It can be difficult for some schools to provide opportunities to get their students to the Museum. And it’s a goal of the Museum to involve our entire community (and beyond) in the amazing adventure of science. So through our Science Stars program, we are making an effort to go out into the community to reach those students who are not able to visit us. Between now and the opening of our new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, we will work with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to select nine schools per year and connect that school with a “Science Star” who will give a special presentation about their field of science and what inspired them to pursue that career. Each school, along with children’s families, will then be invited to a free event at the Museum where they will receive a free 1-year family membership to the Museum – so they can come back again!

In December the program continued with a visit to Comstock Elementary School with Science Star Lindsay Bartholomew. With a background in physics and astronomy, and currently the Science Curator for the Miami Science Museum, Lindsay shared stories about what inspired her to pursue a career in science (those first glimpses at the Moon through a telescope, hearing from her Grandpa at 5 years old that the Sun was 93 MILLION miles away), and shared other stories about some unique experiences that continue to inspire her (like going on an expedition to Antarctica to learn about climate change). During the presentation, students were taken on a trek into Antarctica (did you know that baby penguins go to “penguin kindergarten” when they’re old enough for their parents to go get dinner, but not quite old enough to be left alone?), and then on a journey through the solar system (did you know that Saturn would float if you could find a bathtub big enough?). Then Lindsay led the students in a Jeopardy-like trivia game, and made a scientific discovery – Comstock Elementary has lots of potential future scientists!

Do you know the question for this trivia answer in the “Planet Puzzle” category? The students did!

As announced at the groundbreaking for our new building back in March, the Miami Science Museum is implementing a new program called Science Stars, intended to reach out to communities who may not have had a chance to visit us in the past, to make sure that we connect with them and make them part of our future. Between now and the opening of the new Museum, the Museum will work with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to select nine schools each year, focusing on underserved elementary schools. The goal of the program is to get the children excited about science in general and the new Museum in particular, and to invite them and their families to visit the current Museum and be able to take advantage of all the valuable and fun learning opportunities we have to offer. Each school gets a special visit from a ‘Science Star’ – a scientist, professor or graduate student recruited by the Museum to give a special presentation about their field of science, what their job involves, and why it’s so exciting. Then, the entire school, including all the children’s families, is invited to the Miami Science Museum for a free night of food, fun, and festivities. Each family attending the free night also receives a free one-year family membership to the Miami Science Museum, to make sure they can come back and visit again as often as they want.

Our first school was a complete success!  On October 4^th, we visited Robert B. Ingram Elementary School with our special Science Star, University of Miami Physics professor Kevin Huffenberger, and four of his graduate students. Dr. Huffenberger gave a presentation to the entire assembled school, including Principal Dr. Susan McEachin, leading students on a journey through the cosmos, from the familiar stars we can all see at night to the furthest reaches of the galaxy and beyond. Then our museum staff showcased the exciting plans for the new Miami Science Museum.

This past Thursday, October 18^th, the Museum was pleased to host Robert B. Ingram Elementary School for their Science Stars night at the museum. Over 450 students, family members, faculty, and staff joined us for an incredible night of discovery and play.  Our guests were treated to a delicious meal provided by Pollo Tropical. While at the Museum, they experienced special showings of our Legends of the Night Sky planetarium show, Aha! Science theater show, and Magic Planet Solar System Tour.  They also got to show off their moves on our Energy Dance Floor, fly high on the Human Yo-yo, get up close and personal with the birds and reptiles in our Wildlife Center, and touch a starfish in our SeaLab.  As the pictures show, the night was a great success with everyone enjoying themselves.  We look forward to hosting Shadowlawn Elementary next month!