This year’s Science Festival of the Capital Region is taking over every inch of indoor space at Schenectady’s miSci and some outdoor space, too, as a big white tent will be set up next to the building.
From today through Sunday, 50 exhibitors will be presenting demonstrations, workshops and interactive activities.
Space flight simulation, virtual reality, drone technology, 3-D printing and medicine are just a few of the subjects that visitors can explore.
Live stage shows include the San Franciso’s Exploratorium’s “Tubular” and Jeff Boyer’s “Bubble Trouble.”
Science Festival of the Capital Region
WHERE: miSci, 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady
WHEN: Today through Sunday. Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday; and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Also extended hours: 6 to 8 p.m. today for a Teen Science Cafe; 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday for a miScience Cafe (age 21-plus) and 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday for a Dudley Observatory Star Party.
HOW MUCH: Regular admission includes all festival activities: $10.50 for adults, $9 for seniors, $7.50 for children ages 3-12. Planetarium tickets are $5 per show, and Challenger Adventure tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for children. Sunday is a “GE Kids in Free” day for children age 12 and under.
FREE PARKING: At museum and at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church on Nott Terrace.
MORE INFO: Festival schedule is posted at www.misci.org or phone 382-7890.
This is the fourth time that the Museum of Science and Innovation is presenting the Science Festival, a family-friendly event for all ages that focuses on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) opportunities in the Capital Region.
“Every year, it’s just gotten bigger and more and more people know about it,” says museum president Dr. Mac Sidduth.
“We always do it the weekend that’s closest to Veterans Day. It’s one day when school is out. It’s also the end of the time that you can really be outside.”
COMPANIES INVOLVED
General Electric, Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory and Time Warner are just a few of the companies setting up booths.
“We’re always excited when we can get STEM companies involved. Knolls Atomic Power always comes up with really inventive things,” says Sidduth.
“Catseye [the exterminator company] brings a booth and has hissing cockroaches. And they have the big Catseye mascot that they can have their picture taken with.”
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company in Rensselaer, is participating for the first time this year, with a booth called “Making Medicine.”
Area youth groups will be showing their own science-related activities.
“And then we have wildlife rehabilitation people coming to show off owls and hawks and birds of prey.”
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, local authors of youth science books will be doing readings and signings and tonight, high school students are invited to a Teen Science Café and a talk on solar energy.
For young adults over age 21, miSci is introducing a new museum event, the miScience Cafe, on Friday night.
“That’s going to be a night of science, and this one is the science of brewing with George de Piro from Druthers,” says Tara Burnham, vice president of marketing and communications.
For the over 65 audience, there will be a Senior Science Day event, “We Love Pluto,” at 3 p.m. today.
Food trucks on site
Another new addition is food trucks, which will be parked outside the museum.
We’ve never had a lot of food before,” says Sidduth. Visitors “want to be here all day” and “we want to make sure there’s something for them to eat.”
The planetarium will be doing shows every hour and an astronomy party is planned on Saturday night.
During the day, astronomers will be doing solar observations using special glasses and filters.
“There’s lots of hands-on things to do. There’s something for everybody,” Sidduth says.
Reach Gazette reporter Karen Bjornland at 395-3197, [email protected] or on Twitter @bjorngazette.
GAZETTE COVERAGE
Ensure access to everything we do, today and every day, check out our subscribe page at DailyGazette.com/SubscribeMore from The Daily Gazette:
For saving Damar Hamlin's life, Buffalo Bills staff among athletic trainers honored at state Capitol...
Saratoga Springs schools, police investigating incident on West Circular St. Tuesday
'Indians' no more: Schoharie Central School District to soon name mascot successor
Ecobelli siblings bring grandmother's story to screen in 'Laurina'
Albany Film Festival returns to New York State Writers Institute at UAlbany
Categories: Life and Arts, News
