Science doesn’t stop in Maine: MSF partners help us keep the focus on science year-round. Check out these public science events, see what’s happening near you, and remember that #scienceiseverywhere!
————————————————————————————————————————
August 13, 9:00am – 4:00pm: Computer Science Day Open to the public, for all ages. Attendees can join presentations, hear from panelists from multiple industries, and visit booths with hands-on learning opportunities Topics include: What is Computer Science? What is it not? Where do we see it both in Maine and in our everyday lives? What is the skill set our students need to be successful in an evolving workforce that is coming to rely more and more on Computer Science? How can we foster more partnerships, collaboration, and access to resources between educators, non-profits and businesses? What resources exist to help educators integrate computer science into their teaching and learning practice? Register at http://bit.ly/csdaymaineregistration2018
Maine State House (Hall of Flags), Maine State Library (Atrium), and Various Committee Rooms in the Maine State House, Augusta
————————————————————————————————————————
August 7, 7:00pm: Primary Source Speaker Series: Personal Genetics of Addiction. Talk by Vivek Kumar, Assistant Professor, and Elissa Chesler, Associate Professor, The Jackson Laboratory. All ages.
August 14, 7:00pm: Primary Source Speaker Series: Analysis of Human Genomics on a Massive Scale. Talk by Steve Munger, Assistant Professor, The Jackson Laboratory. All ages.
Jesup Memorial Library, 34 Mt. Desert Street, Bar Harbor
————————————————————————————————————————
August 6, 7:00pm: The Drunken Monkey: Is Alcoholism in modern humans an evolutionary hangover? A talk by Dr. Robert Dudley, Professor and Chair, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley. Recent paleogenetic reconstruction of enzymes involved in ethanol metabolism suggests sustained exposure of hominids (including members of the genus Homo) over the last 12 million years to dietary ethanol. Patterns of alcohol use by modern humans may thus reflect ancestral sensory biases associating ethanol consumption with nutritional reward (i.e., the “drunken monkey” hypothesis).
Moore Auditorium, Schoodic Institute, Winter Harbor
August 9, 6:00 – 8:00pm: Author Talk / Book Signing / Reception with Jonathan White “Tides The Science and Spirit of the Ocean”. “Tides” is the result of White’s twenty-year quest to better understand both the science behind tides and how they impact man-kind.“Tides” combines adventure travel and scientific inquiry and looks into the mysterious paradox that keeps our planet’s waters in constant motion. The talk and book signing is at 7pm; reception is at 6pm.
Jesup Memorial Library, 34 Mt. Desert Street, Bar Harbor
————————————————————————————————————————————
August 7, 5:00 – 6:30pm: Café Sci: Are We Alone? What Microbes Can Tell Us About Possible Life on Other Planets. The field of astrobiology includes the search for life elsewhere in our universe. To learn how to look for life on other planets, we must first examine the limits of life as we know it here on Earth. Join Dr. Jackie Goordial to learn about the microorganisms that inhabit some of the most extreme environments on Earth, and how these environments may be similar to other planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond. This event is free, but seating is limited. Please register here.
August 14, 5:00 – 6:30pm: Café Sci: Guardians of the Reef: Identifying the Species that Promote Coral Reef Recovery. Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on the planet. They are also one of the most threatened. Disturbances to these ecosystems are increasing in frequency and intensity, making the process of recovery ever more important. Join Dr. Douglas Rasher, an ecologist and conservation biologist, to discover which species are essential to reef recovery, and how humans can promote the process of recovery. This event is free, but seating is limited. Please register here.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, 60 Bigelow Drive, East Boothbay
————————————————————————————————————————
August 7, 11:00 – 11:30am: It IS Rocket Science! Calling all space and aeronautical engineers: build little rockets out of surprising materials, then defy Newton’s laws as you launch them into orbit…or at least the ceiling. Recommended ages 5+. $1 materials fee with museum admission.
Thursdays Seaside Science Calling all budding marine scientists: On Thursday afternoons this summer join our friends from Maine EPSCoR for fun hands-on science time. We’ll explore things that happen in and on the water using various aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math! Recommended for ages 4+; free with regular museum admission.
Admission: FREE for members! $7.50 general admission
Maine Discovery Museum, 74 Main Street, Bangor
————————————————————————————————————————————
Summer Matinee Planetarium Shows – Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in August. Join us for summer programming at the planetarium! We will be showcasing our library of shows during matinee performances on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 2:00 pm. For show titles see https://astro.umaine.edu/publicevents/
Regular public programs are available on Friday evenings at 7pm (Mars 1001) – general audience; and Sunday afternoons at 2pm (In My Backyard) – 3-7 years old, families with young children.
Tickets for planetarium programs are $6 for Adults, $5 for UMaine Students/Veterans/Senior Citizens, and $4 for children under 12.
Emera Astronomy Center, 167 Rangeley Road, University of Maine
————————————————————————————————————————————
August 6 – 10, 8:00am – 4:00pm: Astronaut Academy. 5-Day program gives campers the opportunity to explore many aspects of astronaut training. For kids entering grades 6-8. $420.
August 20 – 22, 8:00am – 12:30pm: Lift off! Get ready for a new school year with fun science and engineering challenges and projects! For kids entering grades K-2. $120.
Challenger Learning Center of Maine, 30 Venture Way, Bangor