news NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 VOLUME 23, NUMBER 6 w w w. h m n s . o r g
new artifacts and specimens were added to our collections.
527
Each year we welcome
over 5,000
The Cockrell Butterfly Center is home to over
school buses, equaling
4 Chichen Itza pyramids in volume
50,000
butterflies each year
visitors participated in the Museum’s Sensory Friendly Day.
The Wortham Giant Screen Theatre annually mesmerizes
200,000 guests, enough to fill up the stands of
4 Colosseums
Youth Education Outreach program travels over
108
sheep eyeballs are dissected by young scientists during our summer Xploration camps
32,000 miles
32,000 miles 24,874 miles
1.28X
around the globe
Offered
108 Adult Education programs
HMNS IN 2018
MEMBER ONLY EVENTS Make the most of your Museum membership and enjoy these exclusive Members-only opportunities!
2nd H M N S M E M B E R S O N LY
2ND SATURDAYS
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Open Early for Members Only at 8 a.m. November 10 – Tours of the Wiess Energy Hall December 8 – Tours of the John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas See page 23 for 2nd Saturdays at HMNS at Sugar Land. Beat the crowds—2nd Saturdays are for Members! Explore our permanent exhibition halls and get exclusive discounts to special exhibitions, enjoy arts and crafts and more. Join your Museum family on 2nd Saturdays. An exclusive benefit for Members only! Free for Members. EXTRA KID'S PASS PERK! New benefit with 2nd Saturday Kid's Pass! Show your Kid's Pass at the Museum gift shop during each Museum visit to receive a FREE prize! A new prize is featured each month. Don't have a Kid's Pass? Pick one up ONLY during 2nd Saturday!
WORLD TREKKERS: EGYPT
The perfect family outing, these events highlight a diverse set of cultures from around the world through entertainment, arts and crafts and more. This November, we’re heading off to Egypt. But no need to pack your bags—HMNS brings the world to you with World Trekkers! Member tickets are $5!
MEMBERS NIGHT AT THE GEORGE OBSERVATORY
Friday, November 16, 7:30 - 10 p.m. Enjoy an evening under the stars at the George Observatory inside Brazos Bend State Park. Expert astronomers are available to let Members look at a variety of celestial objects through the Observatory telescopes, as well as privately owned telescopes. Viewing is always weather dependent. Free for Members with paid park admission. Advance reservations required.
SIP AND SHOP
Friday, November 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Member Exclusive Shopping Experience Thursday, November 29, 6 - 9 p.m.
Enjoy a children’s event featuring entertainment, face painting, a balloon artist, crafts, activities and more. Bring your family to HMNS and you can travel the globe with World Trekkers!
Join us for HMNS’ Sip and Shop, and get an early start on your holiday shopping! Enjoy complimentary drinks, crafts, sweets and more during
this exclusive members-only shopping event. Plus all members receive a 25% discount—regardless of your membership level! Let HMNS make your holiday shopping easy this year. Free for Members!
HMNS FOR THE HOLIDAYS! Sunday, December 9, 4:30 - 9 p.m. Celebrate with HMNS this holiday season and spend an evening exploring the Museum. Enjoy arts and crafts, light bites, as well as the traditional holiday trees on display. Don’t forget to grab a photo with Santa, as well as enjoy a “winter wonderland” experience in our Cockrell Butterfly Center. There will also be a screening of It’s a Wonderful Life in the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, and the Burke Baker Planetarium will be open at no additional cost. Plus, visitors will receive 25% off in the gift shop. Mark your calendars and join HMNS for the Holidays! Free for Members! $5 add on for It’s a Wonderful Life (page 17).
UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP! HMNS CATALYSTS FAMILY - Looking for the perfect date night away from the kids? Upgrade to HMNS Catalysts Family level to enjoy all the benefits of a Family Level Membership for two adults and four children, plus quarterly adults-only events with other young professionals. Two Memberships in one! FAMILY PLUS includes member benefits for two adults and four children, PLUS one additional adult or child. FAMILY FLEX, DISCOVERER and BENEFACTOR level memberships now allow member benefits for ten people.
$45 Number of people
1
$65 1
$85 2
Unlimited free admission to permanent exhibit halls
$115
$150
$195
$275
$550
$3000
2 adults + 4 kids
2 adults + 4 kids + 1 adult or kid
10
10
10
10
H M N S M E M B E R S O N LY
Discount admission to all ticketed special exhibitions, Cockrell Butter�ly Center, Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, and Burke Baker Planetarium Reduced rates for lectures, classes, travel and special events Discount at the Museum Store
Subscription to MuseumNews magazine Invitations to Members-only events
Members-only ticket line
Early and discounted registration for Xplorations Summer Camps for children and grandchildren
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Invitation for two to one President’s Circle event per year
HMNS Catalysts Young Professionals
$100
$125
$150
*Discoverer benefits value $72. Benefactor benefits value $152. ** President’s Circle benefits value $1267, and donations benefit the Annual Fund.
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Two FREE tickets for admission to special exhibitions
HMNS IN THIS ISSUE • G HM E N ES RCAALT IANLFYOS RT M S A• T M I OI XN E R S & E L I X I R S • W O R L D T R E K K E R S 2 4
GENERAL INFORMATION
In 2 Member Only Events 3 Membership Benefits 4 General Information 5 Annual Fund in Action New Magazine and Event Guide 6 Special Event Snapshot Dino Dash
HMNS AT SUGAR LAND
MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS www.hmns.org/member Student, Senior, Individual, Dual, Family, Family Plus, Family Flex, Discoverer, Benefactor, HMNS Catalysts Individual, Dual and Family
13016 University Blvd. Sugar Land, Texas 77479 (281) 313-2277 www.hmns.org/sugarland
MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT (713) 639-4616, membership@hmns.org
7 Holidays at HMNS 8 HMNS After Dark Sensory Friendly Day 9 Morian Hall of Paleontology 10-11 Trains Over Texas 12-13 Death by Natural Causes 14 Microsculpture 15 Life in Stone: In Memory of Gerd Dreher 16-17 Wortham Giant Screen Theatre 18-19 Burke Baker Planetarium 20 George Observatory 21 Cockrell Butterfly Center
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HMNS MEMBERSHIP
22-23 HMNS at Sugar Land 24-25 Just For Kids 26-27 For Teachers
HMNS MAIN CAMPUS 5555 Hermann Park Drive Houston, Texas 77030 (713) 639-4629 Monday to Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. November Holiday Hours: November 17-21, 23-25: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. November 22: Closed Thanksgiving Day December Holiday Hours: December 22-24, 26-31: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. December 25: Closed Christmas Day FREE THURSDAYS Permanent Exhibit Halls and the Planetarium are FREE after 2 p.m. during regular hours, and 3 to 6 p.m. on December 27 and January 3. ACCESSIBILITY Wheelchairs are provided at no cost and subject to availability. Closed Captioning is available at box office for most giant screen films. Visit www.hmns.org/accessibility for information for visitors with autism spectrum disorders or download HMNS Access app. TTY (713) 639-4687.
28 Adult Education 29 HMNS Catalysts Travel with HMNS 30-31 Events Calendar
GET CONNECTED TO HMNS
WWW.HMNS.ORG
PARKING GARAGE Members receive discounted rate.
FIELD TRIPS
Natural.Science
@hmns
@hmns
naturalscience1
For all HMNS locations. www.hmns.org/fieldtrips fieldtrips@hmns.org (713) 639-4659
hmns
hmns_museum
SPECIAL EVENT RENTALS
hmns
blog.hmns.org
www.rentthemuseum.com specialevents@hmns.org (713) 639-4749
Thursday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: noon to 5 p.m. Monday - Wednesday: field trips only November Holiday Hours: November 17-21, 23-25: Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun noon to 5 p.m. November 22: Closed Thanksgiving Day December Holiday Hours: December 22-24, 26-31, January 1-7: Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun noon to 5 p.m. December 25: Closed Christmas Day SPECIAL EVENT RENTALS www.hmns.org/sugarlandrentals sugarlandprograms@hmns.org (281) 313-2277, ext. 101
GEORGE OBSERVATORY Located in Brazos Bend State Park 21901 FM 762 Needville, Texas 77461 (281) 242-3055 www.hmns.org/observatory State park entrance fee is $7, kids 12 and under are free. Entrance to park is not permitted after 9:30 p.m. Private groups can schedule scout troop experiences, Friday night star parties, Discovery Dome planetarium shows, tours, Expedition Center missions, astronomy classes and birthday parties. Current observatory weather conditions can be accessed at www.weatherbug. com, zip code 77461.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES www.hmns.org/birthdays birthdays@hmns.org (713) 639-4646
But don’t worry! Starting in 2019, HMNS Members will receive two new publications!
In January look for a new handy-dandy Museum event guide. This will be a quick reference with listings of current special exhibitions, Giant Screen and Planetarium films, family festivities, educator events, lectures and classes. It will be mailed to Members every other month.
The first issue of a new Museum magazine will arrive in March. Naturally Curious will be produced quarterly and will be filled with interesting stories about the work HMNS curators and staff are doing in a variety of science fields.
HMNS ANNUAL FUND IN ACTION • NEW MAGAZINE AND EVENT GUIDE
THIS IS YOUR LAST ISSUE OF HMNS NEWS!
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The infographic on the front cover chronicles just a few of the amazing opportunities that Annual Fund gifts make possible. Make your tax-deductible donation today and watch your Annual Fund gift in action for many years to come. To give visit www.hmns.org/annualfund or call the HMNS Philanthropy Department at (713) 639-4729.
www.hmns.org/annualfund
This giving season, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is asking you to be a part of the community of donors that has helped foster the love of learning in our area for over 100 years.
HMNS SPECIAL EVENT SNAPSHOT • DINO DASH www.rentthemuseum.com • www.hmns.org/dinodash
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SPECIAL EVENT SNAPSHOT Don’t forget to book your holiday party! www.rentthemuseum.com • specialevents@hmns.org • (713) 639-4749
Dino Dash 5K: Racing to Give It takes a lot to make a world-class institution like HMNS run. From feeding tiny caterpillars to cleaning gigantic dinosaur fossils, we couldn’t do it without your support and generosity. Every gift counts and allows us to continue to offer science education and programming back to the community. This season, we’re encouraging you to race to give, so that we can meet our goal—5K! To thank you for helping us cross the finish line, every donation of $35 or more will receive a commemorative Dino Dash medal. Your gift is important to us, so whether it’s $1 or $1 million, please consider HMNS this giving season. Visit www.hmns.org/dinodash to donate! The Houston Museum of Natural Science is a nonprofit organization that does not receive any federal or state funding.
holidays at hmns MAKE THE MUSEUM A PART OF YOUR FAMILY’S HOLIDAY TRADITION! GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP! Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Forget the fruitcake, and give the gift of science! HMNS gift memberships make the perfect gift for everyone on your list.
GIFT MEMBERSHIPS
You can earn up to one year of FREE membership by introducing your family and friends to the wonder and adventure of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Hurry, this offer expires January 6, 2019. Gift Memberships may be purchased at www.hmns.org/giftmembership, (713) 639-4629 or with the enclosed envelope. *Please note that gift membership discounts only apply to a membership purchased as a gift for another person. New or renewing memberships sold to the purchaser’s household will be charged the full membership price.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING From designer jewelry to toys, geek chic t-shirts and more, the Museum Store is your stop for standout gifts this holiday season. All selections are available online at museumstore.hmns.org. Get a jump on holiday shopping on the evening of November 29. The Museum Store will be open for Members only 6 to 9 p.m. Sip and Shop features special discounts. More info on page 2.
Jingle all the way to Sugar Land for this exciting week of events kicking off November 9 with “Tree Lighting” followed by “Bring the Bling— Decorating Demonstration Day,” “Jingle, Jingle Mix and Mingle Happy Hour & Auction Close” and “Cookies with Santa.” See page 23 and www.hmns.org/jingletree for more information.
WHITE CHRISTMAS IN THE COCKRELL BUTTERFLY CENTER Snowflakes probably won’t be fluttering in the Houston air, but a White Christmas is still in the forecast. Hundreds of white tropical butterflies will transform the Cockrell Butterfly Center into a tropical winter wonderland! Don’t miss this unique holiday display that begins November 19. More info on page 21.
FULL DOME FILM Apply science to the season with The Mystery fo the Christmas Star in the Burke Baker Planetarium and learn more about the date of the birth of Christ through astroarchaeology. See more on page 18. Evening lecture on page 28.
FESTIVE SIGHTS AND SMELLS The Museum’s Grand Entry Hall will be sparkling with fragrant, festive trees presented by numerous local organizations, including American Diabetes Association, The Beacon, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto, HMNS Volunteer Guild, HMNS Youth Education and Membership, Houston Conchology Society, MD Anderson Children’s Art Project, Save A Purrfect Cat Rescue, Senior Rides and More, Texas Children’s Hospital Child Life Center, Tourette Syndrome Association of Texas, TUTS The River Performing and Visual Arts Center, and Ukrainian American Cultural Club of Houston.
HOLIDAY PARTY RENTALS HMNS can help make your holiday event truly unforgettable. Visit www.rentthemuseum.com, email specialevents@hmns.org or call (713) 639-4749 for more information.
MEMBER HOLIDAY EVENT HMNS for the Holidays! is a festive celebration for your family to enjoy the magical Museum on the evening of December 9. More info on page 2.
H M N S H O L I D AY S AT H M N S
Beginning November 16, we will add another month to your current membership when you purchase a discounted HMNS gift membership.*
JINGLE TREE! AT HMNS AT SUGAR LAND
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FREE FOR MEMBERS
H M N S H M N S A F T E R D A R K • S E N S O R Y F R I E N D LY D AY
Wednesday, December 26 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. HMNS After Dark is back! The entire Museum will stay open until 9 p.m. Take a stroll, catch a flick and enjoy a wonderful evening out at the Museum. Enjoy HMNS in the glow of the moonlight!
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Monday, December 3 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Enjoy modified exhibits and a sensory-friendly Museum with fewer crowds, softer lighting and lower volume. Special screenings in the Burke Baker Planetarium and Wortham Giant Screen Theatre. Touch carts and tours available in the exhibition halls. Visit www.hmns.org/accessibility for more information. Accessibility App Download our accessibility app, Access HMNS, to prepare for your visit and use it while you’re at HMNS to create a personalized Museum experience for you and your family. Available for both Apple and Android devices.
MORIAN HALL OF PALEONTOLOGY New Fossil Preparation Lab The newest addition to the Morian Hall of Paleontology is the Fossil Preparation Lab, tucked in amongst the impressive fossil displays. Here you have the opportunity to watch Museum staff and volunteers work diligently to expose and preserve fossils. This can often be a painstaking process that requires patience and time, but is worth the effort!
Many of these volunteers have never prepped a fossil before this, and start their training by preparing a 50 million year old fish from a quarry in Wyoming. The limestone that encases these fossils is relatively soft and gives way fairly easily when a steel needle is used. The exquisite preservation of the skeletons means that tiny bones have to be exposed in the rock using a microscope. They are learning to scratch—from scratch. Once their training is complete, successful graduates are then transferred to other specimens in the Museum’s fossil collection. Between practicing their techniques, they are busy fielding questions from inquiring minds through the viewing window.
Open since Labor Day, the new Fossil Preparation Lab allows visitors an upclose view of our paleontologists at work. Come watch the paleontologists work in their new lab—they have a bone to pick with you! BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS www.hmns.org/bts “Fossil Prep Lab Tour and Class” David Temple, HMNS Paleontologist Wednesday, November 7, 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 5, 6 p.m. In a process broadly called “preparation,” fossils are carefully extracted from their encapsulating matrix. Depending on the type of fossil and the rock surrounding it, many different techniques are employed. In this hands-on tour of the new HMNS Fossil Prep Lab with HMNS paleontologist David Temple, you can try your hand at various techniques paleontologists use to take fossils from excavation to exhibition.
DISTINGUISHED LECTURES www.hmns.org/lectures
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“The World within Permian Period Fossils: Histologic Studies” Steven J. Norris, Ph.D., Pathologist Wednesday, November 14, 6:30 p.m. Excavations in Seymour, Texas, brought HMNS fossilized bones of sail-backed reptiles, amphibians with boomerang-shaped heads, and many other beasts from over 280 million years ago. Dr. Steven Norris will take us inside these fossils. His powerful microscopes and chemicals have revealed blood vessels, layers of tissue building blocks, and caves where ancient cells lived. In this journey through a microscopic world, you will see how these ancient animals were different, yet remarkably similar, to us. Professor Steven J. Norris, Ph.D. is vice chair for research in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston. He has been part of the HMNS Paleontology team since 2014.
www.hmns.org/paleo
Many of the volunteers you can find hard at work are training in the various tools and methods used in fossil preparation. Since opening, the lab has had over 65 volunteers sign on to fill an ambitious schedule of 362 days a year.
H M N S M O R I A N H A L L O F PA L E O N T O L O G Y
FREE FOR MEMBERS
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HMNS TRAINS OVER TEXAS
Exhibition Opens November 9 Trains Over Texas—the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s holiday exhibition—pulls into the HMNS station on November 9.
All Aboard! Unique Holiday Gifts that Support HMNS Be a part of Trains Over Texas with your own customized boxcar! You can see your personalized car making tracks in the Museum through the holiday season at HMNS. HMNS boxcars make excellent mementos and gifts. Supplies are limited. Order online at www.hmns.org/boxcars or call (713) 639-4618. LECTURE & TOUR “Texas Bullet Train, Y’all Aboard!” Michael J. Moore, VP of Texas Central Tuesday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. The lightest, most aerodynamic and energy efficient train series to date—Shinkansen’s N700 Supreme—will be the latest addition to the railroad legacy of Houston, whose official city seal boasts a train engine as a symbol of progress. Michael J. Moore, VP of Texas Central, will present the latest generation of train technology that will link Houston to Dallas in a 90-minute ride at speeds over 200 miles per hour. Following the presentation train enthusiast Glen A. Rosenbaum will introduce the Trains Over Texas display, and all will be invited to tour the exhibition.
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www.hmns.org/boxcars
Multiple trains crisscross the state and visit important and unique places in our great state’s geology and physiography. You’ll want to make this 2,500 square foot train exhibit, which is the largest indoor O scale model railroad in Texas, part of your holiday tradition! This exhibition was organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It is located in the Fondren Gallery on the main floor. Local support provided by the Carruth Foundation, Inc., the John P. McGovern Foundation, Glen A. Rosenbaum and Union Pacific Foundation.
HMNS TRAINS OVER TEXAS
FREE FOR MEMBERS
H M N S D E AT H B Y N AT U R A L C A U S E S www.hmns.org/DBNC
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SPECIAL MEMBER PRICING
EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND! In late August of 1951, a young Frenchman stood outside on the second floor of the local hospital, his arms spread wide and facing the street. “I’m an airplane!” he shouted to no one in particular. Then he jumped. The impact of the two story fall broke his legs. Undeterred, he scrambled to his feet and ran 55 yards along the street before the staff of the hospital was able to catch him.
Patients began arriving at the doctor that afternoon. They complained of intense lower abdominal pain, general depression and agitation. Within 48 hours the local hospital was filled with patients and seventy homes had been commandeered as extensions of the hospital. The victims, such as the man above, were deranged and had to be tied to their beds to prevent violent attacks or suicide attempts.
The summer of 1951 was particularly rainy and damp for the little village of Pont St Esprit. Consequently, residents were concerned there would be an inadequate harvest that fall. Located in southern France near Avignon, Pont St Esprit was still recovering from the effects of WWII just six years earlier. To prevent food shortages, such as the one the village was facing now, the government strictly controlled flour distribution throughout the country. When one village baker received a delivery of oddly gray flour, he had no choice but to make the day’s goods, as he would not be receiving another delivery for some time. And so began the episode of le pain maudit—”the cursed bread.”
The local doctors, working together to determine a cause of the illness, began searching the homes of the victims. All the houses had one food item in common: wheat bread from the same baker. Samples of the suspected source of the poisoning were sent to Marseilles for analysis and results showed some twenty toxic alkaloids all belonging to the ergot fungus. Ergot is a tiny parasitic fungus that grows on grains, particularly rye, which thrives in damp weather. Survivors of ergotism describe excruciating pain, which varies by the symptoms. Contorting and convulsing, hallucinations, digestive issues, and
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The first major outbreak was documented in the Rhine Valley, France in 857 C.E. During this gangrenous outbreak, victims’ limbs turned black and burned as if they were being held over a fire. Even after the cause of ergotism was identified, outbreaks continued as the poor might be forced to eat ergot grains in times of desperation. A similar, but more famous, potential outbreak of ergotism occurred in n the spring of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts when 30 people came forward to say they had been bewitched. According to the court records of the trials, the vast majority of the victims felt as if they had been pinched or stuck with a needle. Others testified that they had been temporarily blind or deaf, had been
rendered speechless, experienced burning sensations, become nauseous, had developed lesions or felt as if they were flying through the air. Historically, all of these symptoms have been attributed to “witchcraft,” but they are also symptoms of ergotism. To learn more about ergotism and its role in history, visit Death by Natural Causes! Death by Natural Causes is located on the third floor of the Dan L Duncan Wing. This exhibition was organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Local support for the exhibition is provided by the Harriet and Truett Latimer Endowment Fund and the John P. McGovern Foundation. Members receive reduced admission. Due to the content of the exhibit, it is recommended for visitors aged ten and up. Audio guide is available on your smart phone.
www.hmns.org/DBNC
excessive salivation are all common with ergotism. Of greater concern is the potential for gangrene, caused when blood flow is restricted to the extremities. If the ergotism is sustained, the extremity may eventually rot off.
HMNS MICROSCULPTURE
THE INSECT PHOTOGRAPHY OF LEVON BISS
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Explore the astonishing beauty of insects through Microsculpture: The Insect Photography of Levon Biss. These breathtaking insect portraits offer a unique opportunity to discover the magnificence of creatures many of us rarely notice at all.
and composite files – to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, where the collaboration was born. He photographs each specimen in approximately 30 sections, each lighted individually. The final portraits comprise 8,000 to 10,000 individual images stitched together to render meticulous likenesses in exquisite detail. Specimens from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History’s extensive entomology collection were chosen for their beauty and to showcase insects’ adaptations to their environments.
This intriguing project began as a hobby. Renowned portraitist Levon Biss photographed insects his young son had caught in the garden and brought the portraits –
Marvel at the incredible portraits, then compare the larger-than-life images to the life-sized specimens in the entomology case. Can’t get enough and want to see even more? Use the
FREE FOR MEMBERS
EXHIBITION LAST DAY IS JANUARY 13
touchscreen to zoom in closer and closer to reveal the unexpected and often breathtaking beauty otherwise hidden to the naked eye and discover the many intricate adaptations to form the insects – what entomologists call their microsculpture. Microsculpture: The Insect Photography of Levon Biss is free for members. The exhibition was organized by Levon Biss with the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and The University of Oxford, Oxford, England. The Houston presentation is generously supported by the John P. McGovern Foundation. It is on view on the third floor of the Dan L Duncan Wing until January 13, 2019. This exhibition is free for HMNS Members.
Life in Stone, In Memory of Gerd Dreher includes more than seventy of Dreher’s hardstone masterpieces created over the last five decades selected from private collections in North America, Europe and Asia.
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE & TOUR “Gem Carvings of Gerd Dreher” Patrick Dreher & Joel A. Bartsch Tuesday, November 27, 6:30 p.m.
FREE FOR MEMBERS
NOW ON EXHIBITION
The carvings featured in Life in Stone, In Memory of Gerd Dreher are so lifelike you’ll expect them to move. Or blink, at the very least. A master of natural realism, Dreher – the fourth generation of gem carvers from the House of Dreher – paid particular attention to the animals’ eyes to ensure they reflected the character of the carving. Gerd Dreher lived and worked in the twin villages of Idar-Oberstein, Germany, where his family has been involved in the art of engraving and carving gemstones for generations. Dreher’s carvings are among the most sought-after by connoisseurs around the word, and are of such high quality that they have been mistaken for works by Carl Fabergé. For Dreher,
Today, the legacy of excellence established by Karl Dreher in the 19th century and handed down from father to son is continued by Gerd’s son Patrick, the fifth generation of gem carvers from the venerable House of Dreher.
A native of Idar is the House of Dreher, which has produced five generations of lapidary artists and carvings that are among the most sought-after in the lapidary world. The most well-known craftsman, Gerd Dreher (1939- 2018), specialized exclusively on engraving animal sculptures. The Dreher animal sculptures are crafted from various valuable gemstones, mainly from quartzes and beryls, but rubies, obsidian and other precious stones are also employed. The Drehers' favorite stone, however, is natural agate from Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. The carvings are complemented by natural mineral crystals and gem carving rough. This lecture will be given by Patrick Dreher, son of Gerd Dreher and engraver of Germany, with opening remarks by Joel A. Bartsch, curator of Life in Stone, president of HMNS and friend of the late artist. Exhibition viewing and book signing will follow the lecture.
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www.hmns.org/exhibits
Can you imagine the iguana was ever a lump of agate? What about the gorilla? The ermine?
this comparison was both flattering and disappointing. Flattering because of the comparison to a legendary lapidary artist, yet disappointing because the quality of Dreher’s work exceeds that produced by Fabergé a century earlier.
For centuries, the picturesque twin villages of Idar-Oberstein, nestled near the Rhine and Mosel River Valleys in Southwestern Germany, have supported a very important gem carving tradition. Agate and other hard stone carvings have always been Idar's signature.
HMNS LIFE IN STONE: IN MEMORY OF GERD DREHER
Life in Stone, In Memory of Gerd Dreher was organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It is on display in the Hamill Gallery on the main floor. Admission is free for Museum Members. Local support provided by the John P. McGovern Foundation.
WORTHAM GIANT S
Visit www.hmns.org/giantscreen for showtim
H M N S W O R T H A M G I A N T S C R E E N T H E AT R E
SPECIAL MEMBER PRICING
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Our six-story tall giant screen surrounds you with the most stunning scenery on the planet. We will take you soaring through space, and put you face to face with Earth’s most fascinating animals. Your patronage supports science education! Your theatre ticket purchase helps fund the Museum’s exhibit and education programs. The films we show support our mission to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone. Thank you for supporting the HMNS adrenaline-filled immersive experience.
VOLCANOES: THE FIRES OF CREATION Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation is a tale of science, culture, and thrilling adventure. Audiences will be on the edge of their seats as scientists and explorers discover molten worlds and erupting craters in this adrenaline-filled immersive experience. With over 500 active volcanoes— Earth is bursting at the seams with the forces of mass construction. The story of volcanoes is the story of Earth’s creation, and the story of us.
PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF ALL WORTHAM GIANT SCREEN FILM TICKETS HELP FURTHER TH
SCREEN THEATRE
mes and more information about each film.
Held Over by Popular Demand!
Narrated by Kate Winslet, Oceans: Our Blue Planet 3D takes audiences on a global odyssey into the largest and least explored habitat on Earth. From the coastal shallows to deeper, more mysterious worlds, this film uncovers spectacular stories of life and survival beneath the waves.
It’s been another great year for Take Two! Don’t miss the final films of the year, and submit your Take Two film suggestions for 2019 to webmaster@hmns.org. Coco Friday, November 9, 7:15 p.m. Beauty and the Beast Friday, November 23, 7:15 p.m. It's a Wonderful Life Sunday, December 9, 5 & 7:15 p.m. You’ve seen this 1946 classic many times on the small screen but how wonderful would it be to see this family favorite on the giant screen? Plus, you can share the holiday spirit with other families as the Museum pays tribute to its members during the Members Holiday event on December 9 (page 2).
HE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE’S NONPROFIT MISSION. YOUR SUPPORT COUNTS! R
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www.hmns.org/giantscreen
Pandas are beloved around the world, and they there are here on the Giant Screen! Narrated by Kristin Bell, Pandas is a breathtaking documentary adventure and amazing experience for the whole family.
OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D
H M N S W O R T H A M G I A N T S C R E E N T H E AT R E
PANDAS
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SPECIAL MEMBER PRICING
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by the silent, majestic solitude. Not so much as a squirrel track to indicate any sort of life, not a green blade of grass to color the bland, stark beauty, not a cloud overhead nor the slightest hint of a brook or stream. But I felt comfortable, as if I belonged here. From where I stood on the floor of that beautiful mountain-ringed valley, the Moon seemed frozen in time.”
Photo by NASA
THE EAGLE HAS LANDED, 50 YEARS AGO It’s been 50 years since astronauts escaped Earth’s gravity pull on their way to the Moon. In the early 1970s, I asked students where they were when we landed on the Moon. By the 80s, the students didn’t remember, but their parents did. Long ago I had to switch to grandparents for an eyewitness and now I’m looking for great grandparents! The Saturn V with its 9 million pounds of thrust is gone. And the Moon now lies beyond our grasp, as American astronauts must ride a Soyuz capsule just to reach low Earth orbit. Only 24 astronauts have ever defied Earth’s gravity. Only 12 have felt the gravity of another world, our airless barren moon, and only 4 moon walkers are still alive: Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), David Scott (Apollo 15), Charlie Duke (Apollo 16) and Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17). Apollo is the only program that has carried humans beyond Earth’s gravity. In December 1968, the Apollo 8 astronauts became the first humans to orbit the Moon. They showed us our own Earth, rising above the ancient lunar terrain. Suddenly we saw
the Earth alone in the blackness of space—a fragile island of life hanging above the barren moon—a world to be cherished and protected. From this image, Earth Day was born. Experience Earthrise at HMNS Beginning the weekend before Thanksgiving, we will reenact this Earthrise before every planetarium show. By the way, the Earth does not rise from a location on the Moon’s surface. Only by orbiting the Moon can you create the dramatic Earthrise effect. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong announced: “Houston, this is Tranquility Base. The Eagle has landed.” Buzz Aldrin joined him on the Moon while Michael Collins orbited overhead in the Command Module. Imagine being the first humans on this barren world... the first to see a place, kick a rock, stir up dust or leave footprints in its timeless soil. All expressions are inadequate, the experience of a lifetime wrapped in a few precious hours, in a place to which you can never return. Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the Moon, remembered… "I slowly pivoted, trying to see everything, and was overwhelmed
Tomorrow’s lunar astronauts will live in an enclosed biosphere—with an atmosphere for plants and animals. Here a 120 pound human would weigh only 20 pounds and could jump six times higher than on Earth. In a dome with an atmosphere, humans wearing wings could actually fly. Tomorrow’s lunar Olympic games will break all terrestrial records—featuring pole vaults more than 120 feet, long jumps more than 180 feet, weightlifting of over an Earth-ton, and graceful gymnasts leaping six times higher than they can on Earth. Life on the Moon may become so pleasant that astronauts dread returning to the gravity pull of Earth—six times stronger than the Moon’s pull. Our celebration of the Apollo program will continue in 2019 with the opening of a new film in the Burke Baker Planetarium Defying Gravity: It Began with Apollo.
ASTRONOMY LECTURES Carolyn Sumners, Ed.D., HMNS VP of Astronomy More details on page 28. “Cultivating the Next Generation of Female Space Pioneers” Tuesday, November 13, 7 p.m. “Apollo – 50 Years of Defying Gravity” Tuesday, November 20, 6:30 p.m. “Science of the Christmas Star” Tuesday, December 11, 6:30 p.m.
ALSO SHOWING IN TRUE8Kâ„¢
H M N S B U R K E B A K E R P L A N E TA R I U M 19
www.hmns.org/planetarium
H M N S G E O R G E O B S E R VAT O R Y
GEORGEOBSERVATORY
www.hmns.org/observatory
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Photo credit: Jimmy Westlake
WINTER SKY HIGHLIGHTS Winter constellations highlight the evening skies. Orion the Great Hunter and Taurus the Bull each hide amazing surprises of the Orion Nebula and the Pleiades open star cluster. The brightest star in the night sky is in Canis Major and the only other galaxy we can see with our eyes (besides our own Milky Way) is in the constellation Andromeda. Pegasus, Cygnus and Cassiopeia all hide galaxies and nebulae that can be seen with our telescopes. Come enjoy the clear winter skies at the George Observatory.
GEMINID METEOR SHOWER Wednesday, December 12 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Not rising until past midnight, the Moon will be favorable for this year’s Geminid Meteor Shower. The
visibility peak is 9 p.m. until midnight. Telescopes will open at dark. Clouds make it impossible to see meteors, this event is weather permitting. Members $4, nonmembers $7, in addition to park entrance fees.
MEMBERS NIGHT
Friday, November 16, 7:30 - 10 p.m. See page 2 for details.
FAMILY SPACE DAY Saturday, December 1 Mission Times: 3, 4, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Astronauts of all ages—kids and adults—can fly to the Moon with NASA volunteers in the Challenger Learning Center. No danger is involved! Astronauts are assigned jobs aboard the Space Station Observer and work together as they solve problems and have fun. Don’t miss this special opportunity to participate in real astronaut training!
SATURDAYS AT THE GEORGE! Enjoy the stellar views through a variety of large research grade Observatory telescopes every Saturday evening until 10 p.m. The three domed scopes plus individual volunteer telescopes are available to show off the evening skies. Gift Shop, exhibits and Discovery Dome open at 3 p.m. Telescope tickets available in the gift shop. Viewing begins at dusk. Members receive discounted Telescope and Discovery Dome tickets.
VISITOR INFO The George Observatory is located in Brazos Bend State Park. Park entrance fee is $7, kids 12 and under free. Directions, information and tickets are posted at www.hmns.org/observatory. Observing is always weather permitting. Current observatory weather conditions can be accessed at www.weatherbug.com, zip code 77461.
H M N S C O C K R E L L B U T T E R F LY C E N T E R 21
WHITE CHRISTMAS Beginning the week of Thanksgiving on November 19, the Cockrell Butterfly Center will turn into a breathtaking winter wonderland – of the tropical kind! Delicate white lights will wrap the trees, and hundreds of large, graceful black and white butterflies will fill the air as we welcome White Christmas once again! The star of our show is the rice paper butterfly, a favorite of staff and visitors. These are some of our “friendliest” butterflies, as they are often attracted to and land on visitors! Their scientific name is Idea leuconoe and other
common names include paper kite and tree nymph. Rice papers are found in Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines. Rice papers are brush-footed butterflies, in the family Nymphalidae, with reduced front legs, sometimes with a brush-like set of hairs, giving rise to the common name. Nymphalidae is the largest family of butterflies with over 6,000 species worldwide. Rice papers are in the sub-family Danainae, also known as milkweed butterflies, and of course share this sub-family with other milkweed butterflies like monarchs and queens. As larvae rice papers feed on parsonsia, a plant in the same family as milkweed, the Apocynaceae. Therefore, they acquire toxins as larvae just like monarchs. Their pattern is
very similar to monarchs, so you can easily see that they are related. They are well-known for their slow, graceful flight which seems like it would make them easy prey. However, their colors and patterns advertise their toxicity and deter many predators. These butterflies are capable of living a long time and the longestlived individual recorded in the CBC was around for 8 months! For White Christmas, we will be importing over 1,000 of these butterflies. Their longevity means that they will boost our butterfly population the entire year to come. We welcome you to enjoy this one-of-a-kind holiday display along with all of the festivities HMNS has to offer, from Thanksgiving through the beginning of January. Admission is reduced for Members.
www.hmns.org/butterflycenter
SPECIAL MEMBER PRICING
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H M N S H M N S AT S U G A R L A N D
JINGLE TREE
www.hmns.org/jingletree
Jingle Tree is a festive way to support HMNS at Sugar Land’s mission of science education while helping provide science enrichment to local underserved populations. Jingle Tree holiday trees and décor are available for purchase through an auction on your smart phone. Each tree displays a unique and creative theme to fit any style or taste.
The décor auction ends at 8 p.m. on Thursday evening, November 15, during the Jingle, Jingle Mix and Mingle cocktail event. Again, you don’t have to be present to bid and win, but it’s great fun to count down to the end and claim your tree that night. Delivery is available for a minimal additional fee and all proceeds
Kick-off Tree Lighting Friday, November 9 10 a.m. This VIP and media event will allow special guests to see the trees up close as they “come to light” in our first tree lighting event. The auction begins! Bring the Bling Tuesday, November 13 9 a.m. - noon Guests spend the morning seeing new trends in holiday decorations as they visit demonstration sessions, enjoy light bites and bid on trees. Jingle, Jingle Mix and Mingle Happy Hour & Auction Close Thursday, November 15 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. The auction week wraps up with the relaxed happy hour event, an evening of cocktails, online tree bidding and select live auction. Don’t miss the count-down to the auction closing bell! Cookies with Santa Saturday, December 8 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Our family-friendly event, this is a chance to catch Santa and Mrs. Claus during a holiday visit to Sugar Land. Enjoy holiday crafts, the tradition of cookies and milk and a take away photo, or bring your own camera to snap some candids, too. New this year is a “rein”deer station where you can feed a deer and take a selfie!
COLLECTION OF HISTORY, MYSTERY AND WONDER On Exhibition
Visitors of all ages will delight in discovering mysterious items from around the globe, in Collection of History, Mystery and Wonder. The special exhibit hall has been transformed into six chambers, each featuring a different theme, with touchable items on the shelves and 90 drawers to be opened and explored. Try to choose your favorite room or drawer or touch the paw of a lion… there’s something new and different around each corner!
2ND SATURDAYS AT SUGAR LAND Saturday, November 10 10 - 11 a.m. – Block Party No 2nd Saturday scheduled in December Members enjoy a special activity during each 2nd Saturday at HMNS at Sugar Land. Don’t forget your Kid’s Pass to get a special prize! 2nd Saturday at Sugar Land features family programming from 10 - 11 a.m.
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www.hmns.org/sugarland
To participate you can attend an event during Jingle Tree week and begin bidding on the item of your choice. Museum patrons and members can also join the auction fun when they visit the Museum that week or by following the directions on the website to bid from home. Connecting to the auction site is easy! You make bids whenever you like or “buy it now” when you first see it. You’ll be notified on your phone anytime you’ve been outbid.
EVENT LINE-UP
H M N S H M N S AT S U G A R L A N D
Jingle Tree features a showcase of beautifully decorated trees that will be up for bid in a week-long, online silent auction. Our special touch? The trees are sponsored and decorated by Fort Bend designers, Museum supporters, local celebrities and artistic visionaries. This year’s event honoring Mayor and Mrs. Joe Zimmerman and Allison and Cassandra Wen is co-chaired by Pat Hebert and Farrah Gandhi.
support the education mission of the Museum. After the auction is over, we end Jingle Tree festivities during Cookies with Santa on December 8.
BIRTHDAYS WITH A LITTLE BRAIN POWER! www.hmns.org/birthdays
HMNS JUST FOR KIDS
Let HMNS handle all of your birthday party planning—the decorations, entertainment, craft project, party coordinator and more!
www.hmns.org/kids
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We have themes for all ages and interests: Dinosaur, Ancient Egypt, Butterfly/Bugs, Astronomy, Wildlife and Expedition. Be sure to check out our NEW Energy theme highlighting our state-of-the-art Wiess Energy Hall. Deluxe packages also available: Partysaurus, Winged Wonderland, Galactic Gathering, Deluxe Wildlife, Deluxe Egypt. Visit www.hmns.org/birthdays for complete party planning info, including optional add-ons, testimonials, and accessibility. For Sugar Land parties, visit www.hmns.org/sugarlandbirthdays for more information!
DINO DISCOVERY DAY Saturday, November 3, 9 - 11:30 a.m. Treat your aspiring Paleontologist to breakfast, a lecture and Paleo activities with the Museum’s very own Associate Curator of Paleontology, David Temple.
After enjoying a full breakfast on the Morian Overlook with a stunning view of the dinosaurs below, Dave will give an entertaining and educational talk as well as host several Paleo activities in the Moran Lecture Hall.
Reserve your spot now! For tickets, please call (713) 639-4629. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 1 admitted free. Tickets $45, Members $35.
www.hmns.org/scouts Generously supported by Occidental Petroleum The Scout Program at HMNS continues to grow with the addition of classes for boys and girls.
GIRLS EXPLORING MATH & SCIENCE (GEMS) Generously supported by BMC Software Saturday, February 16 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Families with students of all ages can attend the event and participate in STEM activities and demonstrations.
For more information about GEMS, visit www.hmns.org/GEMS or email GEMS@hmns.org. Call for Student STEM Ambassadors! We are looking for students in grades 4 through 12 who have a passion for STEM! Work in a group of up to 4 students and create a project involving science, technology, engineering or
math to present at Girls Exploring Math & Science (GEMS) on Saturday, February 16. The top three projects will earn prize money for their school, troop or group. Girls Exploring Math & Science is open to scouts, science clubs or any group that is excited about STEM! Students interested in presenting at GEMS can fill out an application today. For more information about GEMS or to apply as a Student STEM Ambassador, visit www.hmns.org/ GEMS or email GEMS@hmns.org.
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www.hmns.org/kids
Join us for our annual STEM event Girls Exploring Math & Science (GEMS)! The Museum will be filled with handson science and math for everyone to experience. Local professionals will be at the Museum to answer questions about their careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
They can also visit with our Student STEM Ambassadors who created their very own STEM project to present during the GEMS event!
HMNS JUST FOR KIDS
Scouts@HMNS offers a wide array of badges and classes for all ages of Boy and Girls Scouts on Saturdays through the school year. Go to www.hmns.org/ scouts for the schedule.
FOR TEACHER OUTREACH PROGRAMS
HMNS FOR TEACHERS
Bring the Museum to Your Classroom! Aligned to grade-level TEKS objectives, pricing ranges from $100 - $625. Presentations last 30-45 minutes and multiple presentations may be scheduled in a day. Extended day, weekend and evening scheduling is also available. Special Science Night activity station packages are also available.
www.hmns.org/education
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For more information and scheduling: www.hmns.org/outreach, outreach@ hmns.org, (713) 639-4758. Choose from these HMNS Outreach Programs:
feature Museum specimens, artifacts and laboratory equipment. Students examine ancient objects, investigate technology, meet live animals and conduct scientific experiments in five different, themed labs.
Time Lab, Grades 1-8 Ancient Greece by the Numbers Meet the revolutionary mathematical thinkers from ancient Greece from Hypatia to Pythagoras and beyond. DECEMBER LAB TOPICS
Each lab is one hour long and includes admission to the Museum’s permanent exhibit halls. Available at HMNS in Hermann Park all month and the select listed dates at HMNS at Sugar Land. Capacity is 25 students per lab. Cost per lab is $200 - $250. Visit www.hmns. org/weekdaylabs for the Weekday Lab schedule for the 2018-2019 school year. NOVEMBER LAB TOPICS
Wildlife Lab, Grades 1-8 Sixth (and Seventh, and Eighth, and Ninth) Sense - We’ve all heard of the five senses; hearing, taste, touch, smell and sight, but there are many more than that. Unveil the world we are missing out on, through animals that have unique methods for sensing heat, pressure, electrical fields and more! (December 13 in Sugar Land) ConocoPhillips Techno Science Lab, Grades 1-8 Circular Motion - Explore rolling and spinning, and discover which shapes are speediest. (December 14 in Sugar Land)
Bugs on Wheels Chevron Earth Science on Wheels ConocoPhillips Science on Stage Docents to Go Discovery Dome Wildlife on Wheels LABS ON DEMAND Need help with a TEKS objective? Want a lab experience for your field trip? Each lab is tailored to your grade level. $200 per presentation (maximum 25 students), plus $75 travel fee for presentations at your school. Topics Available: Chemistry, Force and Motion, Electricity, Light and Optics, Magnets, Storm Science, Ancient Egypt, Cells, Earth Science, and Dissection. For more information on booking a Lab on Demand for your group please email educationquestions@hmns.org. WEEKDAY LABS Coming to HMNS for a field trip? Try one of our Weekday Science Labs. These self-contained investigations
Wildlife Lab, Grades 1-8 Great Barrier Reef - This UNESCO World Heritage Site houses beneficial corals, migratory vertebrates, nefarious sponges and more. Dive into the intricate relationships between these species in this lab. (November 15 in Sugar Land) ConocoPhillips Techno Science Lab, Grades 1-8 Balancing Act - From levers and mobiles to leaning towers, explore the center of mass, and find out why it matters. (November 16 in Sugar Land)
Time Lab, Grades 1-8 Cracking the Egyptian Code Discover the secret of the Rosetta Stone as you discover how ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics were deciphered – then try your hand at cracking your own code!
RS
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND FOR ALL EDUCATORS PROGRAMS, VISIT WWW.HMNS.ORG/EDUCATORS OR CONTACT EDUCATIONQUESTIONS@HMNS.ORG
JANUARY LAB TOPICS
At the end of each workshop, participants will receive 4 hours of CPE credit, a kit of materials to take back to the classroom to use in their own Maker Lab, curriculum and a coupon for discounted parking. To ensure credit, participants should arrive by 8 a.m. “Educator Maker Lab DIY Classroom Tech” Saturday, November 10 8 a.m. - noon
Time Lab, Grades 1-8 Pyroclastic Pompeii - Meet the inhabitants of this ancient city as you journey through the ghostly remains buried deep beneath volcanic ash. (January 24 in Sugar Land)
Dissection Lab, Grades 5-10 Tugging on Your Heartstrings Nothing beats that Aww moment! Take an in-depth look at one powerful muscle, the heart. Includes sheep heart dissection. EXXONMOBIL EDUCATOR MAKER LABS ExxonMobil Educator Maker Labs are intended to engage learners in problem based, open-ended activities that naturally encourage high-level learning, cooperation and problemsolving. Participants will learn a number of new skills and then use those skills in a group setting to solve challenges related to TEKS-based objectives.
Come create some clever contraptions – like a levitating pen – that will not only impress your students but also reinforce key science concepts. EDUCATOR LATE NIGHT “The Science of Monsters and Myths” Friday, January 11, 5 - 11 p.m. Identify monsters, both imaginary and real using a dichotomous key, discover how real medical pathologies and decomposition processes may
THE EDUCATOR EVENT @ HMNS Saturday, January 19 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Houston Museum of Natural Science is proud to present an exclusive opportunity for educators! The Educator Event @ HMNS is a FREE event for educators to learn about educational opportunities provided by HMNS as well as other local institutions. We will be offering workshops covering history, science, art, and more! Educators have the opportunity to earn 3 hours of CPE credit by attending three workshops during the event. The event is FREE to all Houstonarea teachers, school administrators, education undergraduate and graduate students, and home school educators. To register and find out more information, visit www.hmns.org/ educatorevent.
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www.hmns.org/education
ConocoPhillips Techno Science Lab, Grades 1-8 Discovering Density - Discover how hot air balloons rise, why rocks sink, and what makes submarines go up and down. (January 25 in Sugar Land)
“Educator Maker Lab Engineering the TEKS” Saturday, January 12 8 a.m. - noon
During this after-hours experience, educators will work on hands-on activities to use in your classroom, enjoy a catered dinner, and tour exhibitions. Participants receive dinner and 6 hours of CPE credit.
HMNS FOR TEACHERS
Technology doesn't have to be expensive! In this workshop you will make your own smartphone microscope, create a working lamp and more!
account for the belief in vampires and werewolves. Then explore the common human conditions that could account for the similarities of mythical beasts across cultures.
ADULT EDUCATION To register, visit www.hmns.org/adults or call (713) 639-4629.
DISTINGUISHED LECTURES www.hmns.org/lectures
We raised AND lowered lecture ticket prices!
H M N S A D U LT E D U C AT I O N
Tickets purchased a week prior to the lecture will receive early-bird discount price of $10 for Members, $16 nonmembers. Regular price is $14 members, $20 nonmembers.
www.hmns.org/adults
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“Cultivating the Next Generation of Female Space Pioneers” Carolyn Sumners, Ed.D. HMNS VP of Astronomy Tuesday, November 13, 7 p.m. Women have played a vital role in the U.S. space program since its inception in the 1940's. While women were once considered unfit for space travel, the most recent NASA class is 50 percent female. This evening Dr. Carolyn Sumners will address the importance and challenges of preparing girls for future space endeavors—even if the scope and mission is yet unknown.
“The World within Permian Period Fossils: Histologic Studies” Steven J. Norris, Ph.D. Pathologist Wednesday, November 14, 6:30 p.m. (page 9) “Apollo – 50 Years of Defying Gravity” Carolyn Sumners, Ed.D. HMNS VP of Astronomy Tuesday, November 20, 6:30 p.m. Do you remember where you were October 11, 1968, when the American Heroes of the Apollo 7 Mission were launched into outer space? Tonight we blast off our celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo program. Dr. Carolyn Sumners will chronicle the Apollo missions and the amazing advances that stemmed from the program’s discoveries.
In seeking a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus, Dr. Carolyn Sumners will tell the story of angels, shepherds, a plotting king—and outstanding spectacles in the heavens above. Through archaeoastronomy, the possible dates for the birth of Christ will be examined. A historical investigation of recorded sightings of astronomical events during this timeframe will point us in the right direction. This lecture will include a screening of Mystery of the Christmas Star.
Dr. Carolyn Sumners has been involved with STEM education for over 40 years. She holds a joint position with the HMNS and HISD, is HMNS VP of Astronomy, and adjunct professor of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University. As well as teaching school children, she has trained NASA astronauts on star fields in preparation for their missions.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR AND CLASS “Fossil Prep Lab Tour and Class” David Temple, HMNS Paleontologist Wednesday, November 7, 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 5, 6 p.m. (page 9) “Gem Carvings of Gerd Dreher” Peter Dreher & Joel Bartsch Tuesday, November 27, 6:30 p.m. (page 15)
Photo by NASA
“Science of the Christmas Star” Carolyn Sumners, Ed.D. HMNS VP of Astronomy Tuesday, December 11, 6:30 p.m.
“Texas Bullet Train, Y’all Aboard!” Michael J. Moore, VP of Texas Central Tuesday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. (page 11)
URBAN HARVEST GARDENING CLASSES
www.hmns.org/aedclasses Instructor: Angela Chandler
“Edible Landscaping” Saturday, November 17, 9:30 a.m. “Insectary Gardens” Saturday, December 8, 9:30 a.m.
Enjoy a night of stargazing in the recently upgraded Burke Baker Planetarium! HMNS Catalysts and their guests will fly through the Universe and experience the vastness of space. Complimentary drinks, light bites, crafts and more. Strictly for adults ages 21 and up. FREE for HMNS Catalysts Members. General public $25. Discounted tickets for HMNS members and Catalysts’ guests are available at (713) 639-4629.
2018 Steering Committee Tim Allen • Brynn Bossart • Autumn Breese • Celeste Byrom • Anna Caudle • Ben Clemenceau • Cary Corral • Anna Domning • Christine Dubbert • Allison Flick • Sam Li • Hunter Lockhart • Brooke McCallum • Will McCallum • Maggie McDaniel • Cassie Reid McGarvey • Vanessa Neutzler • Christa Clarke Owolabi • Jacob Owolabi • Sahil Patel • Julia Russell • Katherine Sermas • Patrick Sermas • Chase E. Simpson • Kate McLarney Speck • Charley Tauer • Eugene Terry • Kelley Trier • Emalie Vann Ghonima
T R AV E L W I T H H M N S
Photo by Amy Potts
Belize 2019 = Maya Jungle Adventure + Island Paradise April 1 - 10, 2019 Maya Paradise – Maya Archaeology and Caribbean Reefs! This once-ina-lifetime journey encompasses the best of both worlds—the inland jungles with amazing Maya sites and wildlife and bountiful coral reefs off the private island of South Water Caye, where marine geologist Dr. André Droxler of Rice University has conducted research for 30 years. Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout, HMNS curator of anthropology, participated in archaeological fieldwork in Belize and is excited for the Museum’s first trip there.
UPDATE - SPRING 2020! Egypt, The Grand Tour We are excited to offer a two-part trip to Egypt like no other. Folks can register for either or both. Complete itinerary and registration information will be available spring 2019. Part I - Classic Nile Tour: Pyramids, Temples and Tombs
Part II - Egypt, Beyond the Beaten Path: Paleontology and Geology HMNS Curator of Paleontology David Temple will accompany the group to incredible sites that seldom make travel itineraries: the White Desert, Black Desert, Crystal Desert, Bahariya Oasis, Valley of the Whales, St. Catherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinai and Suez Canal in Egypt. Then on to Jordan to see the Colored Canyon, Dahab on the Gulf of Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Moses Mountain, Petra and Jeresh and Amman. Slated for March 22 - April 4, 2020.
HMNS Curator of Egyptology, Tom Hardwick, will accompany our group to the must-see sights of ancient Egypt—Cairo, Abu Simbel, Aswan, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, Giza. This portion includes a Nile Cruise. Slated for March 17 - 26, 2020. Photo by George Brooks
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www.hmns.org/catalysts • www.hmns.org/travel
A daytrip to Tikal in Guatemala, all meals and international airfare are included. Visit www.hmns.org/travel for trip itineraries and registration information. Limited space remains! Register today!
H M N S H M N S C ATA LY S T S • TA K E T W O
HMNS Catalysts: Burke Baker Planetarium Young Professionals Event Thursday, November 8, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
NOVEMBER
HMNS EVENTS CALENDAR
FAMILY EVENT Dino Discovery Day Saturday, November 3, 9 - 11:30 a.m. (page 24)
www.hmns.org/calendar
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HMNS CATALYSTS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS Burke Baker Planetarium Thursday, November 8, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (page 29) HMNS AT SUGAR LAND Jingle Tree Kick-off Tree Lighting Friday, November 9, 10 a.m. (page 23) MEMBERS ONLY - KIDS World Trekkers: Egypt Friday, November 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (page 2) TAKE TWO Coco Friday, November 9, 7:15 p.m. (page 17) MEMBERS ONLY 2nd Saturday Saturday, November 10, 8 a.m. (page 2)
SUGAR LAND MEMBERS ONLY 2nd Saturdays at Sugar Land Saturday, November 10, 10 - 11 a.m. (page 23)
URBAN HARVEST GARDENING CLASS “Edible Landscaping” Saturday, November 17, 9:30 a.m. (page 28)
EXXONMOBIL EDUCATOR MAKER LAB “Educator Maker Lab DIY Classroom Tech” Saturday, November 10, 8 a.m. - noon (page 27)
COCKRELL BUTTERFLY CENTER White Christmas Begins Monday, November 19 (page 21)
HMNS AT SUGAR LAND Jingle Tree Bring the Bling Tuesday, November 13, 9 a.m. - noon (page 23) DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “Cultivating the Next Generation of Female Space Pioneers” Tuesday, November 13, 7 p.m. (page 28) HMNS AT SUGAR LAND Jingle, Jingle Mix and Mingle Happy Hour & Auction Close Thursday, November 15, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. (page 23) MEMBERS NIGHT GEORGE OBSERVATORY Friday, November 16, 7:30 - 10 p.m. (page 2)
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “Apollo – 50 Years of Defying Gravity” Tuesday, November 20, 6:30 p.m. (page 28) TAKE TWO Beauty and the Beast Friday, November 23, 7:15 p.m. (page 17) DISTINGUISHED LECTURE & TOUR “Gem Carvings of Gerd Dreher” Tuesday, November 27, 6:30 p.m. (page 15) SIP AND SHOP Members Exclusive Shopping Experience Thursday, November 29, 6 - 9 p.m. (page 2)
For tickets to all events, visit www
DECEMBER
GEORGE OBSERVATORY Family Space Day Saturday, December 1 (page 20)
MEMBERS ONLY EVENT 2nd Saturday Saturday, December 8, 8 a.m. (page 2)
TAKE TWO It's a Wonderful Life Sunday, December 9, 5 & 7:15 p.m. (page 17)
SENSORY FRIENDLY DAY Monday, December 3, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (page 8)
URBAN HARVEST GARDENING CLASS “Insectary Gardens” Saturday, December 8, 9:30 a.m. (page 28)
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “Science of the Christmas Star” Tuesday, December 11, 6:30 p.m. (page 28)
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR “Fossil Prep Lab Tour and Class” Wednesday, December 5, 6 p.m. (page 9)
MEMBERS ONLY HMNS for the Holidays! Sunday, December 9, 4:30 - 9 p.m. (page 2)
GEORGE OBSERVATORY Geminid Meteor Shower Wednesday, December 12 (page 20) HMNS AFTER DARK Wednesday, December 26, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. (page 8)
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www.hmns.org/calendar
w.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.
HMNS AT SUGAR LAND Jingle Tree Cookies with Santa Saturday, December 8, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (page 23)
HMNS EVENTS CALENDAR
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “Texas Bullet Train, Y’all Aboard!” Tuesday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. (page 11)
POSTMASTER: Dated material enclosed. Please deliver IMMEDIATELY!
www.hmns.org/magazine
HMNS NEWS • NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 • VOLUME 23, NUMBER 6
5555 Hermann Park Drive Houston, Texas 77030
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Houston, Texas Permit No. 6371
HMNS NEWS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.HMNS.ORG/MAGAZINE HMNS activities are supported in part by funds provided by the City of Houston.
HMNS News (ISSN 1556-7478) is published bimonthly by the Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77030. Issues are sent every other month as a benefit to all Museum members. HMNS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve and advance the general knowledge of natural science, to enhance in individuals the knowledge of and delight in natural science and related subjects, and to maintain and promote a museum of the first class.
THE INSECT PHOTOGR APHY OF LEVON BISS
THROUGH JANUARY 19, 2019 PAGE 15
NOW SHOWING ININ THE WORTHAM GIANT SCREEN THEATRE THE HMNS STORE PAGE 16 PAGE 26
THROUGH JANUARY 13, 2019 PAGE 14
OPENS NOVEMBER 9 PAGE 10
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