Schenectady Museum
 
Schenectady Museum Newsletter
   
August 2010
 
 
Our Mission: to inspire a sense of wonder about extraordinary scientific and technological developments: past, present, and future.
In This Issue
Science of Baseball
Museum Receives $64K IMLS Grant
Hexbugs @ Museum Shop
Grandparents' Day
Recent Grants
Quick Links 
Join Our Mailing List
3, 2, 1...Blast Off! 
SciWorld Camp: Blast Off!
Museum Educator Matt Lockwood and campers prepare to launch a water rocket at SciWorld Camp: Blast Off! in early August.
 
Program Profile
Wow...Bugs!
 
Wow...Bugs! 
 
(Grades 1 - 3) Explore the amazing diversity of insects and create an insect that represents basic insect biology. Taking group reservations now. Call 518.382.7890 x 224 for more information or to register.

 
Members of the Ukraine Astronomical Foundation visited the Suits-Bueche Planetarium in July.
Planetarium Manager Steve Russo; Denis Svechkarev; Education Manager Megan Dominguez; Bogdan Dereka; Suffolk Community College Astronomy Professor George Lomaga
Little Wonders of Science

Little Wonders of Science: 
Curious George Builds a Home
 
Thursday & Saturday,
  Sept. 16 & 18 @ 10:30AM
Planetarium Shows
Schenectady Museum's Suits-Bueche Planetarium

Suits-Bueche Planetarium Shows Tues.-Fri, 2PM
 Sat., 1, 2 & 3PM
Science of Baseball with the ValleyCats: August 21
 
Visitors test how fast they can throw at last year's Science of Baseball with the ValleyCats.
Science of Baseball with the ValleyCats
How fast can you throw? Test your pitching speed with a radar gun at the Museum's annual summer event, the Science of Baseball with the ValleyCats Saturday, August 21 @ 11AM - 1:30PM.
 
You've seen them on the field at The Joe. Now you have a chance to talk to members of the Tri-City ValleyCats and explore the science behind baseball. Find the sweet spot on the bat and learn why it can improve your hitting. ValleyCats mascot Southpaw will be also on hand to join in the fun!
 
Museum Receives $64K Institute of Museum and Library Services Grant
GE Film Catalog, 1941, from Schenectady Museum Archives
GE Film Catalog
 
The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has awarded a Museums for America (MFA) grant for $64,437 to the Schenectady Museum for use in preserving and digitizing a significant collection of 1,000 16mm films from General Electric. The grant will support the purchase of high-definition film transfer equipment and new archival film canisters, and supports the hiring of a temporary part-time film technician.

The films, dating from 1915-1985, tell the story of the electrification of the United States and include early advertising films, educational science films, and films documenting engineering and manufacturing processes. More than 30 of the films are silent films and date prior to 1927, from an era where more than 90% of films no longer exist. Read more. 
Hexbugs @ Museum Shop 
Save 10% in September!
 
Stock up on Hexbugs @ Museum Shop. Save 10% on Hexbugs in September!
Hex bug
Save 10% on all Hexbugs during September at the Schenectady Museum Shop. We love robots! And when a robot looks and acts like a bug, that's even better. 
 
Not only are Hexbugs fun, but they encourage children of all ages to learn about robotics and enhance their science education by exposing them to momentum, cause-and-effect, center of gravity and other concepts.
 
Special Offer: In September, all Hexbugs are on sale at a 10% discount, which means members get 10% + 10% = 20% off! 
 
Available @ Museum Shop: Original Hexbug, Nano, Inchworm, Crab, Ant, Nano Starter Set.
Give a Grandparent Membership for Grandparents' Day September 12
Give a Grandparent Membership to the Museum for Grandparents' Day.
Grandparent's Day
 
Grandparents' Day is next month, and what better gift than a Grandparent Membership to the Museum for only $50. 
 
This membership allows a year of unlimited FREE Museum admission for grandparents in the same household and all of their grandchildren under the age of 18. You can add a year of unlimited visits to the Planetarium with a Space Pass for just an additional $35. As an added benefit, Schenectady Museum members also receive free admission to nearly 300 participating science centers and museum worldwide! So a gift of Grandparent Membership provides benefit even if your relatives live in another state!
 
Purchase your Grandparent Gift Membership online today or call 518.382.7890 x 254.
 
Recent Grants
Preschoolers explore shadows and light with puppets they made at a recent Little Wonders of Science.
Little Wonders of Science
 
Special thanks to the following for their generous support:
 
Target has awarded a grant for $2,000 to the Schenectady Museum to help fund its monthly Little Wonders of Science preschool program from October 2010 through September 2011. 
 
Stewart's has awarded a grant for $2,500 to the Schenectady Museum's Powering the Future: The STEM Fund, which provides scholarships and transportation assistance for underserved youth whose lack of resources would otherwise prevent their visitng the Museum. The Stewart's grant will assist students from throughout the Capital Region, from pre-kindergarten to grade 12, with Museum visits during the 2010 - 2011 school year. 
Read more. 
 
Walmart has also awarded a grant for $1,000 to the Powering the Future: The STEM Fund. This funding is granted for the 2010 - 2011 school year and will be utilized by schools and students in Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties.
Read more. 
 
Finally, the Schenectady Insuring Agency has also awarded a grant for $500 to the Powering the Future: The STEM Fund. This grant will assist students from an elementary school in the Schenectady City School District during the 2010 - 2011 school year.
Read more.