Bay Area Science Festival
Saturday, October 29 through Sunday, November 6
The Tech Museum is thrilled to be part of first annual Bay Area Science Festival. We have created many special events and activities to celebrate science at The Tech Museum and throughout the Bay Area. There is something special every day of the festival.
Every day of the festival:
Saturday, October 29 Sunday, November 6
Islamic Science RediscoveredDesigned to unearth the scientific know-how of an Islamic Golden Age thats all too strange and unfamiliar to Western culture, this exhibition demystifies a grand civilization and introduces the vast influence of its discoveries and inventions on contemporary society. Islamic inventions are brought to life by interactive exhibits that recreate the ingenuity in many fields of Islamic scientific endeavor ranging from medicine to mathematics. Buy tickets now or learn more about this exhibit.
Location: The Tech Museum, Parkside Hall
Times: 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $18.99 Adult, $13.99 Child 317, $16.99 Students with ID/Seniors + 65
Hands-On Science WorkshopIngenious Inventions Travel back to the Golden Age of Islam to explore properties of light as you make a pinhole camera. Devise a way to move water using simple machines. Be dazzled by geometric tessellations. Discover how Hindu-Arabic numerals and zero transformed the world. Balance a mobile made of geometric shapes as you solve an algebraic equation at the same time. Learn more here.
Location: The Tech Museum, Hands-on Science Workshop on Lower Level
Times: 10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.; 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.; 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Friday Sunday only
Cost: Free with museum admission
Saturday, October 29
Super-Powered ScienceIf you were a superhero, what kinds of heroic feats would you perform? Would you climb, like Spiderman? Use heat vision, like Superman? Manipulate electricity, like Electro? Super-Powered Science is a high energy, humorous, and entertaining program that demystifies the science behind superhero powers.
Shows throughout the day, with super-powered activities between shows.
Location: Bay Area Science Festival Discovery Day at Cal State East Bay
Times: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Genetics with Stanford at The TechStanford's Genetics department leads hands-on activities every day of the festival. Try your hand at DNA spooling from animal cells and look at your own DNA from cheek cells under a microscope. Figure out what 1000 letters of your DNA look like. Solve a mystery by looking at DNA patterns using tools of forensic scientists.
Location: The Tech Museum on the upper level bridge
Weekends: 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
Sunday, October 30
Got Bots?The Tech Museum does! Join in all the robotic fun when we roll out the robot red carpet for the Bay Area Science Festival. Meet some of our favorite robots, from Buster to AIBO, and then design and build your own robot out of Robotix parts.
Location: The Tech Museum in the Lower Level
Times: 11:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
Genetics with Stanford at The TechStanford's Genetics department leads hands-on activities every day of the festival. Try your hand at DNA spooling from animal cells and look at your own DNA from cheek cells under a microscope. Figure out what 1000 letters of your DNA look like. Solve a mystery by looking at DNA patterns using tools of forensic scientists.
Location: The Tech Museum on the upper level bridge
Weekends: 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
Monday, October 31
Genetics with Stanford at The TechStanford's Genetics department leads hands-on activities every day of the festival. Try your hand at DNA spooling from animal cells and look at your own DNA from cheek cells under a microscope. Figure out what 1000 letters of your DNA look like. Solve a mystery by looking at DNA patterns using tools of forensic scientists.
Location: The Tech Museum on the upper level bridge
Weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
Spooky ScienceJoin us for ghoulish fun at The Tech Museum on Halloween! Discover the chemistry behind the creepy as you make slimy worms and ghost-like bubbles filled with fog. Find out what the hand print of a ghost looks like as you make your own disappearing prints and learn some seriously spooky science.
Location: The Tech Museum in the Lower Level
Times: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m
Cost: Free with admission
Mima la scienza!Science Pantomime with Live
Science Festival in Italy
School groups engage in an international science pantomime, with a live-link to the Genoa Science Festival in Italy. The students in Italy will pantomime science concepts to our students, and then our students will guess the concepts and vice versa as they connect across the world through technology and overcome the language barrier with the universal language of science.
Location: The Tech Museum, New Venture Hall
Times: 10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
Cost: Free for school groups
Tuesday, November 1
Got Bots?The Tech Museum does! Join in all the robotic fun when we roll out the robot red carpet at San Jose Public Libraries. Program a human "robot" to complete a book-related task, and then design and build your own robot out of Robotix parts.
Location: Alum Rock Library
Adress: 3090 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose, CA 95127
Times: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Michael Nielsen Reinventing Discovery:The New Era of Networked Science
Join Michael Nielsen for a lecture and book signing for his latest book, Reinventing Discovery. He'll reveal dramatic changes in science driven by powerful tools that are greatly accelerating scientific progress, and show how scientists are spontaneously collaborating online to tackle unsolved problems and make astonishing discoveries. Learn more about Michael Nielsen.
Location: The Tech Museum New Venture Hall
Times: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Cost: $10 /$5 for members
Buy tickets now.
Genetics with Stanford at The TechStanford's Genetics department leads hands-on activities every day of the festival. Try your hand at DNA spooling from animal cells and look at your own DNA from cheek cells under a microscope. Figure out what 1000 letters of your DNA look like. Solve a mystery by looking at DNA patterns using tools of forensic scientists.
Location: The Tech Museum on the upper level bridge
Weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
Wednesday, November 2
Got Bots?The Tech Museum does! Join in all the robotic fun when we roll out the robot red carpet at San Jose Public Libraries. Program a human "robot" to complete a book-related task, and then design and build your own robot out of Robotix parts.
Location: Cambrian Library
Address: 1780 Hillsdale Ave., San Jose, CA 95124
Times: 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
After HoursTechnology, entertainment and cocktails
At night for guests 21 and older
Cosmos Under the Cosmos
- Sip on a glow-in-the-dark Cosmo
- Enjoy the cosmic music stylings of our special guest "The Physics Chanteuse", Lynda Williams.
- Learn about cosmic dynamics through interactive Art + Astrophysics exhibits developed and led by UCSC OpenLab.
- Join us viewing the cosmos through telescopes on the roof.
- Journey through the universe in the Holt Digital Starlab.
- Explore the museum under moody lighting, and lounge in our Cosmic Cabaret
Times: 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Cost: $12 - $10 for members
Buy tickets now.
Genetics with Stanford at The TechStanford's Genetics department leads hands-on activities every day of the festival. Try your hand at DNA spooling from animal cells and look at your own DNA from cheek cells under a microscope. Figure out what 1000 letters of your DNA look like. Solve a mystery by looking at DNA patterns using tools of forensic scientists.
Location: The Tech Museum on the upper level bridge
Weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
Thursday, November 3
Got Bots?The Tech Museum does! Join in all the robotic fun when we roll out the robot red carpet at San Jose Public Libraries. Program a human "robot" to complete a book-related task, and then design and build your own robot out of Robotix parts.
Location: Santa Teresa Library
Address: 290 International Circle, San Jose, CA 95119
Times: 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
VORTEX2 Doppler On WheelsDr. Karen Kosiba, atmospheric scientist from Storm Chasers and IMAX film Tornado Alley appears at The Tech Museum, along with the VORTEX2 Doppler On Wheels. Climb inside the DOW parked in front of The Tech Museum. Learn from Dr. Kosiba how it operates in a storm and about the science and technology that go into tracking weather patterns that cause tornadoes.
Location: Outside main entrance to The Tech Museum
Times: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Tornado Alley with Dr. Karen KosibaDr. Karen Kosiba introduces the Tornado Alley shows throughout the day.
Location: Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater
Times: 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.
Available for school group bookings at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Cost: Free field trips for California Schools K-12 for museum galleries only. IMAX Tornado Alley film is $4 per person. Title 1 schools receive fee-waived IMAX entrance; certain restrictions
apply—book early.
Non-school groups: $8 for adults, student/child and seniors $6
Members: $4 for adults, student/child and seniors $3
Buy Tickets.
Genetics with Stanford at The TechStanford's Genetics department leads hands-on activities every day of the festival. Try your hand at DNA spooling from animal cells and look at your own DNA from cheek cells under a microscope. Figure out what 1000 letters of your DNA look like. Solve a mystery by looking at DNA patterns using tools of forensic scientists.
Location: The Tech Museum on the upper level bridge
Weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
Nature's Forces IMAX Film Festival We'll be showing 4 IMAX favorites, displaying the great power of nature! Experience what it's like when the ground shakes, mountains explode, and sky turns dark and violent. Go inside a tornado, and through the eye of a hurricane. Travel across creaking icefalls and gaping chasms, up towering cliffs, and into the danger zone of oxygen-thin altitude, as you take in the science and the awe-inspiring forces of nature.
Location: The Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater and Lobby
Cost: $8 for first movie. $5 for each additional movie.
Members: $4 for adults, student/child and seniors $3
Festival Schedule:
5:00 p.m. Forces of Nature Buy Tickets
6:00 p.m. Tornado Alley Buy Tickets
7:00 p.m. Hurricane on the Bayou Buy Tickets
8:00 p.m. Everest Buy Tickets
Friday, November 4
Got Bots?The Tech Museum does! Join in all the robotic fun when we roll out the robot red carpet at San Jose Public Libraries. Program a human "robot" to complete a book-related task, and then design and build your own robot out of Robotix parts.
Location: San Jose Public Libraries
Address: West Valley Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Rd., San Jose, CA 95117
Times: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Genetics with Stanford at The TechStanford's Genetics department leads hands-on activities every day of the festival. Try your hand at DNA spooling from animal cells and look at your own DNA from cheek cells under a microscope. Figure out what 1000 letters of your DNA look like. Solve a mystery by looking at DNA patterns using tools of forensic scientists.
Location: The Tech Museum on the upper level bridge
Weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
Meet a Real NASA Astronaut!After-School Group Event
with NASA Astronaut McArthur
For School Groups only
Astronaut Megan McArthur introduces Hubble IMAX film for after-school groups. Q&A, after the film.
Location:Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater
Times: 3:00 p.m 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free field trips for California Schools K-12 for museum galleries only. IMAX "Hubble" film is $4 per person. Title 1 schools receive fee-waived IMAX entrance; certain restrictions
apply—book early. Call 1 (408) 294-8324 for tickets.
Special Evening with an Astronaut
Dinner and a Private Screening of 'Hubble' followed by Q&A on the roof.
Meet Astronaut Megan McArthur who flew on Space Shuttle Atlantis and was part of the last Hubble mission. Megan McArthur will share her experiences as you enjoy dinner followed by a special introduction and private screening of our IMAX movie Hubble.
Afterwards, join our Astronaut on the rooftop terrace under the stars (weather permitting) for space-themed treats, Q & A, and photo op. Buy Tickets.
Location: The Tech Museum, New Venture Hall.
The Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater.
The Tech Rooftop Terrace.
Times: 6:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m.
Cost:
$39.99 Adult & $19.99 Child
Cost for Members:
$29.99 Adult & $14.99 Child
Saturday, November 5
Teacher Open House with an AstronautJoin us for an extraordinary morning with NASA Astronaut Megan McArthur! Astronaut McArthur will introduce a screening of the IMAX movie Hubble, followed by a Q&A session detailing her experiences with Hubble. Learn more about the space-related activities available for you in the museum, and in your classroom from NASA.
Teachers only!
Location: The Tech Museum, New Venture Hall.
Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater.
The Tech Exploration Gallery.
Times: 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Cost: Free. Space is limited. You must reserve a ticket.
Call (408) 294-8324 to reserve your ticket.
Valid Teacher membership/teaching credentials required at check-in.
Genetics with Stanford at The TechStanford's Genetics department leads hands-on activities every day of the festival. Try your hand at DNA spooling from animal cells and look at your own DNA from cheek cells under a microscope. Figure out what 1000 letters of your DNA look like. Solve a mystery by looking at DNA patterns using tools of forensic scientists.
Location: The Tech Museum on the upper level bridge
Weekends: 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
Sunday, November 6
Super-Powered ScienceIf you were a superhero, what kinds of heroic feats would you perform? Would you climb, like Spiderman? Use heat vision, like Superman? Manipulate electricity, like Electro? Super-Powered Science is a high energy, humorous, and entertaining program that demystifies the science behind superhero powers.
Shows throughout the day, with super-powered activities between shows.
Location: Bay Area Science Festival Discovery Day at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco
Times: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Genetics with Stanford at The TechStanford's Genetics department leads hands-on activities every day of the festival. Try your hand at DNA spooling from animal cells and look at your own DNA from cheek cells under a microscope. Figure out what 1000 letters of your DNA look like. Solve a mystery by looking at DNA patterns using tools of forensic scientists.
Location: The Tech Museum on the upper level bridge
Weekends: 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission
