The Power Of The Tides

Puget Sound is one of the most beautiful bodies of water anywhere on the planet. Turns out it is also one of the most powerful. That is the basis for our next Science Café. Join us Tuesday, May 5 for a stimulating discussion about the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center with Jim Thomson of the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington. →Learn More

Slough News: GPS In Demand!

Due to overwhelming demand, we've added extra Summer Camp sessions at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue the week of August 31-September 4. Among the camps offered is "Treasures Of The Lost Lake" which uses GPS technology, some math, history, problem solving, and a ton of fun! Call our Registration Office at (206)443-2925 to sign up now before these camps fill up!

GPS Treasures
Speaking of GPS technology, mark your calendar now for a great family workshop at the Slough coming up Saturday, June 13 from 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Use a GPS (provided) to seek out hidden geocaches. Piece together the clues you find to solve a riddle. Learn how a GPS works using hands-on activities. Explore the wonders of the park while learning some great treasure-finding techniques! Make plans now for GPS Treasures!

Fish & Butterflies

Many bloggers write about our favorite science museum and we love reading them all. But one recent post was really interesting. This blogger took a love for aquatic plants and animals and combined that with a trip to our famous Tropical Butterfly House. →Read on for some interesting comments and fantastic images!

Science And The Stage

Pacific Science Center is proud to offer some of the most interesting and enlightening science demonstrations on our stages, both indoors and outdoors, throughout the year. We have a cadre of extremely talented teachers who take complicated subjects and explain them in ways that everyone can understand. One of those teachers was featured in a recent article by the Kitsap Sun. →Read on to learn more about Planetarium and Stage Science Teacher Sylvie Davidson whose talents are taking her to stages all around the Puget Sound area.

PacSci-Doku: Animal Grossology

There's something kind of disturbing about our latest bi-weekly science word puzzle. Can you solve the "Animal Grossology" edition of →PacSci-Doku?

Star Trek: The IMAX Experience

Producer J.J. Abrams takes the beloved sci-fi series to a place no one has gone before. It opens to the public May 8 but you can see it on May 7 in two advance showings! But it's only at Pacific Science Center's Boeing IMAX Theater for 20 days, so don't wait. See it on the biggest screen in town! Get →your tickets now!

Internalizing Climate Change

What are the costs of responding to global warming versus the costs of doing nothing? Just one of many questions to be discussed in our next lecture on climate change, energy, and global social/human development. Join us as renowned British Economist, Lord Nicholas Stern explains how he thinks responding to climate change can lead to a new era of progress and prosperity. Presented in conjunction with The World Affairs Council at Pacific Science Center's Eames Theater April 29, 7:30 p.m. →Learn More

WSU Alumni Association Presents Coug Day!

Attention WSU Grads: Join fellow Cougars and the WSU Alumni Association for a day at Pacific Science Center Saturday, May 2! The day begins with lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Center House. A ticket purchase includes the IMAX film, Monsters vs. Aliens 3D and entry into Pacific Science Center. After the movie, you'll explore all of the exhibits under the arches. So put on your crimson and gray and get ready for a very special day of discovery! →Learn More

Slough News: Teen Interns Work

In celebration of Earth Day this month, our teen interns were out in full force last Saturday planting trees, checking water quality at local streams, pulling ivy & blackberry and overall having a good time! The →Kelsey & Coal Creek interns worked in cooperation with 350 other volunteers to plant more than 4,000 trees and plants all across Bellevue. The Taylor Creek interns were out helping Friends of Deadhorse Canyon replanting native species throughout the park. King 5 did a great news article on Taylor Creek, the fourth largest creek in Seattle. →Check it out! Remember, the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center offers year-round and summer volunteer opportunities for teens. Drop us a line to learn more, MercerSlough_Teens@pacsci.org

Catch the Geocaching Wave

Still haven't been bitten by the geocaching bug? Then give a listen to Michael Bradbury's →RealScience Podcast on the subject. At the same time, listen for clues to solve the very tricky puzzle cache, →Word Freak by renowned cacher, →Fish Soup. If all of this sounds mysterious, just listen to Michael's Podcast and all will become clear. Then visit →GPS Adventures at Pacific Science Center for a firsthand experience!

Celebrating Our Volunteers

Did you know that this is National Volunteer Week? It is and we wanted to take just a moment to thank the many men and women who help make Pacific Science Center and its programs so wonderful. We have 168 adult, senior, and teen volunteers. With their help, we are able to offer great programming, both on the exhibit floor as well as within many of our Enrichment programs. Our volunteers contributed 27,379 hours in 2008 and the value of their efforts can't be overstated. Volunteers play an essential role in helping Pacific Science Center achieve its goals and meet its mission of inspiring and engaging diverse communities throughout Washington state. Whether they've been helping for a couple months, a couple years, or up to 24 years they are a crucial part of our organization. Our sincere thanks to everyone who contributes day in and day out! →Learn More

Owl? Lizard? Butterfly!

Does it resemble an owl or a lizard? Or does it look like something else? You decide. Take a look our April →Butterfly Of The Month, then stop by for an up close and personal view inside Pacific Science Center's famous Tropical Butterfly House.

PacSci-Doku: Fish Messaging

There's something fishy yet colorful about our latest bi-weekly science word puzzle. Can you solve the "Fish Messaging" edition of →PacSci-Doku?

Member Appreciation!

Member Appreciation Month is happening through the entire month of April at Pacific Science Center! Sign up or renew your membership today and you'll receive a membership bonus, be invited to a sneak preview of Animalopolous, and have a chance to win Mariners tickets for your family. Members will also receive double discounts at the IMAX concession stand, Pacific Science Center Store and Café the last weekend in April (Saturday 25-Sunday 26)! For more information, please call the Membership Office at (206)443-2924.

6th Annual Foundations of Science Breakfast

Please join us for Pacific Science Center's 6th Annual Foundations of Science Breakfast on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. The Breakfast is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how the Science Center is making a difference in our schools and our communities. We are pleased to announce that our keynote speaker is Randy Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Thanks to generous support from our sponsors - Kibble & Prentice and Unigard - the Breakfast is free to attend and every gift made will directly support science education. Registration and networking begin at 7:00 a.m. and the program runs from 7:30-9:00 a.m. For more information and reservations, visit →our site, call (206)443-3642 or email leah_hausman@pacsci.org.

Special Edition Geocoins!

As part of the current exhibit, →GPS Adventures, Pacific Science Center has created a special edition geocoin! For those who take part in the very popular sport of Geocaching, these coins are treasures to be sought around the world. They are trackable, very collectible, and quite rare. So, stop by the Pacific Science Center Store in Building Three and get yours now. Your purchase will help fund science education and you'll have a very special memento!

Climate Day For Kids!

Once again this year, Pacific Science Center is joining with the Seattle Art Museum and other organizations to celebrate Earth Day with a special event for kids at SAM's Olympic Sculpture Park on the Seattle waterfront. Children and adults will learn about climate change and what actions the whole family can take to reduce our carbon footprint. Join us this Saturday, April 18 at noon for "Climate Day for Kids." →Learn More

Taylor Creek Cleanup

Join the →Lake Washington Watershed Interns in South Seattle at Taylor Creek and do your part for the environment by planting native species throughout the park. Our teens will be leading educational activities that include how they conduct their monthly water quality measurements at the creek. That's this Saturday, April 18, 8:30 a.m. at Taylor Creek. Call (206) 772-1452 for more information.

Slough News: Treasures Of The Lost Lake

Last week, Pacific Science Center teachers hosted a new Spring Break Camp at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue. It combines GPS technology, problem solving, some math, history, and a whole lot of fun! The summer version of this camp is so popular, it sold out within a day! We've now added an extra session, but don't wait! Sign up now for Treasures Of The Lost Lake before it sells out again! →Learn More

Extra Summer Camps Added

Due to overwhelming demand, Pacific Science Center has added extra summer camps! These additional camps are at our main campus next to Seattle Center and the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue. The extra camps are scheduled for late August and early September and cover grades K-8. Call our Registration Office at (206)443-2925 to sign up now before these camps fill up! →Learn More

Science With A Twist Celebrates GPS!

Our next 21+ event will mix satellite technology with cocktails and music! Come meet some of the people behind the wildly popular sport of Geocaching, sip on cocktails while enjoying some great music, then tour the →GPS Adventures exhibit. Cap off the evening with one of the greatest adventure stories ever told, Shackleton in IMAX®. Ernest Shackleton's amazing pre-GPS survival story will awe and inspire you and maybe just make you thankful that GPS is so prevalent today! Join us this Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m. →Learn More

Slough News: Envirothon Success!

The Western Washington Regional Envirothon competition was held last week at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue and our teams did very well! Students participating in the →Lake Washington Watershed Internship program placed 1, 2, 3 in King County. Of all 16 teams from the western half of the state that participated in the event, our students placed 2, 6 and 13. The first place King County team now goes to the state Envirothon event May 19-20. All the students who participated, and their mentors are to be commended since the hard work and studying is done on their own time. We invite you to →learn more about this tremendous program and wish our team well in the statewide event in May!

3D Takes Center Stage

Our newest IMAX® film is getting rave reviews. Well, Monsters vs Aliens: The IMAX 3D Experience is getting good reviews, but so is the 3D technology itself! Critics are raving about where film producers are taking an art form that has been around for many years, but is now going places most never dreamed possible. This epic tale is fun for all ages and has set several records: biggest weekend debut of 2009, best opening for a 3D film, and biggest Spring opening for a non-sequel animated film. Come see it on the biggest screen in town! →Learn More

The Science Of 3D
Speaking of 3D, be sure to check out our long running 3D exhibit now showing in the lower lobby of our Boeing IMAX Theater. This exhibit shows the various types of 3D, how the images are created, and how our eyes perceive three dimensions in two dimensional space. The 3D exhibit is open daily and can be seen without viewing a film. Just stroll down the ramp or take the elevator in the Ackerley Family Exhibit Gallery.

Dinosaur-Sized Offer!

If you enjoy dinosaurs and Pacific Science Center, you will love this offer from Walking With Dinosaurs coming to KeyArena this spring. First, our Members receive a special $10 discount on week day tickets to this incredible show. And both Members and the general public can help support Pacific Science Center's education programs by buying tickets. Just visit the →ticketing site and type in the promo code. For non-members, use the promo code: ARCHES in the Pacific Science Center Charity slot. Our Members should call (206)443-2924 to receive your discount code. Walking With Dinosaurs brings 15 life-sized dinosaurs to roam the KeyArena floor in this astonishing show April 29 - May 3.

100 Hours of Astronomy

2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, a cornerstone of which is to get as many people in the world as possible to look up at the sky through a telescope. To work toward that goal, there is a 100-hour-long extravaganza of worldwide observing events April 2-5. Don't have a telescope to do your own observing? No problem. Join the →100 Hours of Astronomy team for a 24-hour Webcast from research observatories around the world. Be warned, when you visit their site they write dates in the European style. So, what we would call 04/02/2009, they'll write as 02/04/2009!

Spring Fling!

After our wild Northwest winter, it's time to celebrate the return of spring! Pacific Science Center is doing just that with our annual Spring Fling, starring Flumpa and Friends LIVE! Explore the science of great outdoors with special animal guests, nature activities, and the →GPS Adventures exhibit! In this special event weekend, kids and families will experience an up close encounter with all that Mother Nature has to offer. Take a pony ride under our arches and get nose-to-nose with the plants and animals we find when we explore science outdoors. The fun and discovery is under way now through Sunday, April 5. Entry is included with the price of general admission. FREE for Pacific Science Center members.

Fun Opening For GPS Adventures

We want to thank everyone who attended last weekend's grand opening of our new →GPS Adventures exhibit. Thousands turned out on a very wet Saturday to meet and greet some of the biggest names in the wildly popular Geocaching community, and try the GPS maze now open in Building 4. We met supporters of science education and those who share our spirit of discovery, many of whom came from outside the area for the big day. You can see pictures of the event in this →Flickr set provided by Jeremy Irish, the CEO of Groundspeak, the people behind →geocaching.com and one of the exhibit sponsors. GPS Adventures is open daily through May 3 and is included in the price of general admission. FREE for Pacific Science Center members.

Earth Revealed

With →GPS Adventures now open, it's a good time to talk about another satellite-related event now under way at Pacific Science Center. All during April, we are focused on how scientists explore Earth from space! Come meet and talk with these special researchers who use cutting edge technology to explore our planet as never before. Peering back at Earth from satellites and space craft, scientists are discovering secrets about our oceans, forests and weather. Throughout the month of April, Pacific Science Center visitors will meet these scientists and participate in hands-on activities on six designated research days. The celebration of Earth Revealed culminates in a very special event Saturday, May 2 which will showcase a broad array of local researchers, governmental agencies and companies. Come meet real scientists doing real science! →Learn More

PacSci-Doku: Big Bang

Our latest bi-weekly science word puzzle is stellar. Can you solve the 'Big Bang' edition of →PacSci-Doku?

UPDATE: Around The Americas

The very exciting Around The Americas project reached a milestone this week as the sailing vessel Ocean Watch was moved from shore to the water in preparation for the big voyage starting May 31. Ocean Watch and her crew will circumnavigate North and South America to bring attention to the health of the world's oceans. Tuesday's christening event at a boatyard in Ballard was covered by news media around the world, including →KOMO News in Seattle. The project is a collaboration between Pacific Science Center, the UW's Applied Physics Lab, the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean and the nonprofit Sailors for the Sea. We invite you to →learn more about this exciting project and follow the progress as they sail Around The Americas!

Free Passes For Our Members

A Pacific Science Center membership offers many great benefits including free guest passes. These guest passes can be used for anyone you like, so spend an exciting Spring Break with a friend and visit our Tropical Butterfly House, Planetarium or catch an IMAX movie. Platinum members receive three free guest passes every visit. Titanium members receive five free guest passes every visit! For more information, contact the Membership Office at (206)443-2924. And don't forget, April is →Member Appreciation Month!

Laser Daft Punk Debuts

Pacific Science Center's world renowned laser artists are at it again. This time they've painted the electronic music of Daft Punk with their magic light to create a fantastic display in our Laser Dome. This new show made its debut Thursday (April 2) in a special VIP event, tickets for which were very hard to come by. But fear not, everyone can experience this incredible work of art as it begins its normal schedule starting this weekend. Check →our schedule for show times for Laser Daft Punk!