| Discovery experiences abound for kids and families at PSC |
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Tweet me!| Written by Deborah Stone | |||
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Pacific Science Center is buzzing with activity this spring with new exhibits, IMAX® films, festivals, lectures and more. It’s the 50th anniversary for the museum and to mark this notable milestone, the center is bringing the blockbuster exhibition, “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” to Seattle. This will be the last time the celebrated exhibit will be on display in North America. Featuring more than 100 objects from King Tut’s tomb and ancient sites representing some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, the exhibition contains twice the number of artifacts than the original Tut exhibit that toured in the 1970s. Visitors will come face-to-face with the largest image of King Tut ever unearthed — a 10-foot statue of the pharaoh discovered at the remains of the funerary temple of two of his high officials. Other highlights include authentic objects from King Tut’s tomb including jewelry, furniture and ceremonial items, as well as the boy king’s golden sandals, which were created specifically for the afterlife and seen covering his feet when his tomb was found by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. To further enhance the King Tut experience, two special IMAX® films will be shown during the run of the exhibition. “Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs” follows researchers and explorers as they piece together the archaeological and genetic clues of Egyptian mummies. “Mysteries of Egypt,” a National Geographic production, explores the architectural feats and fascinating history of ancient Egyptian civilization. Now open in the Portal to Current Research space is the new exhibit, “Investigating Arctic Ice Melt,” featuring UW’s Polar Science Center researchers Axel Schweiger, Bonnie Light and Ignatius Rigor. On display is an interactive sea ice table where visitors can affect ice flow through changing wind direction and build different variations of a seascape, while testing their reflectivity via a sensor activity. There’s also a multi-touch table that shows different ice extent maps, along with videos and artifacts from the scientists’ research on the ice. In June, the first ever Seattle Science Festival, spearheaded by PSC, will be held at numerous venues citywide. It’s an event geared toward raising awareness in our community about the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to the community’s culture and its prosperity. Participating research labs, libraries, museums, companies and organizations will offer programs designed to introduce the public to the innovative endeavors taking place. Included will be a Science Expo Day, featuring over 150 exhibitors offering engaging activities and hands-on experiences in the fields of science, technology and engineering. There will also be a Science Luminaries series consisting of several evening events incorporating science, music, dance and other forms of art together, featuring top names in multi-media and multi-disciplinary programs. Other activities on tap for the center include the opening of the visually stunning new IMAX® film, “To the Arctic 3D,” a tale of survival involving the lives of a mother polar bear and her two cubs as they navigate the changing Arctic wilderness they call home; a lecture series on architecture and design of the World’s Fair; and the 4th annual Family Astronomy Weekend. At the end of the year, the museum will open “Professor Wellbody’s Academy of Health & Wellness,” a new interactive exhibit, sponsored by Bartell Drugs, which emphasizing health as a life-long process that balances the crucial components of exercise, nutrition, proper rest and hygiene. Spring is also a time when PSC offers its popular “Camp-in” experiences — after-hours events for families, students and youth groups. Then in summer, the center goes into full gear with its wide array of interactive science-themed day camps at different locations in the region. For more information on current and upcoming activities and programs at Pacific Science Center, visit www.pacificsciencecenter.org.
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