Spectrum Fall Equinox 2015 Volume 32, Number 3 Curious. Confident. Inspired. The Sciencenter Campaign by Charlie Trautmann, Executive Director During the past several years, the Horseshoe crabs to sea stars, and Sciencenter has laid the foundation more, all of which can be handled for a major reimagination of its by guests. Molded from the rocks exhibits, programs, and facilities of a real Maine-coast tidepool, our that will position us for greater Tidepool Touch Tank exhibit is the impact over the coming decade. only one of its kind in the region. Our goal is simple: to empower every young person to use science Outdoors, our Exhibits Team has in shaping a better future – for been hard at work on one of our themselves, our community, and most anticipated projects, the new our Campaign into even more new the world they will soon inherit. Sciencenter Mini-Golf course. This exhibits and programs. And we’re project, generously sponsored close. To date, the Campaign has Thanks to our capital campaign, by Cargill, will be dedicated on raised two-thirds of its goal. Curious. Confident. Inspired., which September 26th at a community makes our reimagination possible, open house, where we will unveil, It’s an exciting time for the we are well on our way to making for the first time, the science- Sciencenter and for the community that goal a reality. themed obstacles at each of the 18 we serve. Thanks so much for being holes. Come check it out! part of the adventure and the Indoors, we unveiled our brand important work we do for all of new, 500-gallon salt-water Tidepool Over the next couple of years, we our children. Follow our Campaign Touch Tank along with an exciting will be investing the 3.8 million progress and learn how you can be array of east-coast animals, from dollars we’ve set out to raise in a part of our reimagination at www.sciencenter.org/campaign. Fall Exhibition: Pattern Wizardry Now Open! Master the power of patterns at our featured fall exhibition, “Pattern Wizardry.” Embark on a magical hands-on adventure while discovering how patterns, from the symmetry of a snowflake to the branching of a river, are the building blocks of our natural and man-made world. Travel through four interactive rooms such as the Tessellation Station, Spiral Spells, the Linear Lab and more, while encountering natural science and cultural objects that reveal the variety and prevalence of patterns all around us. Pattern Wizardry received major funding from the National Science Foundation. The exhibition was developed by Brooklyn Children’s Museum for the Youth Museum Exhibit Collaborative (YMEC). • Sciencenter News • Forming Future Science Leaders Our Future Science Leaders (FSL), ages 11 – 14, develop leadership skills and the confidence to communicate science to younger children and their families. By providing opportunities to investigate multiple areas of focus such as digital media, museum programming, scientific research, and exhibit development, our FSL participants are able to hone their individual strengths while becoming stronger science leaders. Future Science Leaders help to design and prototype mini-golf challenges. By exploring a variety of tools and techniques, our FSL participants learn and master skills that they may not Furthermore, working with museums guests provides have otherwise had the opportunity to acquire. “I have FSL participants instant feedback about the activities participated in several projects, including making how- and exhibits they develop. They then use those to videos for FSL CITs (Counselor-in-Training), creating suggestions to improve their product, and in turn, science activities to share with guests on the museum become more capable communicators. “When you’ve floor, and designing (and prototyping) an obstacle for shown a child how to make an object, and they figure the new Sciencenter Mini-Golf course. In my opinion, out how to use it, you can see them light up. I love it,” the best part of being a Future Science Leader is being says FSL participant Ellie Shanton. challenged,” says FSL participant Dancin Feldman. Of his almost two years as a FSL, Dancin adds, “If you Through activities like prototyping exhibits, developing are a teenager who likes science and being challenged, hands-on activities, and conducting research with you really should become a Future Science Leader. You museum guests in our neighboring stream, our Future not only get to help younger children learn, but you get Science Leaders build their confidence by learning how to have an experience that will help you grow, and you to communicate scientific principles to learners of all get to make friends who have an interest in science!” ages. FSL participant Amy Wang explains, “I like that we get to interact with guests. We get to influence the For more information, contact Michelle Kortenaar, next generation of scientists!” Director of Education, at 607.272.0600 x 24 Sagan Planet Walk Gets a Facelift Our Sagan Planet Walk debuted to the world in 1997 as a modest exhibition dotting the downtown Ithaca landscape. Eighteen years and numerous scientific discoveries later, it is the largest exhibition in the world with a station representing Alpha Centauri in Hilo, Hawai‘i. And it’s continuing to grow with plans to put a permanent station on the moon in 2016! Recently, Sciencenter staff worked with Alex Hayes, Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University, and his students to update every Sagan Planet Walk station with new information and images to reflect all of the incredible discoveries that have taken place over the years. For example, we now know Mars had lakes, one of Uranus’ moons has a cliff 10 times deeper than the Grand Canyon, Jupiter has 67 moons, and we just recently got a close-up view of the dwarf planet Pluto. Make new discoveries of your own while exploring our solar system on the updated Sagan Planet Walk this fall! • Support the Sciencenter • Make a Gift. Make a Real Difference. Sciencenter Spectrum We believe that children who are science ISSN 154-4757 literate are more aware of the world and 607.272.0600 • [email protected] better equipped to handle the challenges www.sciencenter.org of the future. This is why the Sciencenter has spent the past 32 years helping Sciencenter Staff kids engage with science through play, Charlie Trautmann, Executive Director empowering them to become creative, Tim Scott, Deputy Director engaged, life-long learners. Judy Ammack, Volunteer Manager This year, we launched a multi-year, $3.8 Christine Bissen, Director of Advancement million Capital Campaign that reimagines Donna Bodenstein, Museum Store Manager nearly all of our exhibits, programs, and Robin Burlingham, Traveling Exhibitions facilities. We’re renovating our space — Manager indoors and out — to bring new science Monika Collins, Director of Development & experiences to our guests and position Community Relations ourselves for an even greater impact over the coming decade. Our Emily Cotman, Young Scientist Educator mission now is not only to turn kids on to science, but also to empower Donna DiBartolomeo, Director of Exhibits them to use science to address difficult challenges that they will face in Chris Fagan, Director of Finance & their lifetimes. Human Resources Your support — past, present, and future — makes it possible for us Victoria Fiordalis, Early Explorer Educator to tackle this ambitious goal. As we embark on this new journey, we’re Patricia Flery, Museum Greeter asking for your support. Whether you donate to the Capital Campaign Amy Gaulke, Public & Media Relations to help support new exhibits and programs, or the Annual Fund, which Manager is crucial in our ability to continue to bring science to the community Larry George, Exhibit Fabricator year after year, you are helping to raise future generations of thoughtful, Josh Giblin, Director of Guest Relations & science-literate citizens that we so desperately need. Operations Alexandra Jackson, Director of National Make your gift in person, online at www.sciencenter.org, or by calling Collaborations Christine Bissen, Director of Advancement, 607.272.0600 x 19. David Jordan, Exhibit Developer Michelle Kortenaar, Director of Education Kathleen Krafft, Traveling Exhibitions Curator SciencenterSpectrum This issue of Colin Meeks, Live Exhibits Manager sponsored by: Mike Napierski, Facilities Manager Digital and Offset Printing Services Seren Ozkan, Advancement Coordinator Julian Pompilio, Exhibit Fabricator Thank You, Corporate Members! Bryan Redd, Exhibit Technician Allison Sribarra, Grant Administrator Renewing Corporate Members: Lauren Van Derzee, Educator BorgWarner Morse Systems Sciarabba Walker & Co., LLP Hilton Garden Inn, Ithaca Therm, Inc. The Sciencenter is a Proud Member of: King Ferry Winery Tompkins Trust Company Lindsay Lustick Garner, Linz Real Estate For Sciencenter Corporate Membership information, call Christine Bissen at 607.272.0600 x 19, or visit www.sciencenter.org. • SciencenterSpectrum • Fall / Winter Hours Sciencenter Non-profit Org. 601 1st St. U.S. Postage PAID Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm Ithaca NY 14850-3507 Permit No. 810 Ithaca, NY Sunday: Noon – 5 pm 14850 Open Columbus Day & Veterans Day. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Admission Mini-Golf Members: Free Members: $5 Toddlers (0 – 2): Free Toddlers (0 – 3): Free Children (3 – 17): $6 Players: $7 Adults (18+): $8 April 1 – November 30, Seniors (65+): $7 weather permitting Connect with us: Save these Dates! Sciencenter Mini-Golf Dedication Community Celebration Day The Sciencenter invites the September 26, 10 am – 5 pm community to join us for a Free admission all day dedication ribbon cutting and the opening of our completed Tompkins Trust Company Sciencenter Mini-Golf course Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 26. October 12, 10 am – 5 pm Putt around the brand new, interactive science obstacles Spooky Science Sponsored by: at each hole when the course October 25, 12 – 4 pm opens at 1 pm.