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miSci Newsletter

 

September / October 2014

 

 

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

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LW OCt 2014 Skeleton Hiccups

More sessions to accommodate more families!


Thurs., Oct. 16,
Fri., Oct. 17
&
Sat., Oct. 18     
9:30AM & 11AM
 
Sign up online  or
call 382-7890 x 237
to register.
 

Planetarium Shows



NEW!
Show
now showing at 3pm weekends  
 

 Special Shows Columbus Day

Mon. Oct. 13
10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm   
 
Spooky Science 2014

 Science Zone: Spooky Science

Sat. & Sun.
1 - 2:30 

Oct. 4 & 5
Density Potion

Oct. 11 & 12
Extoplasm Slime

Oct. 18 & 19
Eerie Sounds

Oct. 25 & 26 Dancing Ghost


Saturday Science Zone Activities sponsored by
National Grid









































































































































































































Mac Sudduth NOV2012
From the Executive Director

Play (and Learn) at miSci's New Water Table   

The new water table at miSci is perfect for creative play and learning.  When we play on a water table, we are learning:
*    imagination
*    investigation
*    sensory experiences
*    relaxation
*    problem solving
*    math and science skills
*    manipulation
*    fine motor skill
*    cooperative play 


Children have a natural love of sand and water, and these materials provide a wonderful place for them to learn. While making an ocean in the water table or a sandcastle in the sand, children are building important social skills for life. In addition, scooping and sifting, pouring and measuring, improves motor skills and provides additional opportunities to solve problems with others.


In Early Childhood News, Angie Dorrell wrote that water play, both indoor and outdoor, is a unique activity for children because it's always available, open-ended, and provides opportunities for extended learning. Water play is more than splashing.  It fosters learning in all developmental areas. It provides opportunities for children to experiment with math and science concepts, strengthen their physical skills, advance their social and emotional skills, and enhance language development (Crosser, 1994; Hendrick, 1996). 


Water play promotes problem-solving skills. As children manipulate water play materials, they WAter Table JULY 2014begin to understand why and how things happen. For example, given sinking and floating objects, a child will soon discover that just because something is large in size does not mean it will sink.  

 

It also helps develop math skills as children begin to understand and experiment with concepts such as more/less, same/different, many/few, empty/full, before/after, greater than/less than, and counting (Crosser, 1994). Children also learn physics principles such as the effects of force (increasing the water flow through increased force); effects of gravity (water runs downhill). 


Water play develops social and emotional development. Water play is one of the most relaxing activities children can experience. After all, many adults relax in a warm bubble bath or hot shower! Water play relieves tension by encouraging children to release their emotions with pouring, pounding, and swooshing. In addition, social skills expand as children play cooperatively; negotiate; and share equipment, space, and materials.

Children learn new vocabulary such as sieve, funnel, stream, bubbly, moisture. Water play is such a meaningful experience for young children that it can be extended to writing experiences as well. Children may draw pictures of water play, and then dictate a description or story to the teacher. Another valuable writing experience involves the teacher writing down children's predictions, such as how long it will take a floating ball or boat to navigate the locks, dams, and channels.

 

Water encourages children to use their imagination. As the children play, they may pretend that they are navigating the Erie Canal's locks or racing a boat through rapids on a river.  Water also encourages children to try out new ideas and solutions to problems in a safe environment.


The water table is not just for young children.  We also use it as part of our program on the science and technology of the Erie Canal.  It allows older children to examine the use of locks and dams to allow boat travel.  


Dr. William "Mac" Sudduth 
Executive Director, miSci  

PS - Enjoy the Water Table outside in the Courtyard during nice weather and inside in our Play Space during the cold months. 
NEW! Revealing Light-scapes:
an immersive installation of light and sound
Oct. 4, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015

  

Installation by Yael Erel; Soundscape by Torben Pastore

Challenge the limits of human perception. See micro-scale events appear otherworldly and alive when they are transcribed through the simple act of reflection. This interactive, experiential installation uses a light source, a reflecting surface, and a screen to magnify miniscule conditions overlooked by the naked eye. Read more.

Revealing Light-scapes 2014

Manufacturing Week Panel Discussion

moderated by Congressman Paul Tonko
Wednesday, October 8 | 6pm

 

Enjoy a Mo-Tech & CTE tabling and networking event (6pm) followed by a presentation and panel discussion (7pm) featuring the Center for Advanced Technology at Mohonasen (a partnership between Capital Region BOCES, Schenectady County Community College and Mohonasen Central School District). This event is being held at miSci and is free.

This event is part of the City of Schenectady's Manufacturing Week which is anchored by National Manufacturing Day, October 3.     

miSci Offers NEW Programs for 2014-2015    
 
Visit our Educators and Groups page for information on our programs for the 2014 - 2015 school year, including NEW high definition, full-dome, immersive planetarium shows, dry ice demos, and dinosaur programs:
School Programs 2014-15

Chemistry and Cocktails 
a miSci afterhours event 
Thursday, October 23 | 6 - 8pm

  

Chemistry and Cocktails 2014 Enjoy a night of mixology and molecular gastronomy with specialty drinks, food science, live music, interactive exhibits, planetarium shows & more! 

Featuring Jay "JayTheBartender" Larkin & Food by SCCC Culinary Arts Program & Chef Michael Stamets.

Members $30/Not Yet Members $35; at door: $35/$40
Call 518-382-7890 x 237 for tickets (includes food and one free drink ticket). Door prizes & cash bar. 21 & over. 
Save the Date!
Science Festival of the Capital Region at miSci: Nov. 7 - 9
  
Discover wall-to-wall science!
Explore nanotechnology, robotics, natural science, chemistry, astronomy, and more with miSci, the Adirondack Museum, Dudley Observatory, Time Warner Cable, Quirky, National Grid, Nano-Link, San Francisco's Exploratorium, Scotia-Glenville Children's Museum, WMHT and other partners from throughout the Capital Region and beyond!

 

Visit www.miSci.org for daily schedules of special performances, workshops and demos closer to the Festival.

 

Festival Hours: 9am - 5pm Fri. & Sat.; 12 - 5pm Sun.

Unless otherwise noted, all Festival events are free for miSci members or free with admission. Get your tickets through Price Chopper's Tickets to Go!, 24/7 at any open register!

 

Special! Kick-off Event Thursday, Nov. 6

History of Sound: Wax Cylinder Recording Session, 6 - 8pm
Special Screening: WMHT's Steinmetz Documentary, 8 - 9pm

 

Bonus! Dudley's Skywatch Lecture: Astrophysicist, Dr. Heidi Newberg, RPI, On Winning the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics for the Discovery of Dark Energy, followed by a Star Party

Friday, Nov. 7 | 7 - 9pm | $10 adult; $15 family

 

Science Festival 2014
    
Science Festival 2014 Sponsors
$150,000 IMLS Grant and Other Recent Grants & Awards 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded
$149,793 to miSci, the Museum of Innovation and Science. miSci will use the grant funds to collaborate with member libraries of the Mohawk Valley Library System (MVLS) to engage youth and their families in learning about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

 

miSci will develop and deliver hands-on STEM activities and table top experiment stations. In addition, The Dudley Observatory, which is housed at miSci, will deliver astronomy content by using Starlab, a portable planetarium. These STEM learning experiences will be supported through the creation of "record sets" of related books at each library. These science and astronomy activities will develop an interest in STEM and possibly in STEM careers for youth at these libraries. Read more.   

 

More Grant News 

Stewart's Shops is contributing $2,500 to Powering the Future: The STEM Fund. The funding is to be used for field trip transportation assistance. 

The Charles L. Touhey Foundation awarded a $2,500 grant to support the purchase of books for Little Wonders of Science.

A $1,500 mini grant from the Association of Science-Technology Centers and Afterschool Alliance through generous funding from the Noyce Foundation will help support Lights On Afterschool at miSci on Wednesday, October 22 from 3 - 6pm. After school programs will enjoy hands-on science activities and planetarium shows and can register for this free event at 518-382-7890 ext. 237.

The Rotary Club of Schenectady Foundation awarded a grant of $325 to support the Teen Science Cafe at miSci. 
 
miSci was awarded a travel grant for Educator Lauren McClelland to attend a 2-day Museum and Planetarium Educators Workshop at the Museum of Science in Boston and learn from the staff of the Charles Hayden Planetarium. 
Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society Adds miSci's Education & Planetarium Manager to Board 

 

MAPS logo 2014 At the 2014 Annual Conference of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS), miSci's Education and Planetarium Manager Megan Dominguez was elected to serve a 2-year term on the MAPS Board of Directors.

Formed in 1965, the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS) is one of the oldest regional planetarium associations in the United States. Today, MAPS members represent some of the largest and best known planetariums in the world, as well as a vast collection of small and mid-sized public, private, and educational installations.  
Thank You, Union College Volunteers
 
Groups of Union College Freshmen participating in the Community Experience orientation program learned about miSci and assisted staff with: the de-installation of our summer exhibit Grossology, painting a science classroom, and cleanup of our grounds on September 4th and 5th. 
Union College Volunteers 090414
DSIC Provides Weekly Updates about miSci and Downtown     

 

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Subscription to Downtown Schenectady This Week is free. Your email will not be shared with any other groups, and you can opt out at any time. To subscDSIC logo 2014ribe, visit www.downtownschenectady.com, click the "Sign up for our newsletter" link at the bottom of the homepage and enter your email address, name and company (optional).

 

We encourage you to share this information with anyone you know who would like to stay up-to-date on activities in Downtown Schenectady. Thanks, and we'll see you downtown!