The Value Of Membership

For a limited time, purchase or renew your Pacific Science Center membership on-site at any ticket booth and receive one free ticket to Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures Of Ethiopia the same day for every member on your membership (limited to six named household members). Our members receive many great benefits including free IMAX passes, which can be used to see Mystery of the Nile, a thrilling IMAX adventure chronicling a 114-day trip down the Nile River. If you don't have time to see the exhibit the day you purchase your membership, come back any Thursday evening when all of our members see it free! For more information on this special offer, call the Membership Office at (206)443-2924.

Special Holiday Planetarium Shows

The Star of Bethlehem is an important Christmastime image for the Christian faith. Come experience a planetarium show that will explore the astronomical possibilities for the Star of Bethlehem. It’s a special program ideal for church youth groups, families and adult audiences. This interactive show brings science, history, and religion together in one unforgettable evening! →Learn More

Exploring Ethiopia

In March of 2009, Pacific Science Center's Destination Discovery travel program is offering an incredible trip to Ethiopia. This will make a fabulous follow-up to our →Lucy's Legacy exhibit. To give you an idea of the discovery to be made on this trip, one of our travel partners recently took an advance trip to scout the itinerary. What she found is nothing short of awe-inspiring: "My recent visit to Ethiopia profoundly impacted me in a way that rarely occurs to well-seasoned travelers. After two weeks there, I must confess... I am hooked and already want to return." You can →download the report here (361 KB PDF), then visit →our site for more information on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Space is still available, but limited, so sign up soon to ensure your space!

'The Thrill Of Seeing Lucy'

Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures Of Ethiopia is more than a simple display of the world's most famous fossil. It's also a collection of priceless artifacts that detail the incredibly rich cultural historical significance of the African nation. For more on that aspect of the exhibit, we encourage you to watch →this video produced by Penny LeGate of KIRO TV. Then come see it for yourself!

Nominate A Science Champion

Washington State LASER, with support from The Boeing Company, is announcing the third annual Science Champions: Science Education Advocate Awards. The awards will be presented to five individuals, organizations, and/or project teams who have exhibited outstanding advocacy for science education in the state of Washington by promoting the importance of science education among the general public and/or the education system. This includes, but is not limited to, engaging new and more diverse participants and investors in science education, influencing others to act in support of science education, enabling science education reform to proceed and/or increasing the visibility for the importance of a scientifically literate society. →Learn More

Slough News: Snowshoe Expeditions

Are you looking for a day of adventure over the winter break? Join our naturalists for a snowshoe day trip to Snoqualmie Pass! We have sessions for students only, and for families. But make your plans now before these fun and enlightening sessions sell out. →Learn More

Spreading The Word
We want to thank BellevueReporter.com for helping us get the word out about the Mercer Slough. When you visit →the site to get all the local news and happenings in the community, you'll see an image of the new Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center. Click and you're redirected to the Mercer Slough site. The Slough is in the heart of Bellevue and we're grateful to the Bellevue Reporter for helping us spread the message to Eastside communities.

Slough News: The Cool School Challenge

There is a great new program aimed at getting young students involved in one of the most important issues of our time: climate change. The program is called The Cool School Challenge and engages students, teachers and school districts in a school-wide initiative to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2,000 pounds per classroom, per school year. To help teachers of grades 7-12 from Bellevue, Lake Washington, Renton, Issaquah, Northshore, Riverview and Snoqualmie Valley School Districts learn more about this program, they are invited to participate in a 3-hour workshop being held at the →Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center Thursday, Dec. 4. Learn more about this terrific program and get involved with →The Cool School Challenge!

Everyone Loves Lucy On Facebook

For all of you out there submerged in the world of Facebook, check out our new Lucy group. To find the group, click →this link or click the Groups application in Facebook and then search for "I Love Lucy's Legacy." The group has photos, videos, links to other Lucy sites, upcoming events, contests and much more! Non-Facebook users, sign up today and become friends with the world's most famous fossil.

Give The Gift Of Discovery

Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for friends, family, coworkers or yourself; a gift membership to Pacific Science Center is the answer. Pacific Science Center has something for everyone- interactive exhibits, exciting IMAX films, special events, and much more. And having a membership is the best way to experience all we have to offer all year long. Members enjoy fantastic benefits like a full year of FREE admission, FREE IMAX passes, FREE guest passes, special discounts, a subscription to Natural History magazine, FREE admission to over 250 science centers around the world, and more! →Click for more information or to purchase a gift membership now.

Visit The Needle, Help Science Education

Our tallest neighbor has a great program going this holiday season. The Space Needle has kicked off its "Tree For All" effort to help area non-profit organizations, including Pacific Science Center. It's easy to get involved: just →download this voucher (224KB PDF), bring it to the Space Needle and present it when you purchase a general admission Observation Deck ticket. When you do, $5 will be donated to our science education fund. In addition, the non-profit with the most vouchers gets an additional $25,000 at the end of the season. So, download and go visit Seattle's most visible landmark and help fund science education! →Learn More

PacSci-Doku: Climate Change Indicator

Our newest bi-weekly science word puzzle is all about a single animal. A creature that lives far from us, but whose status may have a bearing on all of us. Can you solve the 'Climate Change Indicator' edition of →PacSci-Doku?

Butterflies In Space!

If there's one thing we know about at Pacific Science Center it's butterflies. Our famous →Tropical Butterfly House has been working with the fluttering creatures for ten years and we and our visitors have learned a lot. But now there’s a new program to take the study of butterflies to new heights that will literally be out of this world. Learn more about a new NASA effort to have students study the life cycle of butterflies and spiders in space! →Learn More

The Day The Earth Stood Still: The IMAX Experience

This modern remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic follows an alien visitor and his giant robot counterpart who visit Earth to warn the planet about nuclear star wars. The cast includes Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, John Cleese and Jaden Smith. See it on the biggest screen in town and help fund science education! (This is a special engagement film)THIS FILM OPENS DEC. 12 →Watch the Trailer

Shedding New Light On Old Bones

Fans of TV shows such as CSI or Quincy will love the next lecture in the Burke Museum's Lucy Talks lecture series. Join Dr. Katherine Taylor, a forensic anthropologist with the King County Medical Examiner Office as she explains how modern forensic techniques help in the study of ancient hominids. That's Nov. 13, 7 p.m. at Pacific Science Center's Eames Theater. →Learn More

Discover "Mystery Of The Nile"

As part of the →Lucy's Legacy experience, be sure to make time to see the impressive IMAX film, Mystery of the Nile. This breathtaking cinematic adventure will take you on an expedition down the world's greatest and most deadly river, the Blue Nile. Throughout the journey crossing Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt, the beauty and wonder of the magnificent Nile region are revealed as never before. →Learn More

Favorite Castaways Return

If you enjoyed 2005's animated hit, Madagascar then you will love the sequel which is now playing at Pacific Science Center's Boeing IMAX Theater. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: The IMAX Experience sees this wacky group of castaways try to return to New York City after discovering their roots in Africa. Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, Gloria the hippo, King Julien, Maurice and the penguins are all back and as funny as ever. The film stars the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, David Schwimmer, Sacha Baron Cohen, the late Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer and Andy Richter. Check our →schedule.

Snowshoe Adventures!

It's raining now, but soon snow will fly and that means it’s time to start making plans for a great winter-time adventure. Once again this year, our staff at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center will be guiding students and families into the snow for some winter break camp discovery. We supply the snowshoes and teachers; you bring a lunch, warm clothes and a desire to learn! →Learn More

Give The Gift Of Discovery!

This holiday season, give the gift that can be enjoyed by the whole family all year long. Purchase a gift membership for your friends and family →online, over the phone at (206)443-2924, or in person the next time you visit us. Our members receive many wonderful benefits including free guest passes, IMAX passes, a subscription to Natural History magazine, reciprocity with over 250 science centers worldwide and much more! →Learn More

The Poetry Of New Year's Eve Sleepover

Megan Nelson of our Education Marketing Team is a poet extraordinaire. This time she's penned some prose about our →New Year's Eve Sleepover. The poetry is almost as awesome as the event:

As the days get shorter and the colored leaves fall,
Busy winter time schedules are filled with fun for all,
But in the hubbub of the months that near,
Don't forget about your plans for the coming New Year!
While you're shopping and wrapping, cleaning and cooking;
The hottest event in town will be booking.
We're planning and pacing and counting down the hours,
For WE'VE got the best view of fireworks among downtown towers!
The New Year's Eve Sleepover guest list is now filling,
You'll regret missing an evening that is definitely thrilling!
You can register by calling, or visiting us →online,
Join us for fantastic fun as we welcome 2009!

Butterfly Memories

On Dec. 26, 2008 we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of our →Tropical Butterfly House and we'd love to hear from you. We're looking for your stories, images, anecdotes, and more. If you'd care to share some of your favorite Butterfly House memories, please drop us a line at →Feedback@pacsci.org.

Gushing Over Gutters!

There is a lot to like about the new Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue. The labs, classrooms, trails, classes, and much more. Even the GUTTER SYSTEM is great! Check out this short video, then stop by and see it for yourself.

Science On Tap: Health Care Policy After The Election

Our next Science On Tap Lower Queen Anne makes a nice follow-up to the U.S. presidential election. U.S. Health Care Policy: Challenges and Options for a New Administration. Health care is one of the final steps in biomedical research, which advances the knowledge of human disease and research, resulting in changes of policies. Join speakers Michael Von Korff, ScD, and Diana E. H. Birkett, MPA, MPH from the Center for Health Studies and Federal Relations and Policy, respectively, at Group Health Cooperative, as they provided a timely forum. Learn why health care costs so much in the U.S., what we can do about it, and what the newly-elected federal administration may do to address the problem. Join us Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at →T.S. McHugh's.

What's Up With Galactic Spiral Arms?

Our Planatarium Specialist, Alice Enevoldsen has published another edition of AstroInfo. This time, she explains how some of the most interesting forms in the universe are created. Learn all about →Density Waves: What's Up with Galactic Spiral Arms?