miSci logo cropped   

 

miSci Newsletter

 

May / June 2013

 

 

Our Mission: to celebrate, explore and inspire science and technology, past, present and future.

Quick Links

 

 

 


Join Our Mailing List
Best of Capital Region Living Magazine 2013
Congratulations!

miSci was named Best Children's Museum in Capital Region Living's 2013 Best of Capital Region reader's poll.


twitter
@miSciNY

Follow us to find out what's happening at miSci.

NEW Exhibit! Opens June 15

Notion of Motion
Notion of Motion

A moving experience from San Francisco's Exploratorium
 
Free with admission

Presented through the generosity of 
Neil and Jane Golub
National Grid 

Dinosaurs!  
Dinosaurs!

June 29 -
September 29  


Roaring, robotic dinosaurs come alive at miSci!
 
Free with admission

Summer Hours:
Mon. - Sat.
 
9am - 5pm 
Sun. 12 - 5pm

Little Wonders of Science
The Sun is My Favorite Star
Thurs., June 13
&
Sat., June 15  
11AM
 
Sign up online or call 382-7890 x 224 to register.

Target  

Schenectady  

Rotary 

   

Planetarium Shows
Schenectady Museum's Suits-Bueche Planetarium
Thursday & Friday
2PM
 Just Imagine 

 

Saturday & Sunday
1PM
Wonderful Sky

 

2PM
Just Imagine 

 

3PM
Seasonal Sky Tour

Mon. - Sat. 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

Science Zone

 Saturday & Sunday
1 - 2:30PM 
 
Explore nanotechnology, chemistry, engineering and more with different hands-on challenges every week

Saturday Science Zone Activities sponsored by
National Grid

ZOOM Into Science 2 110312  
stanys logo

The Eastern Section of STANYS and miSci hosted a special evening May 3. Science teachers and guests attending packed the planetarium for star shows, viewed Jupiter (and 4 of its moons) and Venus through telescopes, enjoyed tapas style food, and much more.
STEM Education Teacher Workshop


A Short Course on the Teaching of Science Research for Precollege Students

Thurs., July 11
9am - 3:30pm
(lunch provided)

FREE
6 hours of professional development credit

presented by
miSci
&
Greater Capital Region Science and Engineering Fair
 (GCRSEF)

Len Behr, University at Albany
and
Joan Wagner, GCRSEF

Register online.
Questions?
Contact [email protected] or call 518-382-7890 x 256.

Spend Your Summer @ miSci  

 

There are so many reasons to come to miSci this summer. New exhibits, extended hours, and hands-on science classes are just a few.

 

Dinosaurs! Dinosaurs! opens June 29 and runs through September 29. Roaring, robotic dinosaurs come alive at miSci. Meet a 32-foot long Apatosaurus. Tremble at a growling 12-foot tall cousin of T-Rex. Learn all about these prehistoric creatures in the dino dig site, fossil rubbing station, and other hands-on discovery areas. Admission is free for members; free with general admission.

Notion of Motion, a moving experience from San Francisco's Exploratorium, opens June 15 and runs through June 1, 2014. Discover hands-on fun at this interactive exhibit where you'll explore all kinds of motion -- from those that underlie the solar system (circular motion), to pendulum motions, motion illusions and more. Notion of Motion at miSci is presented through the generosity of Neil and Jane Golub and National Grid. Admission is free for members; free with general admission.

We will also have extended hours this summer. Beginning June 25, miSci will be open 9am to 5pm Monday through Saturday and 12pm to 5pm Sunday and offer planetarium shows at 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. We will be open July 4 from 9am to 5pm.

This summer we are offering Hands-on Science Classes presented by Time Warner Cable. These weeklong classes for kids ages 5 - 12 run 8:30am to 5pm and explore a wide variety of science topics: forensics, rocketry, dinosaurs and more. Limited space is available ($200/week; $180/member). Register today.
   
We look forward to seeing you again and again this summer. Thank you, if you're already a member; if you're not yet, please become a member today.

William "Mac" Sudduth

Executive Director, miSci 

THINK� created by IBM 
miSci First Stop on World Tour
 
THINK� created by IBM, a new exhibit on making the world work better with the help of technology, was celebrated April 16 at miSci by a crowd of business, technology, education and community leaders. Students from Tech Valley High School helped to officially open the exhibit. 

  

After its debut in 2011 at New York's Lincoln Center and installation at INNOVENTIONS West at Epcot� at the Walt Disney World� Resort, THINK� created by IBM will be on exhibit at miSci through October 14, 2013 before embarking on a world tour.   

 

In addition to experiencing an immersive film showing the patterns of progress through awe-inspiring stories of the past and present, visitors discover a "media field" of seven-foot interactive touch screens highlighting a unique combination of experiences - seeing, mapping, understanding, believing and acting - as a distinct approach to making the world work better.  Read more.

IBM Think Opening 041613
Dan Liebert, Tech Valley High School principal; John E. Kelly III, IBM senior vice president and director of IBM Research; Mac Sudduth, miSci executive director; Neil Golub, Price Chopper Supermarkets' executive chairman of the Board and one of the driving forces behind the transformation of miSci

The Big Bang at miSci!

   

The museum's annual Gala, The Big Bang!, was held May 10 at miSci. Everyone enjoyed an evening of engaging conversation, delicious food prepared by Mazzone Hospitality, live music from the New York Players Jazz Quartet, a great silent auction and the ground fireworks display which capped off the evening. Thank you to Gala Chairwoman Jane Golub and her committee for an amazing event to benefit miSci's informal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs and exhibitions.
Gala 2013 Sponsors
presented by   Time Warner Cable

Registration is now open for miSci's Summer Hands-on Science Classes presented by Time Warner Cable. These full-day, week-long classes are offered throughout the summer for children ages 5 - 12. Classes run 8:30am - 5pm and are $200 per class ($180 for members)  with before & after care available. Explore forensics, rockets, dinosaurs and much more!
Registration and prepayment required. Call 518-382-7890 x 224.
Summer Hands-on Science Classes Connect a Million Minds
Invention Convention 2013     
 

Celebrating its 16th year, Invention Convention is an annual regional and statewide invention competition for students in grades K-8. Its goal is to engage children in creative problem solving.

Students are invited to create an original idea for a device or a method for solving a problem. The problem can occur in the environment or the classroom, in industry or with technology, at home or during leisure-time activities. To enter, students submit a written description and diagram of the problem and their solution. This year 1,318 students, representing 42 schools and two home schools across the Capital Region, submitted descriptions of proposed inventions. A group of scientists, engineers, patent attorneys and educators selected the 100 semi-finalists who built models of their inventions, which were displayed at miSci during the month of May. A reception and awards ceremony honoring the semi-finalists and top 25 inventions was held on May 19, 2013.  

Read more. 

 

Thank you to our Invention Convention sponsors:  

Invention Convention 2013 Sponsors

Blue Star Museum Program 

miSci is participating in the Blue Star Museum Program and extends free general museum admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2013.

"miSci is pleased to participate in the Blue Star Museums program again this summer. We're proud to provide this well-deserved recognition for our country's service members. " said miSci Executive Director Mac Sudduth. Read more.

Schenectady Rotary Grant   

miSci received a grant of $300 from the Schenectady Rotary Club to purchase books for Little Wonders of Science.

Little Wonders of Science MAY2013 Little Wonders of Science, an interactive science and literacy program geared to pre-schoolers (ages 3-5), provides an opportunity to learn about basic science concepts and develop pre-emergent and emergent literacy skills. Each month, different science topics such as wind, plants, or water, are explored with the use of  family-friendly books and hands-on activities. The program is led by a miSci educator, and offered twice each month, with one Thursday and one Saturday morning program.  
Cancer Prevention Study-3   

American Cancer Society Capital Region residents can participate in a unique, nationwide cancer prevention research study sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS). Men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer (not including basal or squamous cell skin cancer) are eligible to enroll: www.cps3schenectady.org.