will kick off with a 10:30 a.m. ribbon cutting and public hours from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Hours on June 27 will be 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Starting June 28 the museum will be open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday. Admission starting June 28 is $4 for adults and $2 for children. Admission includes one planetarium show; additional shows are $1 per person.

Joint Museum Admission Discounts
Admission to the Detroit Science Center includes an equivalent number of complimentary admissions to the Detroit Children’s Museum for up to one month following a visit to the Science Center. Visitors to the Children’s Museum must show a valid Science Center receipt to redeem the offer.

Visitors coming to the Detroit Science Center within a month after a Detroit Children’s Museum visit will receive $4 per adult and $2 per child off admission to the Science Center with a valid Children’s Museum receipt.

New Joint Membership Program
Membership to the Detroit Science Center will now include admission to the Detroit Children’s Museum. Annual memberships start at $55 and include free general admission to both museums, discounted tickets to the Detroit Science Center’s Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre, members-only events and more. For information about membership, please visit www.detroitsciencecenter.org or call 313.577.8400, ext. 433.

Group Programs
Group programs at the Children’s Museum are available for schools, daycare centers, community centers and other groups starting June 28, 2010. All programs will align with the Michigan Grade Level Content expectations for preschool-grade 6. Programs will focus on history, science, math and literature, and will include a classroom program, planetarium show and exhibit exploration. The Children’s Museum also will make Lending Collection kits of artifacts available to schools and other organizations. For more information, or to make a group reservation, please call 313.577.8400, Option 5. For Lending Collection information or requests, please call 313.873.8100.

About the Detroit Children's Museum
Founded in 1917, the Detroit Children’s Museum is the nation’s third oldest children’s museum. With a diverse collection of over 100,000 artifacts, hands-on stations and planetarium demonstrations, the museum offers a unique look at world cultures, history, art and science. The Detroit Children’s Museum is part of the Detroit Science Center. For more information, please visit www.detroitsciencecenter.org or Hoof Beat: The Official Blog of the Detroit Children's Museum.

NASCAR Opens in the Chrysler IMAX Dome Theater Sunday, June 20!

2010-06-08T13:00:00.001-04:00

Just in time for Father's Day! Bring Dad to the DSC to see NASCAR in the only domed IMAX theatre in the state! Father's Day is a Ford Free FunDay - so you can add an IMAX film to your visit for only $5! Show time for 6/20 is 3pm. From 6/21 on, there will be a daily showing at 12pm.

Summer Science Camp info plus a DSC coupon!

2010-06-07T10:24:00.002-04:00

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MEMBERS-ONLY Contest: Follow the yellow brick road to Facebook!

2010-06-01T12:13:00.020-04:00

Follow the yellow brick road to the Detroit Science Center’s Facebook page for your chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience with our cultural attraction friend the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. See the cinema classic The Wizard of Oz like you have never before in an up-close and personal setting on a massive screen situated above the orchestra with the score played live by the DSO on June 19 at Orchestra Hall. Contest ends June 12. Open to members-only, this Facebook contest is one of many upcoming social media give-aways from the Detroit Science Center. Become our fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add MyDSC.org to your RSS feed so you don't miss out!

Detroit Children's Museum open house deemed a "dino-success!"

2010-05-26T12:19:00.012-04:00

Were you at the Detroit Children's Museum open house this past Saturday? Our own Kelly Fulford was there with her son Hayden. She wrote a guest blogger post about the experience for the DCM blog, Hoof Beats. Click here to check it out!

Make sure you make it to the Grand Opening June 26 - 27! It's going to be a BLAST!

Enter to win a chance to see Gordon Lightfoot live in concert when you see Mysteries of the Great Lakes at the DSC

2010-05-21T11:38:00.021-04:00

Enter to win a chance to see Gordon Lightfoot live in concert on Sun., June 13 at the Fox Theater when you see Mysteries of the Great Lakes at the Detroit Science Center!

About the film:
It takes a drop of water nearly 400 years to travel from the headwaters of Lake Superior to the edge of Lake Ontario. Along the way, the water passes by towering cliffs dotted with early Native American pictographs, caribou and moose grazing on the shores, over giant prehistoric sturgeon lurking among thousands of shipwrecks and past nearly 40 million people who live along the more than 10,000 miles of coastline. It is a dramatic journey through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Now, you can witness the Mysteries of the Great Lakes on the only screen large enough to reveal them – IMAX!

Click here for more info and Mysteries of the Great Lakes show times.

For more information about Gordon Light foot live in concert at the Fox Theatre click here.

Contest ends Sunday, June 6! Winners will be selected on Monday, June 7, 2010.

National Transportation Weekend at the Detroit Science Center May 22-23!

2010-05-17T12:17:00.011-04:00

Drive, cruise, sled, bike or even take the bus over to the Detroit Science Center to celebrate National Transportation Weekend. Special activities are included in museum admission.

Saturday, May 22:

Michigan Department of Transportation’s TRAC Programs from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Build a Bridge -- Visitors will use their algebra, geometry and physics knowledge to design and construct a computer-simulated bridge.

Magnetic Levitation -- Visitors will use magnetic levitation cars while learning about Newton’s First and Second Laws of Motion.

Bridge Building Contests at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. – visitors will compete and test their skills building a bridge out of straws. Each participant will be given a set amount of materials and will need to use engineering ingenuity to build a bridge that holds the most weight.

Sunday, May 23:

Hovercraft Activities from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. -- Visitors will be able to build and take home a miniature hovercraft out of recycled materials.

Bernoulli’s Principles / Paper Airplane Activities from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. -- Visitors will create paper airplanes and learn how Bernoulli’s Principles affect air travel.

Learn about alternative transportation fuels with the Detroit Science Center’s newest exhibit, Next Gen Fuels. Learn how the alternative fuels of the future can revolutionize how we operate our cars.

Check out the Motorsports Hall of Fame, now at the Detroit Science Center

For more information, visit our web site.

A Boy and His Fulcrum: A post by guest blogger Beth Newhart

2010-05-13T08:07:00.002-04:00

Beth Newhart is a freelance writer and has been a member of the DSC since 2008. Below is a piece she wrote about her kids and their trip to the Science Center. Thanks for sharing Beth!

A Boy and His Fulcrum
By Beth Newhart

Last winter, I took my then four-year-old son to the Science Center for the afternoon. After winding our way through exhibits that I knew were well over his comprehension level, we came to the Sparks Theater. A presentation was just beginning, and he wanted to go.

We found seats up front and watched as one brave volunteer with very long hair agreed to demonstrate static electricity. As her hair literally stood on end, Adam watched with amazement. When the next volunteer was requested, his hand shot up just like her hair. He was probably the youngest looking to help, but he was called up at one point and helped create a magnet with electricity. The loud “Bang!” of the finale didn’t even scare him. He sat giggling with his ears covered, full of anticipation.

Adam is an inquisitive and active child by nature, and the Detroit Science Center is one of his favorite hangouts. For a while, he was fascinated with lifting the 1,000-pound weight on the lower level. At first, it was merely for the thrill of using his muscles. He would show off to his older cousins visiting from Iowa, practically dangling from the rope as the weight inched off of the ground. Now, he takes the lessons learned from that exhibit and uses fulcrums while playing the backyard. Yes, he even uses the word “fulcrum.”

Lately, the water rockets is the exhibit of interest as is the U.S. Steel Factory. I thought the U.S. Steel exhibit caught his eye because it was the first thing near the new entrance; however, something about a forklift seems to call to a young boy, and when he plays with the assembly line full of gears, I picture Lucille Ball in the chocolate factory in my mind.

It has not all been afternoons with Mom and Dad. I don’t know what we would have done last summer without the morning camps for pre-schoolers. Adam made new friends and learned about the solar system and creepy critters while visiting the planetarium and watching movies in the IMAX theatre. He went to three different camps, collected three identical neon-green t-shirts, and if he had his way, he’d wear them every day of the week. I fear what his teacher thinks of my laundry habits.

And who says boys get to have all the fun? My daughter, Lydia, is 19-months-old and determined to keep up with her Big Bro, including running around the Science Center. It is impossible to pull her away the water table in Kidstown, even though she has to be on her tiptoes to dip her fingertips. The NextGen Fuels area really caught her eye; stocked full of racecars, it satisfies my pint-sized gear head’s need for speed. As I have seen the lessons Adam has learned, I can envision my baby girl being the one who eventually ends our country’s dependence on foreign oil.

I didn’t have such a wonderful resource for fun learning when I was growing up. Neither did my husband. It is truly a treat to watch our children unlock the mysteries of the world, and we can only wonder where what they have learned will take them.

The DSC is a potential nominee for the 2010 Nickelodeon's Parents' Picks Awards!

2010-05-12T09:54:00.005-04:00

We need your help! The Detroit Science Center is a potential nominee for the 2010 Nickelodeon's Parent' Picks Awards!

Make our nomination official by nominating the Detroit Science Center every day until June 15th! Click the icon below to get started!

For Museum
in Detroit

DSC Staff at the Spring Meeting of the Michigan State Chapter of the Great Lakes Planetarium Association

2010-05-04T11:37:00.009-04:00

Staff members of the Detroit Science Center's Dassault Systemes Planetarium (including Manager Jenny Pon, Technical Coordinator John Potts, Animator Kevin Bindschadler, Education Coordinator John Schroer, and IMAX Chief Projectionist/videographer Pete Herb) attended the Spring Meeting of the Michigan State Chapter of the Great Lakes Planetarium Association. The trip to Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Public Museum was accompanied by a amazing lightning show to the south as we traveled west. Activities at the State meeting included presentations on social media, planetarium show productions, and the history of planetariums, astronomy and telescopes. Discussions on planetarium and educational issues also took place. Images by Pete Herb.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum - we highly recommend taking the time to visit!

Astronomers don't always travel via jet pack - sometimes they just cross the street like the rest of us!

Let's eat lunch! Astronaut ice-cream for dessert anybody?

Win an IMAX field trip to the Detroit Science Center for your class!

2010-05-03T10:19:00.017-04:00

The film Arabia recently made its world debut on Michigan’s largest IMAX® screen taking viewers deep into the heart of a precious land few outsiders will ever visit, a world cloaked in myth, mystery and misinformation. We now invite teachers to give their classes a deeper understanding of this most fascinating culture and way of life by registering to win a free field trip to Michigan’s largest science center.

The Detroit Science Center is giving schools the opportunity to ask questions and get answers about this distant land along with a chance to win a free field trip to see Arabia now showing in their Chrysler IMAX Dome Theatre. Explore what your students have to ask and e-mail questions to contest@sciencedetroit.org. We’ll draw and notify one random school on May 12 to receive an Explorer plus Theaters field trip for up to 30 students before the end of the school year. This field trip also includes a bus allowance of up to $400 with the Detroit Science Center’s transportation vendor (no cash value).

Film student and Arabia main character Hamzah Jamjoom will answer many of the questions asked by our area students and teachers here on our blog mydsc.org. Arabia will have your students riding the dunes with a camel caravan, diving into the treasure-laden Red Sea, exploring the ruins of a towering lost city, hurtling back into the Islamic golden age of invention, and joining the Hajj, where each year 2-3 million Muslims arrive in the holy city of Makkah to reaffirm their faith, creating the largest single human gathering on Earth.

Who is HAMZAH JAMJOOM?

Hamzah Jamjoom is a passionate young Saudi Arabian film student who returns to his home country in Arabia to take an eye-opening journey through its past and present. Born and raised in Jeddah, Hamzah came to the U.S. at the age of 17, accompanying his college-age sister. Now 25, and approaching the end of his own graduate film studies at Chicago’s DePaul University, his driving dream is to join a youthful generation of scientists, thinkers and innovators in Saudi Arabia who he believes will fulfill on the potential for a new Golden Age for his country

Click here to learn more about this IMAX® experience or download the Arabia educator guide from the programs area on our website

Contest time: Win tickets to IRON MAN 2!

2010-04-28T14:48:00.014-04:00

The Detroit Science Center has teamed up with Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment to give you a chance to win a pair of passes to the advance screening of IRON MAN 2 on Tuesday, May 4th at the Emagine Theatre in Novi. Click here, answer IRON MAN 2 trivia questions and email your answers to ironman2moviescience@gmail.com for your chance to win.

Contest ends on Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 12:59PM. Winners will be notified via email on Monday, May 3rd.

Astronomy Day is this Saturday! Spend it at the Science Center!

2010-04-21T13:33:00.004-04:00

The Dassault Systèmes Planetarium show schedule for Astronomy Day will be:

12 PM – The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
1 PM – Gems From Space – A talk on meteorites by Charles Elias
2 PM – What’s Up? Your Guide to the Night Sky
3 PM – Black Holes
4 PM – Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope

Free buy-one-get-one "rainy day" DSC admission during the month of April!

2010-04-19T10:47:00.000-04:00

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“Let’s Retake Our Plates” on April 29th!

2010-04-16T11:34:00.010-04:00

Today we offer a guest blog post from Amanda Musilli, Metro Detroit Marketing Team Leader at Whole Foods Market about the upcoming "Let's Retake Our Plates" film festival taking place at the DSC Thursday April 29th!

Since Whole Foods Market began in 1980, our mission of selling the highest quality natural and organic foods, while supporting local growers, animal welfare and environmental stewardship, has remained. These same issues are now being brought to the forefront by filmmakers, farmers and activists concerned about the U.S. food system and its impact on the earth.

In conjunction with Earth Month, we are launching a nationwide effort to trigger awareness, followed by action, to remedy the problems facing the U.S. food system. The program, called “Let’s Retake Our Plates,” helps us convey our belief that every dollar spent in a grocery store can make a difference in how our food is produced.

The program is being launched with 150 film festivals around the country featuring movies and documentaries which focus on the challenges and realities of the industrialized food system. These timely and relevant films increase awareness of food production and its effect on us and the earth.

In Metro Detroit, the film festival is being held April 29 at the Detroit Science Center. We have selected four films that work to initiate change through awareness, understanding and discussion. Our film collection includes: the Academy Award^® Nominee for Best Documentary Feature film, “Food, Inc.,” and the independent documentary project “No Impact Man.” We will also be showing “What’s On Your Plate?” and “The Garden.”

Doors open at 5 p.m., with the first two films beginning at 5:30 p.m. Viewers can choose “Food, Inc.” or “No Impact Man” for their first film. Dinner will be served at approximately 7 p.m. and will be coupled with an open discussion regarding issues raised in the first set of films. The second set of films will begin at 8 p.m., and run until 9:30 p.m. Viewers can choose “What’s on Your Plate” or “The Garden” for last section of the film festival. (Choice of films is first come, first served on the day of the event).

If you would like to see previews of these intriguing films, please click on the links to the trailers:

To learn more about these films, participate in a daily poll or learn more about the issues, solutions and actions, visit www.letsretakeourplates.com.

Congratulations to all of our Nickelodeon Presents StoryTime Live contest winners!

2010-04-13T09:43:00.013-04:00

Congratulations to all of our Nickelodeon Presents StoryTime Live contest winners! This fun filled show will be running at the Fox Theatre Friday April 23 through Sunday April 25. More details here.

Here’s what our contest winners had to say about how they make story time come alive in their home by sharing with us their child’s favorite books by StoryTime Live characters:

K. Lount of Rochester, MI - My daughters' favorite books to read are Dora's Bedtime Wishes and Good Night, Dora! which are contained in the Dora's Bedtime Adventures book.

L. Myrick of Detroit, MI - My daughter Cianna loves Dora the Explorer. She especially loves when we read her favorite book, Dora and the Little Duck. Cianna received this book for her second birthday. The book is an interactive book, where Cianna can press the buttons and add sound effects to the story. Over the last year, Cianna has learned to “read” along and press the button that matches the picture on the page I am reading. We usually read this book every night.

J. Sparks of Metamora, MI - We have four children, ages 6, 9, 10 and 11. Our youngest, Bradley, still reads Nickelodeon, whereas the older ones simply like to watch the cartoons these days (they've moved on to chapter books). Bradley also has an April birthday and would love to celebrate with some of his closest friends at this event. His favorite Nickelodeon character is Diego the Explorer, but he also enjoys The Backyardigans.

T. Berry of Detroit, MI - My daughter, Kaili Berry’s favorite book is Dora the Explorer. She started reading Dora book at the age of 3 on her own.

Stay tuned to our blog, Facebook and Twitter pages for more contests soon!

Whole Foods Market Presents: 'Let's Retake Our Plates' film series at the DSC!

2010-04-08T08:01:00.000-04:00

Feast your eyes on a collection of films about our food supply and the visionary people who are making it better, one bite at a time Thursday, April 29th, at the Detroit Science Center!

Food, Inc. (2008)
In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment.

The Garden (2008)
The 14 acre community garden in South Central Los Angeles was the largest of its kind in the United States. It was started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992. Since that time, the South Central Farmers have created a miracle in one of the country’s most blighted neighborhoods. Growing their own food. Feeding their families. Creating a community. But now bulldozers threaten their oasis. The Garden is an unflinching look at the struggle between these urban farmers and the City of Los Angeles and a powerful developer who want to evict them and build warehouses.

What’s On Your Plate? (2009)
What’s On Your Plate? is a witty and provocative documentary produced and directed by award-winning Catherine Gund about kids and food politics. Filmed over the course of one year, the film follows two eleven-year-old multi-racial city kids as they explore their place in the food chain. With the camera as their companion, the girl guides talk to each other, food activists, farmers, new friends, storekeepers, their families, and the viewer, in their quest to understand what’s on all of our plates. They visit the usual supermarkets, fast food chains, and school lunchrooms, but also check into innovative sustainable food system practices and locally grown food communities.

No Impact Man (2009)
Follow the Manhattan-based Beavan family as they abandon their high consumption 5th Avenue lifestyle and try to live a year while making no net environmental impact.

Doors open at 5:00 pm, first films start at 5:30 pm

$10 per person, $20 per family. Purchase tickets at any of the three Metro Detroit Whole Foods Market locations or at the door (cash only at the door). Limited Tickets Available.

All proceeds benefit The Greening of Detroit and the Detroit Science Center.

For more information visit LetsRetakeOurPlates.com

What Are Your Spring Break Plans? Spend the day with us!

2010-04-07T10:01:00.001-04:00

THE ACCIDENTAL MUMMIES OF GUANAJUATO EXHIBITION EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 5, 2010

2010-04-07T09:34:00.010-04:00

The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato exhibition, scheduled to end April 11, 2010 at the Detroit Science Center, has been extended through May 5, 2010.

The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato features 36 accidental mummies on loan from the Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato. The exhibit combines science, history and cultural anthropology to immerse visitors in the world of a Mexican city over 100 years ago where deceased residents naturally mummified in their crypts. The Detroit tour stop is the very first time these mummies have been seen outside of Mexico.

“These mummies have attracted millions of visitors to Guanajuato and it is an honor to bring them to the United States,” said Kevin Prihod, President & CEO of the Detroit Science Center. “This exhibition presents a unique look into Mexican culture, forensic science and the very lives of these amazing mummies. It is an experience not to be missed.”

Unlike bodies that were “artificially” mummified through an embalming and wrapping process, accidental mummies form only in certain climates and conditions. Local legend held that the bodies in Guanajuato became mummified because the area’s water is rich in minerals and sulfur. However researchers believe that the hot weather warmed the crypts and dried out the bodies. The Guanajuato collection is believed to be the largest group of mummies anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.

Visitors to the exhibition can meet some of these accidental mummies, learn about life in their thriving community, discover the modern-day forensic technology that helps scientists analyze them, and explore a culture that reveres and celebrates them. Each mummy tells his or her own story, with facial reconstructions completed by a forensic artist to give insight into their lives.

Tickets are $24.95 for adults, $22.95 for seniors (60+) and $19.95 for children (2-12). They are available at www.detroitsciencecenter.org, www.accidentalmummies.com and www.museumtix.com. Museum admission is complimentary with an exhibition ticket. For further information, including an interactive tour of the exhibition, please visit accidentalmummies.com.

The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato is an official event of the Mexico 2010 Bicentennial celebration. It is produced by Detroit Science Center Design & Exhibits at Eekstein’s Workshop, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Detroit Science Center that creates captivating, durable, engaging exhibits and displays for museum and corporate clients, in association with Accidental Mummies Touring Company LLC. The exhibition is sponsored in Detroit by AT&T. Media support for the exhibition in Detroit is provided by Latino Press, WDIV-TV and WJR-AM.

Contest: Make StoryTime Come Alive!

2010-04-02T08:30:00.004-04:00

The Detroit Science Center is giving away a family 4 pack to StoryTime Live at the Fox Theater playing Friday April 23 through Sunday April 25! We want to know what makes storytime come alive at your home! Tell us about your child’s favorite books by any of these StoryTime live characters; Dora the Explorer, The Backyardigans, Wonder Pets or Ni Hao, Kai-lan! Photos of your child reading are welcome!

How to Enter
Email your entry to contest@sciencedetroit.org. All entries must include name, address, phone number and email address. Winners will be featured in the Detroit Science Center’s MYDSC blog on Tuesday, April 13.

Limit 1 prize per household. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 11, 2010. Winners will be contacted by 3 p.m. on Monday, April 12, 2010.

Don't Forget: Whole Foods Market Community Support Day for the Detroit Science Center is this Wednesday, March 31!

2010-03-29T10:05:00.004-04:00

Sci Quest IMAX® Film Festival This Weekend at the DSC!

2010-03-17T12:36:00.010-04:00

Mark your calendars for a rare opportunity to enjoy these 8 large format films on Michigan’s largest movie screen. Admission includes choice of one film, hundreds of hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, live stage shows and the planetarium. Additional films are only $3 each. Don’t forget, March 21 is a Ford Free FunDay too!

Want to go? Enter to win one of 4 pairs of IMAX® tickets to the Detroit Science Center's film festival March 20-21!

To enter the contest, send your name and mailing address, along with the name of your favorite IMAX® movie to contest@sciencedetroit.org with IMAX® Film Fest in the subject line. Winners will be contacted by Friday, March 19 and tickets will be available for pick-up at Will Call.

"Did I just see a Terradactyl-mobile?!"

2010-03-15T15:43:00.012-04:00

If you saw a Silverado driving through Detroit today with what looked like a giant Terradactyl strapped to the top, you were not seeing things! The Terradactyl used to hang in the Science Center, but is being transferred today to the Detroit Children's Museum!

Get a sneak peek at our Terradactyl in his new home at the Detroit Children's Museum (6134 Second Ave.) open house from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m on Sunday March 21 during our next Ford Free FunDay. Call 313.577.8400 for more information.

Watch this preview of Single Barrel Detroit's Zoos of Berlin footage - premiering this Thursday during Science Rocks!

2010-03-15T13:19:00.004-04:00

Zoos of Berlin @ Science Rocks!, Detroit from SINGLE . BARREL . DETROIT on Vimeo.

Nikki Does Detroit: The Detroit Science Center

2010-03-15T10:34:00.003-04:00

Nikki Does Detroit: The Detroit Science Center from doDetroit TV on Vimeo.

Nicole Rupersburg takes you along as she explores all the fun science themed stuff there is to do at the Detroit Science Center

Single Barrel Detroit video premiere added to Science Rocks! schedule!

2010-03-09T14:36:00.023-05:00

Single Barrel Detroit, known for one-of-a-kind live music performances in unique and inspiring locations around Detroit, will be premiering it's latest series of videos featuring Zoos of Berlin @ The Masonic Temple" during Science Rocks! on Thursday March 18 with a showing at 8:00 pm and another at 9:45 pm.

what is SINGLE BARREL DETROIT? from SINGLE . BARREL . DETROIT on Vimeo.

Science Rocks! attendees can experience these videos in the Science Center's Toyota Engineering Theater - an immersive, multi-media theater with computer-controlled lighting and active seating. In other words, the seats move, and it's a really fun way to experience music videos!

Here's the schedule for Science Rocks!

7:00 – Welcome to Science Rocks!

7:30 – “Black Holes” in the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium

8:00 – Darling Imperial on the Chrysler Science Stage

8:00 –Single Barrel Detroit "Zoos of Berlin @ The Masonic Temple" premiere in the Toyota Engineering Theater

8:30 -- Silverghost performing to Sharks showing in the Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre

9:20 – The Prime Ministers on the Chrysler Science Stage

9:45 – Single Barrel Detroit "Zoos of Berlin @ The Masonic Temple" premiere in the Toyota Engineering Theater

10:15 – Electric Fire Babies on the Chrysler Science Stage

Tickets are $20 ($15 for members) and include Detroit Science Center museum admission and drink tickets. Advance tickets are available at the Science Center and by calling Reservations at 313.577.8400, Option 5. Tickets also will be available at the door.

Whole Foods Market Community Support Day to Benefit the DSC!

2010-03-08T14:00:00.025-05:00

The three Metro Detroit area Whole Foods Market locations (Troy, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield) will be supporting the Detroit Science Center on Wednesday, March 31 with a Community Support Day! On this day only, 5% of the three stores' one-day sales will be donated to the Science Center. Please mark your calendars and stop into any Metro Detroit Whole Foods Market and shop while supporting a great cause! For more information or directions to stores visit www.WholeFoodsMarket.com.

DSC ANNOUNCES SCI QUEST 2010, AN EIGHT-DAY CELEBRATION OF SCIENCE EXPLORATION

2010-03-03T10:25:00.022-05:00

Plan your quest to the Detroit Science Center March 13-21* for Sci Quest 2010, an eight-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and math packed with fun activities, programs and shows for the entire family. Highlights include a two-day IMAX® Film Festival, Science Rocks II concert, Brain Awareness Day with Wayne State University and much more.

Sci Quest activities are free with museum admission (unless otherwise indicated) and are made possible with the generous support of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Michigan Association of Environmental Professionals, Society of Women Engineers and General Motors.

Sci Quest activities include:

March 13 - Healthy Living

Brain Awareness Day – Get up close and personal with one of our body’s greatest assets and learn the latest on brain function with Wayne State University’s Neuro Science Department. (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

New PBS Show Preview! Be among the first to preview the new PBS series Young Explorers and dive into ocean ecology and alternative energy on the big screen in the Toyota Engineering Theater. (2:30 – 4 p.m.)

Living Cell Lab Activities – Join us in our new Cell Lab and explore the world of viruses, and animal and plant cells. Learn how nanotechnology kills bacteria at the Science Center. (12 – 4 p.m.)

March 14 - Weather and You

See Blown Away: The Wild World of Weather in the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium (2 p.m.) and Hurricane on the Bayou in the Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theater. (1 p.m. & 5 p.m.)

Weather Activities – Make clouds in a jar and instant snow; explore the water cycle and more in the Centennial Lab. (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Enter our amazing Faraday cage and explore the world of lightening and electricity in our one-of-a-kind DTE Energy Sparks Show filled with hair-raising fun! (see posted show schedule)

March 16 - Women in Science & Reading Month

Learn about prominent women scientists throughout the museum with our Women’s History Month Science Hunt. Explore the roles women scientists have played throughout history. This program is made possible by the Nissan Foundation and Aline Underhill Orten Foundation. (9 a. m. – 3 p.m.)

Celebrate Reading Month with storytelling at the Center Stage Theatre in Kids Town (ages 5 and under). (Story times at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.)

March 17 - Technology
Alternative Energy Activities – Learn how to use wind power to turn on a light bulb and discover other ways to use power without excessive consumption. (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Groundwater Activities – Follow the water cycle and explore what happens with groundwater runoff in the environment. (Demonstrations at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.)

March 18 - Science

Nanotechnology Activities – Witness the amazing advances that nanotechnology provides for us daily. (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Mind Your Matters and Newton’s Big 3 Demonstrations – Learn about the three states of matter and Isaac Newton’s three laws of motion with hands-on projects in the Centennial Lab. (9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.)

Science Rocks II – Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Science Center with live bands and more from 7 - 11 p.m. Call 313.577.8400, Option 5, for tickets.

March 19 - Engineering

How Things Work – Explore the inside of cool gadgets in this take-it-apart “Reverse Engineering” lesson. (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Engineering Activities – Discover different types of engineering with hands-on activities such as straw towers, puff mobiles, a Keva Plank Challenge and more. (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Get wind-blown, spritzed with water and rocked with Engineering Adrenaline in the 4-D EFX Toyota Engineering Theater.

March 20 - Math & Space Science

IMAX Film Festival – See film favorites from the Detroit Science Center’s film library including The Eruption of Mount St. Helens, Everest, Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon and Search for the Great Sharks. Detroit Science Center admission includes the choice of one film; additional films are $3 per film ticket.

Math Path Hunt – Math can be found everywhere! Find answers to our equations where you least expect them in the museum.

STARLAB – Tour the current sky inside a portable planetarium and see bright stars, constellations, planets and the moon. (Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.)

Under the Stars Activities – Get hands-on exploring prominent constellations. (12 p.m. – 4 p.m.)

March 21- Ford FREE Funday (free museum admission all day long!)

IMAX Film Festival – See film favorites from the Detroit Science Center’s film library including Coral Reef Adventure, Journey Into Amazing Caves, Solar Max and Tropical Rainforest. Detroit Science Center admission includes the choice of one film; additional films are $3 per film ticket.

Dr. Seuss Birthday Bash – Celebrate with fun activities and a special guest reader wearing a red and white hat in Kids Town. (Activities from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; guest reader at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.)

Engineering ABCs – Join author Patty O’Brien Novak for a special reading of her fun book at 11a.m. and 2 p.m.

Chemistry Demonstrations – Try family project experiments with our American Chemical Society volunteers.

Detroit Children’s Museum – Check out the Detroit Children’s Museum (DCM), now part of the Detroit Science Center, and hear about plans for the grand re-opening of the DCM in June 2010. DCM is located at 6134 Second Ave.

*Please note that the Detroit Science Center is closed on Monday, March 15, 2010.

Science Rocks! at the Detroit Science Center!

2010-02-25T16:25:00.022-05:00

Science Rocks! was so much fun we're doing it again! Detroit Science Center is pleased to announce “Science Rocks!” an evening of live music, dancing and fun aimed at reacquainting young adults with Michigan’s largest hands-on science museum.

“Science Rocks!” will take place on Thursday, March 18, from 7 – 11 p.m. This special evening will feature a showing of the Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre film Search for the Great Sharks with local Detroit band Silverghost playing a live set as the score. The evening also will feature performances on the Chrysler Science Stage by Darling Imperial, the Prime Ministers and Electric Fire Babies. Sponsorship provided by Woodward Avenue Brewers. Tickets are $20 ($15 for members) and include Detroit Science Center museum admission and drink tickets.

“This will be an excellent opportunity for young adults to see how much the Detroit Science Center has changed and grown over the years. It’s definitely not the same museum they remember from their childhood,” said Manager of Membership and Social Media Laura Witkowski. “Exploring the Science Center’s hands-on exhibits and programs after hours in a setting with live music just makes it that much more fun.”

Advance tickets are available at the Science Center and by calling Reservations at 313.577.8400, Option 5. Tickets also will be available at the door. For more information, click here or call 313.577.8400, ext. 467.

Announcing the 2010 DSC Summer Science Camps!

2010-02-25T10:38:00.001-05:00

Get ready for the best fun in town this summer with one or all of the Detroit Science Center’s day camps! Themed programs for children entering Preschool – grade 12 feature fun in the Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre and Dassault Systèmes Planetarium, Toyota Engineering Theater, live stage shows, 200+ hands-on exhibits, outdoor activities and visits to other nearby cultural institutions. Campers also receive snacks, a camp photo and a free t-shirt.

We have a variety of exciting camp options for all ages and interest! Choose from the following:

FOR CHILDREN ENTERING GRADES PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN
Introduce little ones to science with our half-day camps for ages four to six. Daily snacks are provided, but lunch is not part of these programs. Campers must be potty trained.
*Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
Cost: $75 Members; $85 for Non-Members
Extended camp hours are not available.

Bounce Around Science • June 28-July 2 OR Aug 2-6
Bring your wildest imagination and get ready to discover science through art and literature with hands-on experiments focused on matter, sounds and waves.

Science Splash! • July 12-16
Dive in and explore different kinds of science with experiments related to water, biology, plants and environmental science.

Eekstein’s Great Comet Ride • July 26-30
Take an astro-adventure with our mascot Eekstein as he travels through the solar system to learn about the moon, comets, planets and more.

FOR CHILDREN ENTERING GRADES 1–3

NEW! Eekstein: Mini Secret Agent - 3-DAY CAMP • June 21-23 OR Aug 9-11
HIGHLY CLASSIFIED: Discover the world of spies with hands-on activities designed to reveal the science behind top-secret espionage.

NEW! Now It Makes Sense! - 2-DAY CAMP • June 24-25 OR Aug 12-13
Touch it, smell it, see it, hear it! One-of-a-kind experiments will help campers discover the versatility of the human body’s senses.

Science Extravaganza • June 28-July 2
Packed with a wide range of fun experiments in subjects like geology, health and biology, this extravaganza helps campers discover just how exciting science can be!

Eekstein’s Space Adventures • July 5-9
It’s an adventure out there! Experience this extraterrestrial adventure with experiments about constellations, seasons, sizes within our solar system and more!

The Experiment Express • July 12-16 OR Aug 2-6
All aboard! This science train is making stops all over the museum exploring a wide range of topics, including weather, space and the environment.

Teeny Tiny Science • July 19-23
Small science for small scientists. Grab a microscope and magnifying glass to discover a mysterious world that is invisible to the naked eye with germs, atoms and more.

Amazing Exploration • July 26-30
Campers will travel to the moon and dive into the deep sea with activities that allow them to follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest scientific explorers!

FOR CHILDREN ENTERING GRADES 4–6

NEW! Eekstein: Junior Secret Agent - 3-DAY CAMP • June 21-23 OR Aug 9-11
HIGHLY CLASSIFIED: Discover the secret world of spies with hands-on activities designed to reveal the science behind top-secret espionage.

NEW! Lights, Camera…- 2-DAY CAMP • June 24-25 OR Aug 12-13
Quiet on the set! Discover the secrets behind Hollywood’s special effects with hands-on activities that will have campers ready to scream “ACTION!”

Deep Sea Discovery • June 28-July 2 OR Aug 2-6
How long can you hold your breath? Campers spend a week investigating the mysteries of the world’s oceans, including activities on whales, manatees, diatoms and more!

Camp 911! • July 5-9
Explore the powerful science behind tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters while learning about professions associated with emergencies. Campers will get hands-on with an ambulance, speak with first responders and more!

Puzzles of Planet Earth • July 12-16
Unearth the mysteries of our planet with special experiments on glaciers, oceans, weather, avalanches and other earth science topics.

Animal Expedition • July 19-23
Explore the science of animals with experiments and activities on camouflage, adaptations, population, tracking and more. This safari is sure to be a hit!

Keepin’ it Green • July 26-30
Motivational activities will show campers how they can become more active in preserving Earth’s natural resources. Campers will discover innovative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle with special DIY recycling projects each day.

FOR CHILDREN ENTERING GRADES 7–8

NEW! Eekstein: Secret Agent - 3-DAY CAMP • June 21-23 OR Aug 9-11
HIGHLY CLASSIFIED: Discover the secret world of spies with hands-on activities designed to reveal the science behind top-secret espionage.

Survive! - 2-DAY CAMP • June 24-25 OR Aug 12-13
Who needs reality television? Investigate the science behind real-world survival techniques that are sure to keep you from being voted off of the island.

Eekstein’s Easel • June 28-July 2
Feeling creative? Express yourself while discovering the fascinating link between art and science. Activities include making paint, experimenting with photography, sculptures, music and more.

Sweat, Sports & Science • July 5-9
Don’t forget to stretch first! Activities and experiments will help campers learn about the scientific principles behind a wide range of sports including basketball, baseball and hockey.

Out of This World • July 12-16 OR Aug 2-6
Buckle up and hold on tight! Journey through space with activities and experiments covering all aspects of our solar system, including eclipses, space exploration, black holes and the sun.

Adventures in Engineering • July 19-23
Explore the creativity and innovation associated with engineering professions. Campers will use brainstorming, teamwork and originality as they complete engaging engineering feats.

Surface Safari • July 26-30
We’re on top of it! Explore the wide range of features found on Earth’s surface. Fun activities will help students discover the science behind canyons, rivers,mountains, glacier valleys and more.

FOR TEENS ENTERING GRADES 9-12

New! Crime Scene Science • Aug 2-Aug 13
From processing crime scenes to carefully analyzing the evidence, forensic scientists have a fascinating profession. Discover the captivating, behind-the-scenes work of crime scene investigation in this two-week program. Activities include fingerprint dusting, chromatography, handwriting analysis and more to give teens a college preview!

Call 313.577.8400, Option 5, to register today. For more info, click here.

"Go Green" at the DSC this April with our Spring Break Camp!

2010-02-23T13:02:00.014-05:00

Yes, there is snow everywhere, but Spring Break will be here before you know it! The Detroit Science Center is offering a 'Going Green' Spring Break Camp from Monday, April 5 - Friday, April 9, 2010 designed to motivate campers to become more active in preserving Earth’s natural resources.

We talked to Scott Young, the DSC's Manager of Education Outreach and Camps to find out more about it!

Scott Young shows a selection of items participants will use during camp.

MyDSC: So tell us a bit more about this new Spring Break camp.

Scott: The Detroit Science Center’s “Going Green” Spring Break Camp is designed to help campers understand the importance of protecting our planet. Campers will be exploring what they can do to promote the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. They will even have the opportunity to complete different DIY green projects each day. Our hope is that by educating campers about effective ways to make a difference we will inspire the development of lifelong Earth-friendly habits.

MyDSC: Why “Going Green?”

Scott: We developed this “Going Green” themed camp to correspond with our new “Going Green” show presented on the Detroit Science Center’s Chrysler Science Stage.

MyDSC: Why should parents consider the DSC's "Going Green" camp options this spring?

Scott: In addition to all of our themed camp activities, the Detroit Science Center offers much more for campers to experience. Campers view shows at the DTE Energy Sparks Theater, enjoy films at the Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre, and get the chance to explore our wide range of science and technology exhibits.

MyDSC: All this sounds great, but reducing, reusing, recycling... it going to be fun?

Scott: The kids are going to have a blast! The project I’m looking forward to the most is helping campers discover creative uses for things we just don’t use anymore, such as computer disks and audio cassettes. They are going to make some pretty impressive things!

The DSC's "Going Green" Spring Break Camp offers sessions for Grades 1-3, 4-6, and 7-8.

Cost:
$40 members / $45 non-members for one day
For the week $180 members / /$190 non-members

For more information, click here!

Cool video of the Atlas V rocket launch from Feb. 14

2010-02-19T13:04:00.010-05:00

From Boing Boing: "Skip forward about two minutes into this launch video of the Atlas V rocket on Feb 14, 2010, for the moment when it goes supersonic while passing through a layer of ice-crystals, creating a visible sonic boom in sun-dog form. Breath-taking."

The Detroit Science Center's COO and Vice President for Visitor Experiences, Todd Slisher was at the launch when this took place - after taking a look at this video, he had this to add about what he saw that day:

Our group that was taking pictures and video of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Atlas V launch and did see the shock waves shown in the video, but we didn't see the sundog. A Sundog is formed by high altitude ice crystals acting as prisms to split the suns light, much like raindrops do for a rainbow. It forms 22 degrees away from the sun at the same altitude in the sky, and is generally seen when the sun is fairly low near to the horizon. However a Sundog and its visibility is heavily dependent on the angle of the viewer. From our viewing location (the press site) we didn't see the sundog itself. The sundog was visible from the Banana Creek VIP viewing site where this video was shot. It is about 1 mile further away from the site than we were observing the launch.

I did talk to several of the Scientists and Engineers on the SDO mission after the launch who were viewing from the Banana Creek VIP site, and they all reported seeing the Sundog and its disruption by the shock waves of the atlas rocket passing nearby. Look for interviews that we captured with Phil Chamberlin, the deputy project scientist for SDO, after the launch that talk about this in our new planetarium show coming in 2011!

Making Black Holes with the DSC's Kevin Bindschadler

2010-02-11T14:31:00.036-05:00

Photo Credit: Mike Wilkinson

Meet Kevin Bindschadler, the Detroit Science Center's Audio Visual Animation Coordinator. He's been with the DSC since November of 2009, and though he's worked on a lot of interesting projects so far, a large amount of his time recently has involved commanding particles to swirl ever inward toward the gaping darkness that is a black hole. In other words, when you see our brand new Dassault Systèmes Planetarium show Black Holes, he's the guy behind all those awe inspiring images of those regions of space from which nothing... nothing can escape. MyDSC talks to him about working on this exciting show.

MyDSC: Describe your role in the Black Holes project.

Kevin: I was charged with the responsibility of creating anything 3D graphics related for the adaptation of the original Clark Planetarium full dome show Black Holes for the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium. This included creating a vivid full dome image of fictional black holes and a themed spaceship bridge to frame the video content. It also entailed recreating several video animations to be integrated seamlessly with our Digistar projected stars such as the title sequence, a star's gas layers getting peeled off into the accretion disk of a black hole, and Earth's surface rotating out of darkness and into daylight just to name a few. In addition, I worked on various other animations for the two spaceship bridge side screens, such as data charts and supporting visuals, and even the launch of an Ares rocket. All these added visuals really enhance the original and help showcase the Black Holes show as an engaging, educational, and memorable experience.

MyDSC: What is the definition of a black hole?

Kevin: Basically a black hole is the extremely compact mass that you are left with after the gravitational collapse of a star of a certain mass that causes the characteristic spacetime curvature that not even light can escape.

MyDSC: So how much did you personally know about black holes before working on this project? How much do you know now?

Kevin: Before working on the Black Holes show I was familiar with only the black hole basics. They were dark spots out in space sucking things in that I should probably avoid. In order to recreate 3D black holes for various shot replacements in this show I ended up doing a fair amount of research on the mechanics of how black holes are formed, the visual elements that reveal their presence (accretion disks, relativistic jets, the event horizon etc.), and the various classifications of black hole types. One of the things I enjoy about working as a 3D artist is delving into the relevant subject matter for each project I am working on, learning as much as the production schedule allows, and then communicating that knowledge back to an audience in a visually engaging way.

MyDSC: What part of the project are you the most proud of? What part do you think audiences will really enjoy/remember?

Kevin: It's really hard for me to pick favorite shots. I think they all work together to create a very cohesive and powerful story about the mysterious and amazing black holes. Of course, audiences will probably really enjoy the extreme scenarios like taking a journey into a black hole but at the same time will really be taking with them a deeper understanding of one of the most perplexing entities in the universe.

MyDSC: What are the chances that Earth will be sucked into a black hole?

Kevin: The chances are not good at all - which of course is really good for us! Black holes affect a relatively small region of space around themselves and thankfully the Earth is nowhere near any black hole. While it can be an exciting what if scenario to think about, the reality is that we are safe here on Earth.

MyDSC: Fill in the blank: People should really check out Black Holes in the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium because ____.

Kevin: We can only really experience black holes though the power of our imaginations and no show helps us visualize them better than the Black Holes in the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium.

MyDSC: Anything else you want to add?

Kevin: Enjoy the show!

Black Holes opens at the Detroit Science Center's Dassault Systèmes Planetarium on Saturday February 13. Click here for more information and show times. Science Center admission includes Planetarium shows.

Feb. 15 - 19 is Engineering Week at the DSC!

2010-02-09T16:26:00.007-05:00

We'll be engineering fun the whole week!

Don’t miss out on these engaging activities for all ages:
- Make zoom glue out of every day kitchen items.
- Construct a safety device for an egg drop contest.
- Perform reverse-engineering with the new “How Things Work” demonstrations.
- Learn about careers in space science with NASA Glen speaker Jim Simek (Thursday at 11 a.m.)
- Make puff mobiles, construct straw towers and build with Keva planks.
- Launch marshmallows with catapults and more!

IMAX®, planetarium and live stage shows, including the 4-D special effects show Engineering Adrenaline, are included with admission.

Explore and discover why one visit is never enough to Michigan’s largest Science Center today!

Sponsored By The Carls Foundation

Supported by Michigan Association of Environmental Professionals, SME Education Foundation, General Motors, Aline Underhill Orten Foundation, and Society of Women Engineers

Take our survey to help the DSC and win prizes!

2010-02-04T16:30:00.018-05:00

The Detroit Science Center in partnership with other museums across the country, is launching a study to find out what you expect and want from museums so that we can serve you even better.

Would you be willing to share about 8 minutes of your time to help us with this important survey? Our museum will greatly benefit from this study by having access to the overall results as well as the results from our visitors. We’ll be using the results to make our museum more interesting, relevant, and fun for you and your family.

In exchange, Reach Advisors, the audience research firm administering the survey, will be selecting some of the participants to win gifts ranging from museum memberships to gift certificates to Amazon.com. In addition, the Detroit Science Center will give one winner 4 passes to our SciQuest IMAX film festival on March 20-21. Includes tickets to all movies plus museum admission!

Your individual information will absolutely be kept confidential and will not be shared or used for any solicitations. To take the survey, click here!

If you have any problems with the survey, please feel free to e-mail Susie Wilkening, of Reach Advisors, at Susie@reachadvisors.com. She is happy to help you out. Thank you!

FREE DSC admission THIS FRIDAY for women and girls who wear red!

2010-02-03T14:09:00.008-05:00

This Friday February 5, 2010, the Detroit Science Center is taking part in the American Heart Association's "Go Red For Women" movement which "celebrates the energy, passion and power we have as women to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke."

All women and girls who wear red to the Detroit Science Center THIS FRIDAY get free museum admission!

For more information about the "Go Red For Women" movement, click here.

Members Only preview of TWO NEW shows Friday Feb 12!

2010-02-02T10:56:00.017-05:00

Travel to some of the most fascinating destinations on Earth and beyond as we preview two new shows in the twin domes of the Detroit Science Center on Fri, Feb. 12, 2010 – MacGillivray Freeman’s Arabia in the Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre and Black Holes in the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium.

This event is FREE for members. Not a member yet? Become one NOW to attend this and to enjoy other members-only related perks.

Friday Feb 12 5:00 -9:00 pm

Arabia: Show times at 6:15, 7:15 and 8:15 p.m.

Black Holes: Show times at 5:15, 6:15 and 7:15 p.m.

Special Arabia/Black Holes Quiz Show on the Science Stage at 6:15 and 7:15 p.m.

Hope to see you there! For more information call 313 577 8400 x467

DETROIT SCIENCE CENTER ANNOUNCES 2010 FORD FREE FUNDAYS

2010-02-02T10:18:00.010-05:00

The Detroit Science Center is pleased to announce the 2010 lineup for the Ford FREE FunDays program starting Feb. 14, 2010. Ford FREE FunDays offer complimentary general admission for visitors (up to 2 adults and 4 children per party) on select dates. Families can enjoy a variety of themed activities and demonstrations throughout Ford FREE FunDays.

Ford FREE FunDays are made possible by Ford Motor Company. The program began at the Science Center in July 2005 and has been enjoyed by nearly 67,000 visitors since its inception.

“Ford FREE FunDays is an extremely popular and much-anticipated program at the Detroit Science Center. Thanks to the generous, continued support of Ford Motor Company, we will help ensure that all families have the opportunity to discover, explore and get inspired about engineering, technology and science,” said Detroit Science Center President & CEO Kevin Prihod.

Upcoming FunDays dates and themes are:

Feb. 14: Engineer It! – Explore different types of engineering through hands-on activities including Zoom Glue, Egg Drop, Straw Towers and Bridges.

March 21: SciQuest – Enjoy author presentations on the Science Stage, American Chemical Society demonstrations, Nutrition Kitchen Celebrity Chef demonstrations and the Dr. Seuss Birthday Bash in Kids Town (for tiny tots) as the culmination of our five-day SciQuest event (complimentary admission on March 21 only).

June 20: Kids Town Fair – Celebrate Father’s Day at our Third Annual Kids Town Fair. There will be special activities for tiny tots and fun for the whole family.

Nov. 6: Coats for Kids – Come help Detroit area kids stay warm for the winter! Join The Salvation Army and FM 98 WJLB at the Science Center for this special day filled with performers, music and more.

Dec. 4: Noel, Noel – Explore the essence of snowflakes, ice and all the wonders of the season during the day and the sights and sounds of the holiday season after dark with the 38th annual Noel Night Celebration. Evening festivities include special performances and activities both inside the Science Center and throughout the City’s Midtown Cultural Center.

“Ford Motor Company is pleased to renew its partnership with the Detroit Science Center to support Ford FREE FunDays. This program continues to engage families, offering a special opportunity to view and experience the museum’s innovative exhibits and activities free of charge,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. “At Ford, we are committed to enriching our communities through programs like Ford FREE FunDays and are proud to continue this tradition here in Southeastern Michigan, our home for over 100 years.”

For more information on Ford FREE FunDays at the Detroit Science Center, please call 313.577.8400 or go to www.detroitsciencecenter.org.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit Ford.com

Take the DSC Domes of Detroit Challenge!

2010-02-01T14:49:00.027-05:00

The Detroit Science Center is home to two of Detroit’s most famous domes – the Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre and the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium. But did you know there are more than a dozen famous domes around Detroit?

Take the DSC Domes of Detroit Challenge for your chance to win FREE museum admission, including the IMAX® and planetarium, for an entire year!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Download and print the Domes of Detroit contest entry form. Match the pictures of the various domes to the names provided.

2. Bring your completed form to the Detroit Science Center between Feb.1- 12, 2010. (You can also find the forms at detroitsciencecenter.org)

3. Guess all 10 domes correctly and you will receive one free admission to the Detroit Science Center (including the IMAX® and planetarium). Offer expires Feb. 12, 2010. Cannot be combined with any other offers. No cash value.

4. All contest forms will be entered into a drawing to win a grand prize of FREE Museum admission for a year (IMAX® and planetarium included). Please include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address with your entry. One grand prize winner will be selected and announced on Feb. 15, 2010.

Good luck!

Detroit Public Schools and the Detroit Science Center announce partnership for operations of Children’s Museum

2010-02-01T09:32:00.010-05:00

Detroit Public Schools and the Detroit Science Center today announced a new partnership for the Science Center to assume operations of the Detroit Children’s Museum, which will mean enhancements to the museum and cost-savings for DPS.

Under the new 10-year agreement, the Science Center accepts responsibility of providing funds and/or soliciting funding to cover the costs associated with the operation of the buildings of Children’s Museum, located at 6134 2nd Avenue, Detroit.

The agreement means annual savings for Detroit Public Schools, amounting to $891,000 plus $450,000 in grant funds. The district saves $415,000 in wages and fringe benefits, $126,000 from utilities and custodial work and $350,000 from collection repair and upkeep. The estimated savings over the life of the contract are $11.9 million.

“Our partnership with the Detroit Science Center to assume operations of the Children's Museum is the best possible outcome for the children of Detroit and for the future of the museum,” said Robert Bobb, Emergency Financial Manager. “The museum will be able to expand its outreach to many more children and families and tap into a vast array of experts and resources.”

The school system and Science Center share the same goals to have the Detroit Children’s Museum become an educational resource for the children, teachers and the community in the Detroit Metro area.

“The Children’s Museum has long been one of Detroit’s gems. When it closed in August, we were determined to do whatever it took to bring it back better than ever. The Detroit Science Center and the Detroit Public Schools, working together, will make it the most innovative and important children’s museum in the nation,” said Detroit Science Center President & CEO Kevin F. Prihod.

The agreement, which is effective January 1, 2010, is expected to enhance the service quality of the Children’s Museum building, including programming, collections, exhibits, displays, and student opportunities.

Several Open House opportunities will be held for the community to see the facilities starting in March 2010.

All contents of the building will stay, but remain property of DPS. New items acquired would be property of the Detroit Science Center.

The Science Center’s plan for the museum includes:

Field Trips - K-6 grade students will have the opportunity to experience exhibits, shows, and demonstrations at the DCM and DSC. These field trip experiences will provide the students with learning opportunities that are aligned with the MI Grade Level Content Expectations (“GLCE’s”). They also will give the students a unique hands-on interactive interdisciplinary program that helps them make real-world connections.

Outreach Programming - The outreach program will have both classroom workshops and group programming available. These programs also will be aligned to the MI GLCE’s and will provide interactive learning opportunities. These programs will provide teachers an alternative or additional experience for their students to learn certain science related topics.

On-site programming - The DSC will reorganize and create new exhibits at the Children’s Museum. The exhibits, demonstrations and shows will provide the students/teachers with an in-depth exploration of science, math, reading and social studies concepts. The Science Center will incorporate signage, exhibits, demonstration areas and interactive hands-on activities to create a dynamic learning environment.

The DSC also will offer a variety of programs for the parents and children of the Detroit Metro area community. The programs will include reading literacy groups, family activities, including topics such as Mommy & Me, Daddy & Me, and monthly and seasonal themed activities. These activities will allow parents and children to explore the exhibits and engage in hands-on interactive programs throughout the year.

Artifact kits (modules) – The former lending collection will be revamped into learning modules on a variety of topics that are covered in the classroom. The modules will be interdisciplinary, hands-on learning opportunities that utilize artifacts to help students expand their skills and make real-world connections. All of the thematic modules will offer activities that support tactile, visual and auditory learners. The program curriculum will be developed to ensure best practice standards are met. The curriculum will be aligned to MI GLCE’s.

Teacher professional development - As part of this partnership, the DPS and DSC will create professional development opportunities for the teachers in the DPS system to integrate and expand their use of the artifact modules as well as connecting the informal educational experiences at both the DCM and DSC sites. These opportunities will be hands-on interactive programs that will give teachers resources to enhance and extend their classroom curriculum. These opportunities will be offered to the DPS teachers at free or reduced cost depending on funding.

Here's a short video clip of Robert Bobb from the press conference:

For more information on Detroit Public Schools, visit www.ImInDPS.org

Introducing our Elmo's Green Thumb Grand Prize Winners!

2010-01-26T14:41:00.011-05:00

Thanks to everybody who entered our "Going Green for Elmo" contest! Though we had quite a few entries, here's the entries of the grand prize winners! Congrats to Kelsey and Reilly - you'll have a blast at Elmo's Green Thumb!

Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle: The Tales of a Toddler Saving Our Earth
We are teaching Kelsey, our 2 ½ year old toddler the importance of saving our earth, because we want it to be around forever!
We REDUCE yucky stuff going to landfills by using rechargeable batteries. Kelsey knows how to load them up, but only adults plug them in!
We REUSE envelopes and papers from old mail as drawing paper, stained clothing as rags, old burp clothes as napkins, and water from her swimming pool to water our flowers and tomato garden she and her Daddy planted last summer.
We RECYCLE with Kelsey by allowing her to place paper, plastics, glass jars, and cardboard into the recycle bin. She loves to sing a song she created called, “Pick It Up, Clean It Up” as she completes her tasks. Lastly, she donates old toys, sippys, and clothing to friends, family, or others who need it. A family that conserves together plays together!

I use my Green Thumb like Elmo
My name is Reilly and I live in Detroit, Michigan. I love to play outside. I watch the ladybugs and ants. Daddy helps me plant the flowers when it is warm. We water them unless it rains. The flowers are little, then get big, like me. The colors are pretty. The bees are stingy. The butterfly likes the flower. Mommy says butterflies kiss the flower to make them grow. When it is cold the flowers go away. I will help Elmo with his flowers. I know how to give them water so they can grow!

Click here for more information or to buy tickets!

DSC CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN ACHIEVEMENTS IN SCIENCE PROGRAM

2010-01-25T13:51:00.021-05:00

The Detroit Science Center is celebrating Black History Month by highlighting the achievements of five noteworthy African American scientists and inventors – Benjamin Banneker, Dr. Charles Richard Drew, Lewis Howard Latimer, June Bacon-Bercey and Otis Boykin. Visitors to the museum can learn more about these famous scientists and inventors, and take a scavenger hunt throughout the museum to find hands-on exhibits related to their work. The African American Achievements in Science program is made possible by The Nissan Foundation.

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) is best known for making astronomical calculations that enabled him to successfully forecast a 1789 solar eclipse, as well as for building one of the first watches made in America, a wooden pocket watch.

Lewis Howard Latimer (1848-1929) is credited for his advancements with circuits along with inventing carbon filament. Latimer also was a draftsman in a patent office and drafted the patent drawings for Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone patent application.

Otis Boykin (1920-1982) invented and improved electrical resistors used in computers, radios, televisions and a variety of electronic devices, helping to reduce the cost of these products. He also invented a variable resistor used in guided missile parts, a control unit for heart stimulators, a burglar-proof cash register and a chemical air filter.

Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950) developed improved techniques for blood storage and applied his knowledge in developing large-scale blood banks in early World War II. He was the first black surgeon to serve as an examiner on the American Board of Surgery.

June Bacon-Bercey (1932-present) was the only African-American woman to earn a degree in meteorology in the 1950s. In 1970 she became the first female television meteorologist in the country.

The Detroit Science Center is open Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. The museum will offer extended hours Feb. 15-19 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are $13.95 for adults and $11.95 for children and seniors.

Win tickets to see Elmo’s Green Thumb at the Fox Theater!

2010-01-20T11:00:00.012-05:00

Elmo's Green Thumb is showing at the Fox Theater January 29-February 15 and the Detroit Science Center is giving away tickets! Want to win? Show us how your family is going green!

Are you reducing your carbon footprint, bicycling instead of driving or teaching your children how to recycle garbage? Tell us what you’re doing to help your child go green and enter to win a chance for your family to see Elmo’s Green Thumb at the Fox Theater! So, reduce, reuse, and recycle and show us how you go green! There are two ways you can enter to win!

Write up to a 150 word summary of how you teach your children to go green and drop off your entry along with a photo at the Detroit Science Center or e-mail it to contest@sciencedetroit.org. All entries must include name, address, phone number and email address.

Tiny tots can win big too! Visit Kids Town during regular business hours and let your tiny tot color a photo of Elmo for a chance to win a family four pack.

Limit 1 prize per household. Entries must be submitted no later than January 25 by 12 p.m. Winners will be contacted by 4 p.m. on January 25.

First Prize: Second row seats to Elmo’s Green Thumb on Sunday, January 31 at 5:30 p.m.

Second Prize: Third row seats to Elmo’s Green Thumb on Sunday, January 31 at 5:30p.m.

Third Prize: Win a family four pack for general seating at any Elmo’s Green Thumb stage show from January 29-February 15

For more information or to buy tickets, click here!

DSC DEBUTS SHOWS THAT TAKE YOU FROM THE HOT ARABIAN DESERT TO THE COLD DEPTHS OF BLACK HOLES

2010-01-19T11:18:00.029-05:00

Arabia Opens in the Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre, Black Holes Opens in the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium Feb. 13, 2010

Travel to some of the most fascinating destinations on Earth and beyond with two new shows debuting in the twin domes of the Detroit Science Center on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 – MacGillivray Freeman’s Arabia in the Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre and Black Holes in the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium.

From the Academy Award®-nominated producers of Everest and Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk comes an all-new IMAX® Dome Theatre experience – Arabia -- about the
extraordinary culture, history and religion of Arabia.

Steeped in ancient history and unique customs not found anywhere else in the world, Arabia mystifies us, shimmering like a desert mirage. For more than 2,000 years, its people have flourished in one of the harshest environments on the planet. Yet little is known about its fascinating culture which has remained hidden from the West for far too long.

Now, with the full force of IMAX® cinematography, Arabia takes viewers deep into the heart of this exotic land where they’ll experience firsthand the mystique of Arabia both past and present. Like visitors on a magic carpet ride, audiences will discover the lost city of Madain Saleh and explore its ancient tombs; they will travel with a camel caravan along the early frankincense trade route; they will share in the lamplit warmth of a Bedouin family tent and travel back in time to the Islamic Golden Age where Arabian science and scholarship flourished; and they will survive a desert sandstorm and dive the coral reefs and ancient shipwrecks of the dazzling Red Sea.

Viewers also will join in the extraordinary pilgrimage known as the hajj where every year two million Muslims arrive in the holy city of Meccah to reaffirm their faith, creating the largest single human gathering on Earth. In a series of stunning time-lapse images, Arabia takes viewers deep inside this holiest of cities for a climactic scene of spiritual renewal.

A powerful and surprising giant screen tour de force -- and the first major film production to be granted access to more than 20 locations across Arabia – Arabia offers a deeper understanding of this most fascinating culture and way of life that has been largely hidden from our view.

The allure of black holes is more than just gravitational. These mysterious voids of extinct stars have fascinated generations. Explore the history, physics and mystery of black holes in the Detroit Science Center’s new Dassault Systèmes Planetarium show Black Holes.

Narrated by actor John de Lancie (“Q” in the Star Trek TV series), this Digital Dome experience features rich, expansive renderings and incorporates several of the latest scientific theories regarding black holes. Witness first-hand the bending of light and the skewing of perception as the show incorporates some of the most visually stunning three-dimensional effects ever created for the dome. Add to that a sound effects track and 5.1 surround sound mix by George Lucas’ Skywalker Sound Studios and you have an unprecedented sensory experience found in no conventional theater in the world.

Watch the Black Holes trailer:

For additional information including trailers, show times and online ticketing, please visit www.detroitsciencecenter.org.

Catch one of the DSC's own on the next episode of Motor City Motors!

2010-01-15T12:51:00.017-05:00

The Discovery Channel's new show Motor City Motors follows renowned fabricators and custom-bike builders Dave and James Kaye, founders of Detroit Bros. Custom Cycles. Each week they tap into the Detroit-based talent and assemble a team of builders and specialists. Together they push the boundaries of automotive engineering to create one-of-a-kind vehicles — with a five-day limit for each build. From turning a 1929 Model T into one of the coolest gassers in the city to transforming a 1992 GMC Suburban into a pothole filler, the builds are limited only by the ingenuity and imagination of the Detroit Brothers and their crews.

The next episode premieres Monday night as is of particular interest to the Detroit Science Center. Our own Jeff Evarts will be on the show! Jeff is a Welder/Fabricator in the Metal Department at our Design & Exhibits shop. In the 6 months he's been part of the DSC team, he's worked on a number of notable exhibits including Diabetes: A Deeper Look and the Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato.

On the show, Jeff and his team will overhaul a Ford Festiva - essentially turning it into "a hamster wheel on steroids." You'll be able to easily recognize which team members is Jeff. Each day of the challenge he wore a Detroit Science Center t-shirt! "I got a supply of t-shirts to wear on the show from the Science Center. What was crazy though, is they were all the same color shirt and I didn't want it to look like I wore the same one everyday. So I airbrushed on the back of it with the different days of the week, and each day the designs got more intricate and tied into what was going on during the show. It became pretty cool."

Jeff is no stranger to odd challenges and memorable assignments. "I have 25 years experiences fabricating everything from artificial tress and rocks for zoos to prototype work for a major automotive company." says Evarts. But his last gig, and the one that brought him back to Michigan, was with Ringling Bros. "I was part of their transportation mobile welding unit. I worked on everything from an elephant stand to the actual train should it break."

What ultimately made Detroit the place he wanted to stay was cheap studio space. Jeff's also an artist, and the work he does is too high maintenance to just do in an apartment - you need studio space, and Detroit was the place to find it. Pictures here are some examples of his most recent work: "They're Auto Glassback Chairs. The back is the drivers window of a car. They're fully functional and really comfortable!"

"I'm really excited to see the episode - I haven't seen it yet either, so I'm nervous! But the Kaye brothers themselves said it's the best episode out of the entire season, so that was great to hear. I'm also really thankful to the Science Center for letting me do this. A special thanks to Ed Summers and Dik Moore for being so supportive."

We're proud of Jeff and very excited to see him on Motor City Motors! Tune in to the Discovery Channel Monday January 18 at 10pm to watch. Make sure to look for his Detroit Science Center t-shirt!

Detroit Science Center partners with CSG and CMIe to present Germ Busters program

2010-01-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

Program Seeks to Safeguard Museum Visitors and Educate Them on Germ Fighting Technology

The next time visitors enter the Detroit Science Center they will experience a whole new level of cleanliness. As the first museum to implement CSG’s Surface Antimicrobial System™ (SAS), the Science Center is stepping up its efforts to safeguard visitors from bacteria, germs and several other microbial contaminants throughout its facility. Approximately 45,000 square feet of high-touch surfaces will be treated with SAS, including the cafeteria, bathrooms, exhibits and the Kids Town gallery. The application will take place on Jan. 8, 2010, and media are invited to attend between 12-2 p.m.

SAS is a comprehensive process that uses an innovative antimicrobial technology to transform surfaces into materials that work 24/7 to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, fungi and mold for up to three years. Additionally, SAS eliminates 99.9% of germs and bacteria, and is effective against H1N1 flu virus and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphlococcus aureus). The leading-edge system creates the world’s most environmentally friendly antimicrobial coating on surfaces. It is non-toxic, non-sensitizing to human skin and hypoallergenic.

“The Detroit Science Center is one of our region’s most treasured institutions,” said John Slack, CSG’s Great Lakes Division President. “We are honored to showcase the unique technology that makes it possible for our Surface Antimicrobial System to deliver such long-lasting protection from the growth of bacteria and other harmful microbial contaminants.”

Starting Jan. 18, 2010, the Science Center will begin conducting Germ Busters demonstration programs to inform and educate museum visitors about the science behind this unique germ-fighting technology. Demonstrations will be conducted in the Science Center’s new Cell Lab during regular museum hours.

The Germ Busters program at the Science Center is made possible by CSG, the worldwide leader in antimicrobial products and services, and CMIe, a Madison Heights-based firm that specializes in providing healthy work environment solutions.

The unique antimicrobial technology powering the SAS treatment applied at the Science Center also has been applied to over 40 million square feet of surfaces in schools, professional sports franchises, universities, hospitals and United States military installations. Prominent users include the New York Yankees, U.S. Olympic Basketball, University of Michigan and Washington Red Skins.

The application process, which will be done by certified applicators from CMIe, begins by cleaning and disinfecting areas tabbed for antimicrobial treatment. This portion of the process effectively eliminates illness-causing microorganisms such as MRSA, Staph, H1N1 flu virus and Ringworm. After properly cleaning the surfaces tabbed for treatment, the unique and innovative antimicrobial power of SurfaceAide® 1000 is applied. The coating will create an invisible antimicrobial barrier on the surface that continually inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi and mold for up to three years. It is non-toxic, non-sensitizing to human skin and hypoallergenic.

Catch the Accidental Mummies Documentary on DPTV this Sunday at 5pm!

2010-01-08T14:51:00.009-05:00

Detroit Public Television will broadcast the documentary Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato presents... LAS MOMIAS on Sunday at 5pm. This hour long documentary tells the story behind the naturally preserved mummies of Guanajuato, Mexico. Check the DPTV site for details.

Save $5 off weekday admission to the Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato exhibit!

2010-01-05T14:00:00.011-05:00

Save $5 off weekday admission to the Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato exhibit! Print this coupon and present it to our visitor services desk Tuesday through Friday (Note: we are closed on Mondays). Coupon expires January 29, 2010.

Sparking Curiosity: A message from Kelly Brault, DSC Senior Development Manager

2009-12-30T11:51:00.027-05:00

Below is a guest blogger entry from Kelly Brault, our Senior Development Manager. The pictures throughout are of her son Lucas in action at the DSC.

As a mom of two young boys, we make regular trips to the Detroit Science Center when I’m not working there. Although my older son, Lucas, who is four years old would tell you that we don’t visit nearly often enough. He is always asking to go and usually has a specific mission in mind. While Kids Town is built just for my children’s age group (up to age five, actually), Lucas likes everything at the Science Center.

His last mission was to play with the water rockets. His plan: he would put in the water and his uncle who was visiting from Texas would put in the air. He told me all of this before we left the house and I was shocked that he remembered how to make water rockets “go.” Once this mission was accomplished several dozen times, he took in Secrets of the Cardboard Rocket in the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium (did you know that planetarium shows are FREE now?). As he sat on my lap during that show, he was completely captivated. He didn’t say a word until the end. Then it was non-stop questions about all things astronomy. I could almost hear the wheels turning in his mind. He still asks questions about astronomy at very random times which tells me that he was really impacted and thinks about this show often. I think that there is truly and opening in his mind, where he will be excited to learn more about astronomy because of this experience.

I think that continuing to bring him has helped ignite that spark of interest. We can visit as long or short as we’d like with our membership and therefore keep his interest rather than overwhelm him.

It’s important to realize that membership and admission fees only cover a portion of the Science Center’s costs. The Science Center continues to put new exhibits on the floor all the time. The water rockets have only been on the floor for a little over a year and Kids Town opened a little over two years ago and there are many other projects recently built and on the way. Keeping the Science Center operating on a daily basis in the City of Detroit (not supported by the City) alone is expensive. But continuing to add value and enrich the experience is what sets the Detroit Science Center apart.

I hope that other families will join me in making a tax-deductible gift to the Detroit Science Center this year. Even modest amounts add up to make an incredible difference, so don’t think that you aren’t needed. You can give make your gift online or call our development office and I will be on hand to personally take your call (313.577.8400, ext. 241).

My younger son is just over a year old. I hope that the generosity of the families of metro Detroit will help the Science Center continue to persevere and grow so he too will be able to explore and open his mind to enjoy science as much as his brother does.

Many thanks in advance!
Kelly Brault
Senior Development Manager

Ford Amateur Astronomy Club at the DSC today and tomorrow!

2009-12-29T14:23:00.006-05:00

Join members of the Ford Amateur Astronomy Club at the Detroit Science Center on Tuesday December 29th and Wednesday, December 30th. Located near the Dassault Systemes Planetarium, these amateur astronomers will display various types of telescopes, different types of planetarium software packages, and the wonder of exploring the night skies over Michigan! Stop by during our extended hours (9am to 5pm) and check it out!

Walking with Dinosaurs at Cobo Arena!

2009-12-23T15:05:00.000-05:00

They’re Back! Walking with Dinosaurs- The Arena Spectacular returns to Cobo Arena December 29-January 3. After years of planning, the award-winning BBC TV series, Walking with Dinosaurs comes to life in a stunning theatrical event.

Internationally renowned designers have worked with scientists to create 15 life-size dinosaurs, including the terror of the ancient terrain, Tyrannosaurus-rex! Be amazed and thrilled as the greatest creatures ever to walk the earth return before your eyes.

It’s a dazzling 10 million pound arena spectacle of unprecedented size and quality set to captivate young and old alike. Marvel at the story of their 200 million year domination of life on earth. Watch them walk. Hear the roar. Be there as they fight for survival and supremacy. From the ripple of their skin to the glint in their eye, you will know the dinosaurs really have returned! So make sure you have your seat to see the return of the dinosaurs!

Take a bite out of prices for the holidays! For a limited time only, buy three tickets and get one free!* Kids 12 and under save $7 on select performances. Tickets are on sale now at OlympiaEntertainment.com and Ticketmaster.

*Not valid on previously purchased tickets. No double discounts. Subject to availability. Must be purchased in multiples of four. Max of 8 tickets

Dodge Days at the DSC!

2009-12-17T14:39:00.006-05:00

As local supporters of The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato exhibit, Chrysler employees and vehicle owners receive discounted rates to the special exhibit. Chrysler employees pay only $14.95 with I.D. and Chrysler vehicle owners receive the discounted rate of $19.95 when presenting a Chrysler or Dodge key at the Visitor Services Desk now through January 31, 2010. This offer is limited to four persons per transaction and cannot be combined with any other offer.

Overnight Camp-Ins at the Detroit Science Center!

2009-12-15T09:32:00.007-05:00

What better way to combine fun and learning than with an Overnight Camp-In at the Detroit Science Center? Each overnight program includes theme-related activities, a late night snack, nutritious breakfast, a morning Chrysler IMAX Dome Theatre film, and a Detroit Science Center patch!

Coming in January:
Eekstein’s Engineering Adventures (recommended for grades 4 to 6): Dive into the world of engineering and explore how science impacts our daily lives and how it will lead us into the future. Scouts will test forces acting on rockets, build a tower and bridge that can withstand forces, and experiment with chemical engineering in this very hands-on overnight experience.

Boys: January 15, 2010 6pm to 9am
Girls: January 29, 2010 6pm to 9am

$30 per person - Balance and final count due two weeks before start of program.

Reserve your spot now! 313.577.8400, OPTION 5

Winter Break Camps at the DSC!

2009-12-14T11:18:00.016-05:00

The Detroit Science Center is offering Winter Break Camps from Monday, February 15, 2010 to Friday, February 19, 2010. With new activities every day, kids can attend just one day or stay for the entire week!

Engineering Escapades (Grades 1-3, 4-6, and 7-8)
In celebration of National Engineers Week, campers will explore the creativity and innovation associated with engineering professions. Campers will participate in hands-on experiments designed to promote brainstorming, teamwork, and originality. This camp also features special activities to celebrate Get a Girl Involved in Engineering Day and honor the Detroit Science Center as the new home of The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America!

Camp Begins each day at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. The Detroit Science Center provides lunch and afternoon snack.
Cost: $40 members / $45 non-members for one day
For the week $180/$190

Before or after care: $5 daily
Before and after care: $8 daily.
Before care begins at 8 a.m. After care is available until 5:30 p.m.

Early Bird Discount! Book a week of Winter Break Camp by January 10th and save $25!

A Camp For All Seasons! Book a week of Winter Break Camp and save $25 on any week of Summer Camp! *

*Only one discount or coupon can be applied per week of summer camp.

"The Sun Song" by the Chromatics

2009-12-03T11:49:00.009-05:00

Is there a better way to learn about the sun than by listening to an a capella song by a group that includes three astrophysicists from the Goddard Space Flight Center? We don't think so either! Enjoy this video for "The Sun Song" by the Chromatics!

Detroit's 37th Annual Noel Night is this Saturday!

2009-12-02T14:05:00.006-05:00

While you're out and about exploring all that Midtown Detroit's Cultural Center Area has to offer, don't forget to stop by the Detroit Science Center! Explore one of Detroit's best family attractions with free museum admission all-day long during Ford FREE FunDay: Noel, Noel (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and the 37th Annual Noel Night Celebration (5 p.m. - 9 p.m). Visit with Santa and his reindeer, enjoy free hot chocolate while supplies last, have a bite to eat in the Cafe and shop for holiday gifts at the Science Store. Explore rare mummies and real science with the special exhibition The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato for a special rate of only $19.95!

VROOOOOM! DSC BECOMES THE NEW HOME OF THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA

2009-11-30T12:17:00.009-05:00

The Detroit Science Center has reached an agreement with the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America to bring a significant portion of the Hall’s collection of vehicles and displays to the Science Center. The Hall was formerly located in the Novi Expo Center in Novi, Mich.

Cars, exhibits and other displays began arriving at the Detroit museum last week. Among them are Art Arfon’s "Green Monster Cyclops," a Kenny Bernstein Funny Car and Sebastien Bourdais' Championship Indy Car.

“The Detroit Science Center is the ideal location for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America to call its new home,” said Hall of Fame President Ron Watson. “Both institutions seek to inspire and educate by showcasing technology and engineering. The vehicles in our collection are a testament to this shared mission.”

“We are honored to welcome the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America to the Detroit Science Center and to share its wonderful collection with our visitors,” said Detroit Science Center President & CEO Kevin F. Prihod.

Admission to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America at the Detroit Science Center is included in Science Center museum admission.

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is operated by the Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation, Inc. Its collection features racers from the world of Indy cars, stock cars, Can Am, TransAm, sprint cars, powerboats, truck racing, drag racing, motorcycles, air racing, and even racing snowmobiles. It also showcases exhibits and photographs of the personalities, manufacturers and machines of all kind of racing and their rich legacy.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Detroit Science Center!

2009-11-24T15:28:00.010-05:00

The Detroit Science Center will have special hours during the week of Thanksgiving.

Our hours will be:

Wednesday Nov 25: 9am - 3pm
Thursday Nov 26: CLOSED Thanksgiving Day
Friday Nov 27: 9am - 5pm (extended hours)
Saturday Nov 28: 10am - 6pm
Sunday Nov 29: 10am - 6pm

For more information on hours and tickets, click here.

Interested in taking advantage of our Holiday Membership Rates? Click here.

Hope to see you and your family this week! Have a great Thanksgiving Holiday!

Attention Members! Santa Fest is coming Thursday, December 3rd!

2009-11-24T10:28:00.009-05:00

Fa-la-la-la into the holidays at our second annual members only Science Center Santa Fest! Listen to live holiday and pop music. Visit with Santa. Get cozy in Kids Town with holiday stories. Decorate cookies provided by Whole Foods Market (while supplies last) and explore other festive activities.

Members also can enjoy free showings of the all new holiday IMAX® film The Light Before Christmas in the Chrysler IMAX® Dome Theatre and other family-friendly activities. Bring your camera to catch moments with Santa and other holiday fun.

Don’t forget your shopping list! Our Science Store will reveal its best bets for the season and will offer a double discount (20%off) to make gift giving for all ages even better. Discounted memberships also will be available for the perfect present that offers year-round fun. Advance tickets are not available. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited parking is now available for $5 in the Detroit Science Center parking lot.

Not a member yet? Special memberships rates for the holidays! Click here for details.