space odyssey
04.25.14 volunteer update
Click below for quick access to:
Space Odyssey News
Trainings and Meetings
Storytelling with Uniview
Space Science Lectures & Events
Museum News and Lectures
Volunteer Enrichment Committee (VEC) Events
space odyssey news
FREE DAY APRIL 26
If anyone's game to come help out, please c'mon down! Thanks much in advance. Parking will be at a premium, so if you can avoid driving, I'd recommend it. Sounds like we'll have some special bilingual programming in SO (AOS, SOS), please check in with the floor staff to find out more. Here's some details about the day: April 26 Free Day Info
MAY 15th SCIENCE LOUNGE HELP NEEDED
These events are a blast! The next one is about archeoastronomy and takes place on May 15. Here's more info about the event and where we need your help:
Stargazers
Thursday, May 15, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Is it written in the stars? See how celestial movements influenced architecture at Stonehenge, the Pyramids of Giza and sites like Chaco Canyon. Check out the stars in your Zodiac sign and get inspired to explore the sky above.
Briefing/dinner will be at 5:30 pm in Upper Trex.
We need help in SO with:
Orbits Table
Sundial cart
Seasons cart
SOS
Telescope volunteers: They'd like us to have telescopes and sun spotters at the Nature Plaza and Sky Terrace
Please let me know if you'd like to help out! Thanks!
SOS KIOSK EVALUATION IN PROGRESS
Thanks for everyone's help with this! This is the last weekend for the evaluation. This Saturday from 10-2 we will need to facilitate the SOS using the "Kiosk Playlist.".
Sunday teams, facilitating the SOS is optional during the times listed below just don't use the Kiosk playlist or interact with anyone at the kiosk during the times listed. Thanks for your help!
Here's the evaluation schedule:
April 26 10-2: Facilitate the SOS using the Kiosk Playlist
April 27 10-2: Facilitation of SOS is optional and you can use any dataset or playlist except Kiosk playlist
Expect Research Assistants from our Audience Insights department to be on the floor near the kiosk at the times listed above. If you all have any questions, please let me know. Thanks!
NEW SPACE TODAY SHOW AND THE SUNDIAL
We have a new Space Today show for you! This new show is about archaeoastronomy and more specifically the astronomy of the Maya. We will be running this Space Today show through the end of the Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed exhibition, August 24th.
If you have not yet done a Space Today show and want to learn how, please let me know or ask the floor staff to be trained.
The show is currently loaded onto the Galaxy Stage laptop and the printed script is in the desk.
Also, images of the Sundial station were used to create some graphics for the show. So if you're able, please facilitate the Sundial after the show. Please check-in with the staff on your shift about this if you have any questions or if you're unable to facilitate the Sundial. If you have additional questions, please let me know. Thanks!
SOS SURVEY: PLEASE GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK
This survey is to find out what playlists/datasets you use on the SOS; which of those you'd like more training on and to get general comments from you about your SOS experience:
Click here to take the SOS Facilitation Survey
FALCON 9 REUSABLE BOOSTER TEST
Thanks to Jim Nelson for passing this along.
And here's an animation showing how the whole system would work:
EARTH GLOBE SCREENS
The movies have been fixed and are far calmer now. ;) The two screens on this display seem to be dying, so we're going to replace them.
THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER: WILL IT DESTROY THE EARTH???
In a word: No. While visiting the family back east I had a conversation with someone who had some wild misconceptions about the LHC. I found this page from CERN very helpful and thought I'd pass it along:
Articles/1039815?ln=en
FUEL CELL FACTOIDS
Interesting facts about fuel cells, thanks to Andy Andersen for the insipration:
Fuel Cell Facts
Fuel Cell Cars On the Way in 2015
More News about Fuel Cell Cars
CRATERING MACHINE STILL OFFLINE
The air valve on the machine responsible for firing the balls has broken. The new one is ordered but these are custom-made items so it may be a few weeks before it's working again.
NASA TV OFFLINE TILL APRILish
From about mid-February to mid-April, we'll have to use the laptops to stream NASA TV on any of the screens in the exhibit because the satellite dish on the roof has to be relocated for some work. Note that it's best to use "UStream" from the NASA TV site as it gives you the best picture quality.
SCFD COMMUNITY FREE DAYS
As part of the Museum's agreement to receive funds from SCFD, which account for a significant portion of the Museum's operating budget, the Museum offers "community free days" throughout the year to allow those who can't afford admission the privilege to visit DMNS. Below are the dates for the 2014 free days.
The Museum is offering 12 Community Free Days in 2014, made possible by the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District. For more information, click here.
- Saturday, April 26 (Día de los Niños)
- Monday, June 2
- Monday, June 30
- Sunday, July 20
- Monday, September 8
- Sunday, September 28
- Monday, October 27
- Monday, December 1
trainings and meetings
SCHOOL GROUPS AND YOU: WHAT'S NEW THIS YEAR
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 2:30-4:30pm
Ricketson Auditorium
RSVP to by Monday, April 28
Cookies provided
This information session is for all volunteers and will culminate in a tour and sampling of the brand new programs being offered to visiting school groups, plus free cookies of course. As volunteers you've seen busloads of students visit the Museum on any given day, but you may not be aware of the processes by which they get here - and what their experiences are like once they arrive. Would you like to learn how you can help students have incredible, valuable visits? Join us to explore the amazing new programs that have been created and see the innovative studios we will use to help educate students about science and the natural world.
- Learn about the reservation process.
- Understand our array of field trip offerings.
- Participate in a school programs tradeshow.
- See our fantastic Exploration Studios in the new Morgridge Family Exploration Center.
- Gain a better understanding of the critical role you play in ensuring that school groups have a positive Museum experience.
DMNS WEATHER CENTRAL TRAINING
Monday May 12th
5:30 PM to 8 PM
Space Odyssey
Food and drink provided
RSVP to Dave Blumenstock by 5/11
Come learn DMNS Weather Central! This fun interactive show illustrates how thunderstorms form using a tornado box, a Van der Graaf generator plus other props and demonstrations. This show is only for those comfortable speaking and performing in front of large audiences and you must be computer savvy and confident in your script memorization abilities. If you haven't seen the show ask Dave C., Samantha or Dave B. to arrange a time for you to see it before signing up for this training.
Let Dave B. know if you have further questions or want to sign up.
storytelling with uniview
by Dr. Ka Chun Yu, PhD Curator of Space Science DMNS
Click the links below to read Ka Chun's latest helpful articles on storytelling with Uniview. These columns are very interesting and helpful for teaching complex topics at the Orbits Table.
Here's column #9:
Terrestrial Atmposheres
NOTE: If you're having issues viewing this column in Firefox, try using Safari or Explorer as those seem to show the column in the best quality. I'm not sure about Chrome.
space science lectures & events
RESERVATION INFO
Volunteers may attend some lectures for free on a space available basis. You must contact Adult Programs at 303.370.6303 or email to find out if an event or lecture qualifies for free admission and to add your name to the list to attend.
For other programs, like Science Lounge, volunteers may have to pay the member price to attend, please call Reservations, 303.370.6000 to reserve your seat or for more information.
60 Minutes in Space
Wednesday, April 30
7 PM
Gates Planetarium
FREE
Go "behind the stories" in space science using the best images and animation available to help understand new developments. Seating is limited to first come, first served.
The next 60 Minutes in Space will be on Wednesday, May 28.
STARGAZERS SCIENCE LOUNGE
Thursday, May 15, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Ages 21+
$10 member, $12 nonmember
Is it written in the stars? See how celestial movements influenced architecture at Stonehenge, the Pyramids of Giza and sites like Chaco Canyon. Check out the stars in your Zodiac sign and get inspired to explore the sky above.
THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE
Ricketson Auditorium
Tuesday, May 20, 7 p.m.
$8 member, $10 nonmember
Hear the story of how the universe began with the big bang. John Mather was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006 for his pioneering work with NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer satellite, which measured the spectrum of the heat radiation from the big bang and hunted for the first objects that formed after this great explosion. Mather is also one of the scientists leading plans for the James Webb Space Telescope, successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. Mather will discuss how the Cosmic Background Explorer satellite observations helped cement the big bang theory and how the James Webb Space Telescope will look even farther back in time to reveal details of the first stars and galaxies.
museum news
Click here for Evening Lectures
Click here for Museum IMAX information
Click here for Museum Planetarium Information
Click here to learn about the new Discovery Zone opening June 2014
RESERVATION INFO
Volunteers may attend some lectures for free on a space available basis. You must contact Adult Programs at 303.370.6303 or email to find out if an event or lecture qualifies for free admission and to add your name to the list to attend.
For other programs, like Science Lounge, volunteers may have to pay the member price to attend, please call Reservations, 303.370.6000 to reserve your seat or for more information.
volunteer enrichment committee
Click here for more information about VEC events:
Or see the bulletin board in the Volunteer Lounge for more info.