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October 3, 2018miSci to Host Annual Science Festival of the Capital Region, October 2-8, 2018
Visitors from across the Capital Region and beyond will be immersed in interactive science at the annual Science Festival of the Capital Region. Featuring wall-to-wall, hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) activities from astronomy to robotics to chemistry, biology, mechanics, and more, the Festival boasts over 35 community partners presenting four full days of STEAM EXPO, live stage shows and science demos. Based at miSci, the museum of innovation and science, and the region’s premier science center, the Festival takes place on the miSci campus and several satellite locations from Tuesday, October 2 through Monday, October 8, 2018.
The Festival begins on Tuesday night with a “Science on Tap” presented by CapSci at Slidin’ Dirty in Schenectady, “Godzilla on Tap” by It Came From Schenectady at Proctors on Wednesday night, and a Star Party and Astronomy EXPO in the Dudley Observatory at miSci on Thursday evening. On Friday, the hands-on STEAM EXPO commences and the entire weekend – Friday through Columbus Day (Monday) – will feature live performances of “Bubble Trouble” by the comedic bubble-magician Jeff Boyer, the puppetry art spectacle “City That Drinks the Mountain Sky” by Arm of the Sea Theater, plus live reptile and animal shows by Uncharted Wild and Robinson Wildlife, and tours of historic Vale Park.
Throughout Science Festival weekend, more than 35 community partners will be presenting demos and hands-on activities in miSci’s galleries and Festival tent. The Suits-Bueche Planetarium at miSci will present multiple shows each day, and the Challenger Learning Center at miSci will run daily tours. For a full schedule of daily partner activities, events and stage shows, visit: www.miSci.org/events/science-festival.
“miSci’s annual Science Festival provides our Capitol Region community a glimpse of the innovative research going on right here in our backyard,” says miSci President Dr. Gina Gould. “We are not only featuring the cutting-edge science happening in our region, but this year, we are also spotlighting climate change – the science on what causes it, and how we can mitigate it. This is a global problem that we must all own and participate in reducing our carbon footprint. We hope when people – of any age – leave our festival, they understand how exciting science is, how the act of discovery is intoxicating, and why the pursuit of science is so important.”
Science Festival of the Capital Region Events
On Tuesday night (10/2), CapSci will present a “Science on Tap” event about “climate sensitivity in an uncertain world.” Dr. Brian Rose from UAlbany’s Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences will give an accessible introduction to the subject of climate sensitivity and outline important perspective on questions related to projecting the factors and severity of future environmental changes. The event will be at Slidin’ Dirty on State Street in Schenectady from 7 to 9 PM and is free and open to the public. On Wednesday night (10/3), It Came From Schenectady at Proctors will host “Godzilla on Tap” – a night of Godzilla, Beer and Stomping Out Environmental Threats! The movie night will feature a film screening, libations, and interaction among scientists and the public. The event will take place in the GE Theatre at Proctors at 7 PM, and costs $9 for General Admission and $6 for Students and Seniors.
Thursday evening (10/4) features an evening Star Party and Astronomy EXPO, hosted by the Dudley Observatory at miSci. Activities will include night sky observation and hands-on astronomy activities. The event occurs from 5 to 8 PM and is included with miSci General Admission
Friday through Monday, miSci’s galleries and Festival tent will be filled with partner organizations presenting hands-on STEAM activities, interactive demos, and workshops, and the stage in the Festival Tent will come alive with dynamic stage shows by Arm of the Sea Theater, Jeff Boyer, Robinson Wildcare and Uncharted Wild.
Arm of the Sea Theater has a mission to create theater that inspires wonder, provokes thought, gives joy and enriches the public imagination. An experimental hybrid performance group, Arm of the Sea combines art, ecology and social action to create a theater of visual poetry that illuminates the links between human communities and the life-support processes of the planet. They will present their production of “City That Drinks the Mountain Sky,” about New York City’s ingenious system of aqueducts and reservoirs which provide clear mountain water from the Catskills to nine million downstate residents on Monday (10/8, Columbus Day) at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM.
Jeff Boyer is an internationally-acclaimed pioneer of highly interactive, community-based bubble performance. A variety artist with more than 25 years of entertainment experience, Mr. Boyer specializes in inclusion and diversity performance, seamlessly engaging audiences beyond language, cultural, age, and ability barriers. His unique inclusiveness and interactive art separates “Bubble Trouble” from other bubble shows, thrills audiences and builds lasting community among performing arts center’s patrons. Jeff Boyer’s “Bubble Trouble” will take the Festival stage on Saturday (10/6) at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM and on Sunday (10/7) at 12:30 PM.
Uncharted Wild will present a live reptile show, featuring exotic lizards, turtles and more at 12:30 PM on Monday (10/8), and Robinson Wildcare will present live bird-of-prey demonstrations on Saturday (10/13) at 12 PM and 3 PM.
CapSci will also present a science café on “De-MYTH-ifying Climate Change” on Saturday afternoon (10/6) at 2:30 PM at Ambition on Jay Street. This event will elucidate the most common misconceptions about climate change based on the latest science on the subject. The event is free and open to the public.
Science Festival of the Capital Region General Information
The Science Festival of the Capital Region is sponsored by: Pioneer Bank, Key Bank; Regeneron; Brookfield Renewable; CHA; Schenectady County; National Grid; Nigro Companies; Price Chopper/Market32; Green Mountain Energy; BMPC – Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation; New York Independent System Operator; SIM Albany; and STS Steel. The Science Festival of the Capital Region at miSci is a member of the Science Festival Alliance.
General Admission to miSci includes access to all onsite Science Festival activities and stage shows, and is $12 for Adults (13+), $10.00 for Seniors (65+) and $8.00 for Children (age 3-12). Planetarium tickets are $6 per show. Admission tickets to the Science Festival are also available through Price Chopper’s Tickets to Go! at any open register at all Price Chopper stores. miSci is located at 15 Nott Terrace Heights in Schenectady, and parking will be available in both the miSci main and upper lots. The Science Festival of the Capital Region will occur during regular miSci hours.
