SPRING 2016
200 19th Street North Birmingham, AL 35203 WWW.MCWANE.ORG (205) 714-8300
Contents 1
PARKS/PG. 1
IMAX FILMS
See National Parks Adventure and visit the Great Outdoors without ever leaving your seat.
Letter from the President S
pring is a time for cultivating fresh opportunities that with careful nurturing will blossom into something wonderful. I believe it is especially fitting that this spring McWane Science Center has adopted a new strategic plan to shape our path for the next five years. This past year has been remarkable for many reasons…the great success of Itty Bitty Magic City, an increase in visitation to our Adventure Halls, reaching 10,000 household memberships for the first time in our history, and much more. Our new strategic plan allows us to build on this strong foundation as we MCWANE look at opportunities to grow MILESTONES and improve our service to all audiences. McWane Science Center welcomed its 6 millionth guest in 2015. That is an average of 352,941 guests a year since 1998.
You will soon receive detailed information about our new strategic plan and how it will benefit you and your family. Broadly speaking, the plan is divided into five strategic areas: McWane as a destination for families and schools, and how we can improve the visitor experience throughout our facility; McWane as a center for learning for all ages, including teacher trainings, classroom instruction, and public programs in STEM education; telling the McWane story so our community knows and understands all we have to offer; forging partnerships with the science, technology and engineering industries to enhance our programming and ensure our children are prepared to be citizens of the 21st century; and team development to enable our staff, board and volunteers to better serve our community. We look forward to sharing our plans with you, and hope you will join with us in helping McWane Science Center grow and improve over the next five years. Thank you for helping make this a special place for our children and their families.
BODIES/PG. 4
4
BODY WORLDS RX
It’s your last chance to see Body Worlds before it leaves on May 1. 5
HALL OF HEROES
Superheroes invade McWane this summer with our newest travelling exhibit. 6
HEROES/PG. 5
WHO ARE THE JUN BUGS?
Meet the volunteers who work behind the scenes of McWane’s Collections Department. 8
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Itty Bitty Magic City is turning one year old. Be there for the party. 8
BEAKER BASH RECAP
Check out a photo album from McWane’s Galactic Road Trip. 9
JUN BUGS/PG. 6 JELLIES/PG. 9
MOON JELLIES
Learn about these serene sea creatures who spend most of their day... just floating around.
2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gordon G. Martin, Chair • D. Scott Adams, Past Chair John McCullough, Secretary • J. Bowen Thagard, Jr., Treasurer Tracy Morant Adams, J. Iwan Alexander, Stephanie Alexander, Daniel Bolongaro, Lisa Jernigan Bruhn, Charlie A. Collat Jr., Leigh Davis, Taylor P. Davis, John P. Dulin, Collin Gaston, Charles D. Goodrich, Penney Hartline, Shannon Holt, Alesia M. Jones, Geeta Lakhanpal, Danny Markstein, Jennifer Skjellum, Kavita Vasil, Chad Webb, Nicolas O. Willis, Gary York
PRESIDENT/CEO Amy W. Templeton
2016 ENDOWMENT BOARD Lynn LaRussa, President • Garland C. Smith, Secretary Forest Whatley, Nina Botsford, Will Brooke, Sheri Cook, Gillian Goodrich, Norman Jetmundsen, Charlie Miller, Margaret Porter, Chuck Redden, Lissa Tyson
Amy Templeton President and CEO
McWane Science Center is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to change lives through science and wonder.
CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN
IMAX SEASON PRESENTED BY
National Parks Adventure is more than simply an Imax film. It takes viewers on a guided tour of some of America’s most beautiful locations. So, pack your trail mix and get ready for the journey of a lifetime.
NOW SHOWING
OPENING MAY 20
NOW SHOWING
Take a journey through America’s playgrounds
T
he power of America’s national parks is undeniable. Millions have packed up the family to hike through impossibly lush forests, to gaze upon towering cliffs and deep-plunging canyons, to witness the breathtaking arcs of natural history, and, most of all, to share moments of wonder amid the protected treasures of this land. A MacGillivray Freeman film produced in association with Brand USA and narrated by Academy Award® winner Robert Redford, National Parks Adventure is acclaimed filmmaker Greg MacGillivray’s most visually ambitious giant-screen film to date — a film that offers not only a sweeping overview of the national parks’ history, but is equal parts adrenaline-pumping odyssey and soulful reflection on what the wilderness means to us all.
“
National Parks Adventure captures the stunning beauty of our wild places and reminds us these landscapes are an essential part of the human spirit.
”
— ROBERT REDFORD NARRATOR
IMAX SEASON PRESENTED BY
OPENS MAY 20
DREAM Nature is more magical, more enchanting, and more powerful than anything you can possibly imagine. And no other continent inspires the imagination like Africa—the wildest place on Earth. In “Wild Africa” travel from enchanted forests to the boiling edge of the underworld, from celestial icecapped mountains and lava-spewing volcanoes, to crashing waterfalls and deep fantastical seas.
NOW SHOWING
BIG
OPENS FEBRUARY 2017
MCWANE.ORG • 1
PLAN AHEAD april Health Fair April 9
11 AM - 2 PM
WHAT'S HAPPENING at mcane
Please check mcwane.org for complete details
4-H Day April 23 Join the Alabama 4-H for a fun filled day at McWane Science Center! Alabama 4-H will be hosting activities and educational programs related to STEM, gardening, natural resources, and more.
Let’s get healthy! McWane Science Center and UAB Medicine partner to present a health fair with free health screenings and demonstrations. Join us for free vision screenings, blood pressure tests, exercise demos, Zumba, and more!
DNA Day
Final Body Worlds Lecture April 25
April 16
10 AM - 4 PM
Celebrate the discovery of the DNA double helix and the completion of the Human Genome Project. See DNA with your own eyes, take a DNA “cell-fie” and build a giant DNA model!
may
May 14
Who doesn’t love a caped avenger soaring through the sky defending peace and prosperity? They’re amazing and not just because they fill us with hope. Often, their mythos is actually rooted in science. In this new Summer exhibit, take a look at the “superhero” in a completely new light and learn a few things in the process.
Where would we be without our mothers? Their love. Their kindness. Their gentle hearts? And in honor of their special day, all Moms get in FREE this day at McWane.
june
Superhero Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM
McWane Science Center becomes the Hall of Justice and the Legion of Doom on this very special Saturday. Join us and meet some of your favorite super heroes (and villains). 2 • SPRING 2016
April’s lecture on Personalized Medicine is presented by Dr. Nita Limdi, UAB Department of Neurology and Dr. Bruce Korf, UAB Department of Genetics. These experts will discuss the future of medicine where health care will be tailored to each person’s unique genetic makeup.
Hall of Heroes
Mother’s Day May 8
June 18
6 PM/$5
WeatherFest 2016
April 30
9 AM - 2 PM/FREE
Do you find the world of weather fascinating? If you do, join the WBRC First Alert Weather Team and some special guests on the plaza to learn about severe weather safety! Weather fans will have the chance to see vehicles and tools used by atmospheric scientists to detect and study severe weather.
Summer Camps June 6 - July 29
What will your children learn during their summer vacations this year? In just one week at camp, your child can journey to the bottom of the ocean floor, discover a dinosaur, travel through outerspace and even build their very own robot!
And don’t miss the chance to meet all of your favorite WBRC TV personalities.
Itty Bitty Birthday May 14 10 AM - 4 PM Itty Bitty Magic City is turning one and it’s time for a party. Join us for a celebration at McWane Science Center with special programs, live entertainment, outdoor activities and even birthday cake!
Ranger Day May 21 10 AM - 3 PM Get ready to celebrate the great outdoors! Junior Rangers are invited to spend the day learning more about our National and State Parks. Join us on May 21st to see National Parks Adventure in Imax, meet real park rangers, and spend time with Smokey the Bear!
Father’s Day
Teens and Tech
June 19
Put on your favorite cape and join us as we take a closer look at the science behind some of our favorite superheroes. Teens and Tech is a FREE event for 6th-9th Graders. Reservations required
Superman is pretty cool... but we all know who the real hero is — Dad. To honor fathers everywhere, “Dear Old Dad” gets in FREE on Father’s Day at McWane.
June 25 5 PM - 9 PM
Morning and afternoon weekly sessions available for ages 4K-9th Grade PRICE PER WEEK Full day: $300 (Members save $50) Half day: $150 (Members save $25) FOR REGISTRATION VISIT WWW.MCWANE.ORG
MEMBER MONDAYS On the 2nd Monday evening of every month, McWane Science Center opens its doors from 5 to 8 PM for members only to enjoy activities throughout the building!
CHECK WWW.MCWANE.ORG FOR SCHEDULE
MCWANE
MILESTONES
McWane proudly maintains over 10,000 Member households. MCWANE.ORG• •33 MCWANE.ORG
Amazing EXHiBITS Body Worlds Rx is leaving McWane Science Center on May 1st, so if you haven’t made plans to see this unique exhibit, don’t miss out
Thanks to the advances in preservation by Dr. Gunther von Hagens, we can now see with our own eyes the inner workings of humanity.
B
ody Worlds Rx made its world premiere at McWane Science Center January 27th and has had great success in offering visitors an extraordinary look at the human body. This exhibit focuses on the most prevalent contemporary diseases in today’s world and their causes and effects. Body Worlds Rx aims to inspire and empower museum-goers to take steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Created by physician and scientist Dr. Gunther von Hagens, this exhibit brings anatomy to the public through a technique called plastination. Plastination is a complex technique that removes the fluids from the body and replaces them with plastics that harden. The specimens preserved by this process show impressive comparisons and contrasts between healthy bodies and organs and those stricken with disease. As the presenting sponsor for the exhibit, UAB Medicine has partnered with McWane Science Center to offer fantastic programming and events. The Body Worlds Rx Lecture Series brings UAB doctors to the exhibit to present lectures to the public on current health topics. The last lecture will be April 25th and tickets are $5. UAB and McWane Science Center have also partnered to present our first Health Fair on April 9th with free health screenings and demonstrations for our museum guests. For more information on these events, visit our website www. mcwane.org. Body Worlds Rx runs through May 1st. Don’t miss this spectacularly unique chance to explore the anatomy and physiology of human health and the dramatic effects of disease.
4 • SPRING 2016
ADMISSION NON MEMBERS: $5.00 + museum admission n MEMBERS: First visit FREE, $2.00 per person each additional visit, non transferable n
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL (205)714-8414 OR VISIT WWW.MCWANE.ORG
SPONSORED BY
SUPPORTING SPONSORSHIP
Linn Henley Charitable Trust
INSIDE OUT: The mysteries of the human body are on display as you explore the many facets of Body Worlds Rx.
The hits keep coming here at McWane Science Center as we wrap up Body Worlds Rx and make room on Level Three for Hall of Heroes, an exhibit aimed directly at the superhero in each of us. OPENS MAY 14!
L
Channel your inner superhero and experience McWane’s newest summer exhibit, Hall of Heroes
earn the circumstances that create superheroes, discover the ideals heroes uphold, and push boundaries as to what it truly means to be heroic in the Hall of Heroes! Starting your journey in the ‘Identification Station’ guests will learn about the five disciplines that are the basis for all super powers: ‘Powers of the Body,’ ‘Powers of the Mind,’ ‘Mastery,’ ‘Gadgets,’ and ‘The
Elements.’ These five powers are reflected throughout the exhibit where guests can explore, learn and test their skills at the many interactive stations to find out what discipline of superhero they excel in. The exhibit features a half scale replica of the 1960’s Barris Kustoms’ Batmobile and various other movie props, replicas and rare artifacts from past and present major motion pictures and television shows. Interactive display cases will take guests through a history of heroes and how people relate to them, from the ‘Radio’ to the ‘Pop Culture’ display that talks about everything from blockbuster films to large-scale comic conventions. The Hall of Heroes exhibit is definitely a place where you can “Discover Your Superpowers!”
MCWANE.ORG • 5
BEHIND THE SCENES
Jun Ebersole, Dr. Karen Moore (7 years), Peggy Lowery (5 years), June Fletcher (4 years), Lois Mancin (12 years), Bill McCulla (7 years), BACK ROW: Jack LaRosa (4 years), Drew Gentry (3 years), Paige Van de Vuurst (3 years), James Lowery (10 years)
Jun and the
Jun Bugs
Loyal volunteers (like the Jun Bugs) help unpack some of Alabama’s most unique hidden treasures
B
ehind the large windows on level two, there is a lab McWane Science Center guests cannot enter. What is inside and what are they doing back there? The McWane Collections lab houses over half a million fossils and other specimens and objects largely from Alabama. Director of Collections Jun Ebersole and over half a dozen McWane docents, lovingly called the “Jun Bugs,” spend their time identifying, cataloguing and preserving these specimens in the lab. Inside the lab, you may see the Jun Bugs working with boxes of fossils, including fossilized shark teeth, prehistoric leaves and dinosaurs. To preserve the fossils for future research, they go through a process of extraction, identification and organization. To extract the fossils from the large rocks that hold them, Dr. Karen Moore, retired UAB biochemist, uses mild acids to dissolve the rocks and expose the fossils. Then, other docents begin identifying, labeling, and cataloguing
each specimen — many that are no larger than your fingernail. Once labeled and catalogued, they photograph them in a special light box. The photographs and information on the fossils are then uploaded onto the Alabama Biodiversity Database, which can be accessed by anyone online. “Think of our collection as a reference library,” says Jun, “Online, anyone can explore the collection and use it.” People from all over the world — from scientists to students to amateur paleontologists — can view and interact with the McWane Collection. “People don’t realize this is a world class collection,” says Drew Gentry, a UAB grad student who has worked and studied here for three years. When he started in Collections, he was amazed at all of the research opportunities he had at his fingertips. Right now, he focuses on fossilized sea turtles and investigating the origins of modern sea turtles.
To see the Alabama Biodiversity Database visit www.mcwane.org 6 • SPRING 2016
Bill McCulla cuts out a large fossil from a hunk of excavated rock.
Collections by the numbers Inside McWane Science Center’s climate controlled storage room there are half a million unique objects and specimens that make up the living footprint of Alabama. Here are just a few of the often unusual things found inside Collections.
12,000
Database photos taken
3,677
Stone tools catalogued
103
40
The Jun Bugs spend their Tuesdays pouring over slides, specimens and scientific theory. “It’s not just a fun way to spend the day,” says Peggy Lowery, a five year volunteer, “It serves the greater good. Without careful preservation of these artifacts, how can we know our history?”
Years of field notes Publications citing McWane Science Center
280
Who says there’s nothing new under the sun?
Fossil shark species identified in Alabama
0
Actual live Jun Bugs
624
AN AMAZING DISCOVERY
400+
Masks
Doughnuts eaten by Jun (and Company) per year
Jun Ebersole and colleagues from University of Bristol and Florida State University recently identified a new genus and species of duck-billed dinosaurs. Eotrachodon orientalis (e-ohtrack-oh-don or-ee-en-tal- us) was found in Montgomery, Alabama and brought to McWane for extraction and identification. After years of research and eliminating other species, it was discovered this was not only a completely new dinosaur, but also the ancestor of all other duck-billed dinosaurs in the world. Jun and his colleagues published their findings in January and have made international news. You can see Eotrachodon orientalis behind the glass in the McWane Collection on level two.
Jun Ebersole, Director of Collections, carefully examines newly identified skeletal remains of the Eotrachodon orientalis.
MCWANE.ORG • 7
Happy Birthday Itty Bitty Magic City
M
Come have a piece of cake on May 14th!
y how time flies. It seems like only yesterday McWane Science Center was hammering the last nail into Itty Bitty Magic City. Now one year later, the second floor is quite possibly the most popular place in the museum. Within three months of our grand opening, visitor numbers skyrocketed, membership purchases increased and positive word-of-mouth surrounding the new addition spread like wild fire.
So what’s the verdict? Has Itty Bitty been a success? In a word: YES! Early childhood learning combined with fun is the cornerstone of education and Itty Bitty Magic City is the very personification of these two key elements. How is McWane planning to honor one year of success? We are throwing a party. And not just any party. This is a party with cake and favors and maybe even a surprise or two. Clear your schedules because on May 14th it’s going to be... well, the opposite of itty bitty.
MCWANE
MILESTONES Since opening in May 2015, over 286,600 itty bitty guests have visited Itty Bitty Magic City.
DEVELOPMENT
Annual fundraiser a huge success For one night only, the halls of McWane Science Center transformed into the recesses of space as hundreds of happy visitors took a Galactic Road Trip at our annual fundraiser — Beaker Bash. Giddy patrons slipped through the fabric of space and enjoyed a night of interplanetary fun -- all the while raising funds for science learning.
PRESENTED BY
Daniel and Jamie Bolongaro and family 8 • SPRING 2016
Jim Screws, Mary Screws,Carolyn Thagard, Bowen Thagard
Jess Mason, Erin & Sarah Margaret Donohoo
BEHIND THE EXHIBITS
Come enjoy the otherworldly ballet of 60 Moon Jellies in World of Water, located on the Lower Level
Meet
MCWANE Meet McWane is a regular section in Eureka designed to let you get to know the unsung heroes behind McWane Science Center's success.
Kevin Van Hyning n
JOB TITLE: Graphic Designer MANY YEARS ON THE JOB: 8
n HOW
MCWANE: What do you do here at McWane Science Center?
FUN FACTS ABOUT JELLIES • Their ancestors lived 500 million years ago. They are older than dinosaurs!
• Jellies use stinging cells, called nematocysts, to paralyze their prey
• Instead of drifting, jellies were among the first animals to use their muscles to swim • Found in oceans worldwide, they dwell in both shallow and deep water • They are comprised off m more than 95% water
• They have evolved to be camouflaged in the dark, making it difficult for predators to see them • Many jellies are able to produce light—this phenomenon is called bioluminescence
Kevin: I’m a graphic designer. I basically draw circles and squares with a computer... but in the bigger picture, I design all the advertising for McWane. MCWANE: Where are you from? Kevin: Mobile, AL. MCWANE: Describe yourself in 3 words? Kevin: Creative, friendly, nervous, paranoid... wait, that’s four... oh no. MCWANE: What do you want to do when you grow up? Kevin: World famous cartoonist... stand up comic... or the guy who gives away free samples at Sam’s (people are so excited to see them). MCWANE: What is your favorite movie? Kevin: “Ghostbusters.” Probably the movie that most affected my imagination as a child. Well, that and “The Black Stallion.” Kidding, I hated “The Black Stallion.” MCWANE: What was your first job? Kevin: I worked at a miniature golf course. Jungle themed. I spent my Friday nights in high school surrounded by fiberglass elephants and giraffes. In other words, I never had a date. MCWANE: What is the oddest thing that has ever happened to you at McWane? Kevin: I often have to dress up at McWane and wear costumes at various events. I’ve been Mr. Potato Head, Doc Brown, a mummy from Scooby Doo, Diego, the Man in the Yellow Hat and a Backyardigan... Not sure which one... It’s fun... I think. MCWANE.ORG • 9
Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit No. 1331
200 19th Street North Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 714-8300 www.mcwane.org
HAPPY BIRTHDAY On May 14th, Itty Bitty Magic City turns one year old! Be there and join in on the celebration!
Mark your calendar HEALTH FAIR MEMBER MONDAY Science Spectacular DNA DAY SCIENCE CAFE 4-H DAY BODY WORLDS LECTURE SERIES WEATHERFEST MOTHER’S DAY MEMBER MONDAY Engineering Challenge HALL OF HEROES
For more information on current and upcoming events visit www.mcwane.org
APRIL 9 APRIL 11 APRIL 16 APRIL 19 APRIL 23 APRIL 25 APRIL 30 MAY 8 MAY 9 MAY 14
ITTY BITTY BIRTHDAY SCIENCE CAFE NATIONAL PARKS ADVENTURE IMAX RANGER DAY SUMMER CAMPS BEGIN MEMBER MONDAY Heroes Party SUPERHERO SATURDAY FATHER’S DAY SCIENCE CAFE TEENS AND TECH
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