news january / february 2013 VOLUME 18, Number 1 www.hmns.org
a brilliant vision o pe n s F e b rua ry 1 , 2 0 1 3
H M N S i n t h i s i s s u e • 2 0 1 3 h m n s g a l a • a b u t t e r f ly f l u t t e r
In
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2013 HMNS Gala
2 2013 HMNS Gala A Butterfly Flutter
celebrate what makes this Museum so evolutionary! Gala Chairmen Josiane and Conrad Goerl and Lucinda and Javier Loya invite you to attend a night of Jurassic proportions. Your support will ensure that the Museum continues to evolve.
3 Capital Campaign Update General Information 4-5 Fabergé: A Brilliant Vision 6-7 Gems of the Medici 8-9 Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History 10 - 11 HMNS at Sugar Land 12 - 13 Wortham Giant Screen Theatre 14 Burke Baker Planetarium
On Saturday, March 2, 2013, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is embarking on a prehistoric safari. Please join us for Slither to the Sound: A Prehistoric Party as we
A major event in Houston’s spring gala season, Slither to the Sound: A Prehistoric Party, will provide essential financial support for the Museum’s exhibitions, educational programs and operations. Tables are available from $5,000 or individual tickets can be purchased from $500. For additional information, please contact Sveta Darnell at (713) 639-4729 or sdarnell@hmns.org.
15 Cockrell Butterfly Center George Observatory 16 - 17 Just For Kids 18 - 19 For Teachers 20 Adult Education 21 Travel Program Partners in Education HMNS Museum Store 22 - 23 Events Calendar LaB 5555 • Science Luncheon Get connected to hmns www.hmns.org facebook
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vimeo
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On Saturday, February 23, children and parents will burst out of their cocoons and migrate to HMNS for A Butterfly Flutter. This children’s event offers a variety of exciting activities, including papilio arts and crafts, metamorphic face painting, a squirmy insect petting zoo, and so much more! Of course, there will be lots of nectar to drink to keep those wings fluttering,
and other munchies for hungry caterpillars! The 2013 A Butterfly Flutter Chairs, Sarah Snyder and Martha Ann Snyder, hope you will flutter your wings to support the best butterfly center in the southwest! To be a part of the excitement, please contact Sveta Darnell at (713) 639-4729 or sdarnell@hmns.org.
Campaign Goal
Exceeded!
At the September 27, 2012 Board Meeting, HMNS President Joel A. Bartsch announced that the Museum had received an extraordinarily generous gift from Board Members Laurie and Reed Morian that took the campaign over the top. “For many years,
Laurie and Reed have put their hearts and souls into the Museum,” said Bartsch. “It is fitting that we create a permanent tribute to their enduring friendship by naming our newest and most extensive permanent exhibition—the Morian Hall of Paleontology.”
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is deeply grateful to all the donors—past and present—whose kind generosity and entrepreneurial vision have founded and nurtured a museum that champions the natural world and encourages a new generation of scientists.
general information Main Campus
HOURS OF OPERATION Monday through Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Year’s Holiday Week: January 1-7: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. MLK Day: January 21: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SPECIAL TICKET VENUES Wortham Giant Screen Theater Cockrell Butterfly Center Burke Baker Planetarium GyroXtreme Special Exhibitions: - Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History - Gems of the Medici
ADVANCE PURCHASES Payable by credit card only. (713) 639-4629 Monday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Handling fee for phone orders only. Online at www.store.hmns.org
SUGAR LAND MEMBER TICKETS Number of discounted tickets by membership level: Individual, Student & Senior, 1; Dual, 2; Family level & above, 2 adults & 4 children.
(713) 639-4629, www.hmns.org/sugarland 13016 University Boulevard Sugar Land, Texas 77479
Hours of operation
For all venues: (713) 639-4659, www.hmn.org/fieldtrip
Thursdays - Fridays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays: noon to 5 p.m. New Year’s Holiday Week: January 1: noon - 5 p.m. January 2-7: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. MLK and Presidents’ Day: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Special Ticket Venues
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS (713) 639-4616, TTY (713) 639-4687 membership@hmns.org
FIELD TRIPS
(713) 639-4646, www.hmns.org/birthdays Party Smarty at Main Campus and Sugar Land; (281) 242-3055 Challenger Birthday Mission at the George Observatory.
BUILDING RENTAL SPECIAL EVENTS (713) 639-4749, www.rentthemuseum.org
PARKING Member $5, nonmember $10, all others $20
Dig Pit Special Exhibition: - Zula Patrol: Mission Weather
GEORGE OBSERVATORY (281) 242-3055, www.hmns.org/observatory Located in Brazos Bend State Park. Park entrance fee: $7 per person; free for ages 12 & under. Private groups can schedule tours, Challenger missions and astronomy classes.
www.hmns.org/visit
(713) 639-4629, www.hmns.org 5555 Hermann Park Drive Houston, Texas 77030
H M N S c a p i t a l c a m p a i g n u p d a t e • GENERA L INF O R M ATI O N
HMNS@100: Building for a Second Century of Science, the single largest capital campaign undertaken by HMNS and conducted during one of the most difficult economic environments, came to a successful conclusion this fall with an eight-figure gift that allowed us to exceed our $85,000,000 goal.
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H M N S f a b e r g ĂŠ : a b r i ll i a n t v i s i o n
a brilliant vision e x h i b i t i o n o p e n s f e b r u a ry 1
Beginning February 1, HMNS visitors can glimpse this grandeur in a special exhibition of Fabergé from the McFerrin Collection. Featuring more than 350 objects, highlights include 2 Fabergé eggs recently added to the collection—the breathtaking Diamond Trellis Imperial Egg and one of the celebrated Kelch Eggs.
Fabergé: A Brilliant Vision is organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science with the McFerrin Collection. Support provided by The Wortham Foundation, Inc.
MEMBER EVENT
Saturday, February 2, 6 - 10 p.m. Children’s crafts, cash bar and refreshments. Reserve early—this event will sell out! Admission to Fabergé: A Brilliant Vision requires a separate reservation. Please call (713) 639-4629 for reservations.
FABERGÉ SYMPOSIUM
Thursday, January 31, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. $75 per person
In recent years, the McFerrin Collection has become one of the world’s most significant private Fabergé collections. Tatiana Fabergé, the great-granddaughter of Peter Carl Fabergé, calls it “one of those rare gems” in the upcoming book From a Snowflake to an Iceberg, which will accompany the exhibition.
HMNS is proud to host the 2013 Fabergé Symposium featuring internationally-recognized experts: Tim Adams, USA; Tatiana Fabergé, France; Alice Ilich, Australia; Galina Korneva, Russia; Christel McCanless, USA; Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm, Finland; and Annemiek Wintraecken, the Netherlands.
“The McFerrin Collection on extended loan will bring such pleasure to the many visitors, both young and old, who again will have the opportunity to dream and imagine the glory of the
The program will include a preview of the McFerrin Fabergé Collection before it opens to the public, demonstrations of gemstone-cutting and metalsmithing techniques used by Fabergé craftsmen,
and specialized tours of the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals and Smith Gem Vault. Breakfast and lunch are included. Advanced reservations required.
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “Carl Fabergé, Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars” Caroline de Guitaut, Royal Collection, London Monday, February 25, 6:30 p.m. Tickets $18, Members $12
Exquisitely crafted and unsurpassed in artistry, the imaginative designs of Peter Carl Fabergé were dearly cherished by aristocrats and royalty. Appointed to the Russian Imperial Court during the reigns of the last two Tsars, Alexander III and Nicholas II, Fabergé had to flee Russia during the Revolution, his shops seized by the Soviets and his workmen scattered. The work of Peter Carl Fabergé and his House of Fabergé remains unmatched to this day. Caroline de Guitaut is Curator of Decorative Arts at the Royal Collection in London where she has worked for 20 years. She has worked extensively on the Royal Collection of Fabergé. This lecture is sponsored by the Favrot Fund and co-sponsored by Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR Tuesday, February 19, 6 p.m. Tickets $30, Members $20
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www.hmns.org/exhibits
The exhibition includes past favorites such as the famed Nobel Ice Egg, the dazzling Empress Josephine Tiara, and the ornate Fire Screen Frame, a gift from Tsar Nicholas II to his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. New additions to the collection include several important Imperial presentation boxes and other objects d’lux.
past,” Fabergé writes. “This will both educate and enrich the art experience of the American public and allow them to be captivated by the magic of the Fabergé genius so that they can perhaps understand just a little of what has drawn the McFerrins to create such an outstanding collection.”
H M N S f a b e r g é : a b r i ll i a n t v i s i o n
Simply hearing the name Fabergé evokes the splendor and extravagance of late 19th and early 20th century Imperial Russia. The House of Fabergé designed the renowned Imperial Easter Eggs for the Romanov family, as well as an array of objets d’art, luxurious gifts, and practical items for the wealthy patrons of Europe.
HMNS gems of the medici
through march 31, 2013
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Gems of the Medici displays magnificent exemplars of the worldfamous Medici collection, including engraved gemstones and cameos as well as other original works of art that date as far back as the first century B.C. Collected and commissioned over three centuries by the Medici family of Florence, this gathering of intricately detailed artifacts includes pieces that date from antiquity through the Renaissance. Their superb craftsmanship highlights a variety of advanced artistic techniques for carving hardstone. The first gem collection began under Cosimo the Elder during the early 15th century. His son, Piero the Gouty, established a special place in his study to house the family’s growing collection. Lorenzo the Magnificent amassed an amazing collection of gemstones, including the cameo “Icarus and Daedalus, Pasiphae and Artemis,” which would become the inspiration for other works of art of the time. His remarkable collection survived the family’s exile and remained under Medici control until Duke Alessandro’s widow remarried and the collection became part of her dowry.
Alessandro’s cousin, Cosimo I, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and his wife Eleonora, were responsible for the construction of the Uffizi (Italian for “office”) complex and the Vasari corridor that connects the two palaces over the Arno River. Cosimo I was the patron of Benvenuto Cellini, who is attributed with the gold restoration of a fragmentary Hellenistic cameo on display depicting a chariot driver.
Cosimo I’s two sons continued to acquire both ancient and modern cameos and carvings. Francesco I asked architect Buontalenti to enclose
the loggia over the upper floors of the Uffizi to house the family’s growing art collection, creating the Galleria degli Uffizi that we know today. His brother, Ferdinando I, gave up his position as cardinal in Rome and returned to Florence, bringing his art collection with him. The Baroque Period from Cosimo II to Cosimo III brought mosaics, carved stone furniture and intricately carved stair risers. Although the family faced financial hardship at this time, they continued to acquire gemstone carvings and cameos. The collection grew again thanks to Cardinal Leopoldo de’ Medici, who was an avid collector of cameos, carvings and small, hardstone sculptures in the round, such as the detailed carved hand on display. When Leopoldo died in 1675, his grandnephew Cosimo III inherited his collection of over 900 pieces. The portrait of Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici on exhibit shows the last member of the Medici family. When her brother Gian Gastone, the last Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany, died,
HMNS gems of the medici
she ultimately became responsible for keeping the Medici gems together. Her last will and testament prohibited in perpetuity the dissolution of the vast Medici artistic collections or the removal of any of the collections from Florence or the Grand Duchy—thus ensuring that Florence would remain an important artistic center. This exhibition is organized by Contemporanea Progetti, Florence, Italy in collaboration with Museo degli Argenti, Palazzo Pitti and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Firenze. Support is provided by The Wortham Foundation, Inc.
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Tickets $18, Members $12 Sponsored by the Favrot Fund
“Mapping the Renaissance” Mark Rosen, Ph.D. University of Texas at Dallas Tuesday, February 5, 6:30 p.m. How did the Medici and humanists of Renaissance Florence visualize the world beyond the borders of Tuscany? Dr. Mark Rosen will explore the art of Florentine cartography, from the appearance of maps as supplements to manuscripts of Ptolemy in the mid 15th century through their use as symbolic decoration for the Medici Grand Dukes in the 16th century, including the cosmographical “Guardaroba” of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence which contains 53 painted maps defining the boundary of the known world and signifies a Medicean interest in science, exploration and commercial expansion.
The Medici, Culinary Dynasty of the Renaissance Tuesday, March 26 7 p.m. Hosted at Giacamo’s “Renaissance Architecture and the Patronage of the Medici” Louis Waldman, Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin Tuesday, February 26, 6:30 p.m. Through their power and wealth, the Medici shaped and influenced Renaissance architecture. Louis Waldman, Ph.D., will explore the Medici family’s impact in building the legendary Renaissance architecture of Florence, as well as the significance of the structures they commissioned. This lecture is co-sponsored by Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.
All photos courtesy of Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Rome.
Known for staging magnificent banquets and feasts, the Medici also commissioned paintings depicting the exotic fruits and vegetables that were grown in the gardens of their villas and studied by scientists and artists such as Leonardo da Vinci. Chef Lynette Hawkins has created a menu celebrating the Medici contributions to food and wine, providing a culinary link to the past.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS Mondays, January 14 and February 11 6 p.m. Tickets $35, Members $25
www.hmns.org/exhibits
CULTURAL FEAST
DISTINGUISHED LECTURES
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on exhibition through march 31, 2013
H M N S m a y a 2 0 1 2 : p r o p h e c y b e c om e s h i s t o r y
Visitors will encounter many of these multi-layered stories in our exhibit. By now we are all aware that the so-called doomsday of December 21, 2012 has come and gone…and the clock is still ticking. You still have until March 31 to visit the Maya at HMNS and find out what they were – and are – all about.
Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History takes you through Maya history, covering more than 3,500 years. Wherever possible, the storyline links Maya achievements, such as writing and carving stone monuments, to the topic of the calendar. The altar represents a unique Maya way in which they commemorated a slice of time that was of importance to them, while also inserting a pun by displaying the image of their ruler to represent the abstract concept of ruler, a word that also served as a day sign in the calendar.
Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History is organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science with the National Museum of Archeology, Guatemala City, Guatemala and is generously sponsored by HMW Entertainment and The Kislak Family Foundation. Support provided by The Wortham Foundation, Inc. DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “The Maya Collapse” Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Ph.D., HMNS Tuesday, January 8, 6:30 p.m. Tickets $18, Members $12 Sponsored by the Favrot Fund A traditional modern view is that the Maya civilization disappeared, abandoning their impressive cities. Is it true that the Maya have disappeared? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Answers to these questions come from many different fields of study. Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout will use archaeology, sedimentology, palynology and epigraphy to shed light on what must have been a particularly stressful time in Maya history—and explain the Maya Collapse. BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS Mondays, January 14 and February 11, 6 p.m. Tickets $35, Members $25
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www.hmns.org/exhibits
Featured in Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History is a 1,200-pound stone altar from the site of Quirigua in Guatemala. Quirigua was a Classicperiod city located in the floodplain of the Motagua River, close to the Caribbean shores of Guatemala. This circular stone, or altar, was commissioned to commemorate the ending of a 20-year period (or k’atun) at the site. This took place on October 12, 652 A.D. in our calendar. As is typical with monuments of this nature, a large day sign is featured in reference to the calendar. Here the day sign is Ajaw, or “ruler.” In a clever way, the Maya inserted the portrait of their king, K’awiil Yopaat, as the day sign.
H M N S m a y a 2 0 1 2 : p r o p h e c y b e c om e s h i s t o r y
THE CLOCK IS STILL TICKING
H M N S h m n s at s u g a r l a n d
hmns at s u
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Zula Patrol: Mission Weather Opens February 8
Weather on planet Earth will be the hot topic for intergalactic fact-gatherers. Captain Bula, Professor Multo, Space Pilot Zeeter, and flying wonders Wizzy and Wigg welcome you to analyze temperature, wind, clouds and other weather-tastic phenomena in this interactive special exhibit. On display at HMNS at Sugar Land February 8 through May 27.
u gar l and VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER AND LECTURE
Thursday, February 14, 6 p.m. Tickets $140 per couple Members $120 per couple
VOLUNTEER AT HMNS AT SUGAR LAND!
SALTWATER AQUARIUM
The new Hall of Paleontology is open and it has doubled in size! Arranged in chronological order, it features several dinosaurs including a triceratops, as well as many exquisite fossils from the Paleozoic era. The large collection of trilobites, extinct arthropods, stenopterygius, holzmaden, and a sea crocodile will fascinate all visitors.
Come see our brand new 2,000 gallon saltwater aquarium! This fabulous marine environment is growing and will house a wide variety of fish and aquatic life including tangs, triggerfish, butterfly fish, live coral, sea anemones, starfish, sea urchins, cleaner crabs, banded coral shrimp, harlequin shrimp and hermit crabs.
Share your excitement about science and help educate our visitors as a museum docent, classroom aide or special exhibit docent, or become involved as a behind-the-scenes volunteer assisting with special projects and upcoming events. For more information, please contact Suma Mathew in the Volunteer Office at smathew@hmns.org or (281) 313-2277 ext.104.
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www.hmns.org/sugarland
THE HALL OF PALEONTOLOGY
There are many ways to volunteer in Sugar Land, all designed to be flexible and rewarding. Become a field trip greeter and open the doors to thousands of children while opening their minds to the wonder of the natural world of science!
H M N S h m n s at s u g a r l a n d
Our special couples Valentine’s Dinner on February 14 will include a three-course meal with wine pairings and feature a lecture on the history of chocolate and its role in romance by Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout, HMNS curator of anthropology. Skip the restaurant bother and spend a romantic evening amongst the exhibits. This event is only for adults over 21. Visit www.hmns.org/sugarlandevents for more information.
Films and showtimes may change. Please visit www.hmns.org
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
wortham giant s
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Titans of the Ice Age transports viewers to the beautiful frozen landscapes of North America, Europe and Asia 10,000 years before modern civilization. Peer into the giant 3D canvas to see an ancient world of ice at the dawn of our species, when early humans shared the tundra with majestic woolly beasts. Live-action scenes were shot largely in and around the picturesque Yellowstone National Park. Dazzling computer-generated imagery brings this mysterious era to life – from saber-toothed cats and dire wolves to giant sloths and the iconic mammoths, giants both feared and hunted by prehistoric humans.
The Ice Age was not only about mammoths and megafauna. This epoch also marked a dynamic chapter in the development of the human spirit, a great test of survival, a “trial by ice” that would compel our ancestors to seek understanding and meaning in nature. These inventions and discoveries—art, language, clothing, the taming of fire—born in the Pleistocene, were tools that defined and civilized the human species. Titans of the Ice Age takes a thoughtful look at the critically important issues of environmental sustainability, adaptation, survival and extinction, presenting a bigger-picture perspective on the relationship between climate, Earth, her resources and inhabitants.
Film Guide Icon descriptions available at www.hmns.org. Proceeds from the sale of all Wortham Giant Screen
g for current schedule and more information about each film.
screen theatre 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 13
www.hmns.org/giantscreen
Held over by Popular Demand! The monarch butterfly is a true marvel of nature. Weighing less than a penny, it makes one of the longest migrations on Earth across a continent to a place it has never known. Follow the monarchs’ perilous journey and experience millions of them in the remote mountain peaks of Mexico, with breathtaking cinematography from an awardwinning team including Oscar®-winner Peter Parks. The true and compelling story of an intrepid scientist’s 40-year search to find the monarchs’ secret hideaway is captivating. Unravel the mysteries and experience the Flight of the Butterflies.
Fly across iridescent tropical reefs, brush through a cloud of a million jellyfish and visit an alien world. The closer you look, the more you see, where the tiniest creatures support the greatest predators. We think of reefs as exotic, distant places with little or no connection to our everyday world. Yet every reef is a living city beneath the sea with a parallel existence to ours, distant yet undeniably connected. Reefs are hotspots of biodiversity as vital to life on earth as the rainforests.
n film tickets help further the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s nonprofit mission. Your support counts!
H M N S b u r k e b a k e r p l a n e ta r i u m
away. The planet’s official name is Alpha Centauri Bb, indicating that it orbits one of the two major stars in the Alpha Centauri system. The planet is nearly the size of Earth, but lies very close to its parent star, well inside the habitable zone where liquid water could exist. Although the planet may be too hot for life to survive on its surface, the discovery of an Earth-sized planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B has ignited hope that this star could have a whole system of rocky worlds. Interstellar distances are so great that we need a nearby planet for any possible interstellar probe. Finding exoplanets, or X-Planets, is perhaps the hottest topic in astronomy with discoveries making the news daily. For instance, this fall we found a planet orbiting our nearest star system, Alpha Centauri, only 4.4 light years
Another unlikely exoplanet recently made news. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, has identified an exoplanet that fits the description of Superman’s home world, the planet
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a l s o s h ow i ng www.hmns.org/planetarium
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Burke Baker Planetarium Krypton. It orbits the red dwarf LHS 2520 in the constellation Corvus and is only 27 light years away. Indeed, we have found so many exoplanets that we can match one with a famous comic book description of a fictitious alien world. The X-Planets has had a soft opening, this fall in our Discovery Domes which travel to schools, and now it reaches the big Burke Baker Planetarium dome in higher resolution with more vivid animations. The X-Planets introduces you to the most famous of the newly discovered exoplanets. Zoom in from an exoplanet’s star field, then take a closer look at each alien world, followed by an artist’s conception of how the planet’s surface might look. The latest X-planet news is shown on the planetarium dome before all showings of The X-Planets.
Mission times are 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Visit www.hmns.org/ observatory for more information and advance tickets.
SATURDAYS AT THE GEORGE
Telescope Tickets: $5, Members $4.50 Discovery Dome Tickets: $3, Members $2.50
SKY NEWS
FAMILY SPACE DAY
Winter skies are spectacular! The constellations Orion, Taurus and Gemini dominate the crisp, cool winter skies. Jupiter is bright and near Taurus almost overhead during the evening. Dress warmly and enjoy the bright skies of winter at the George Observatory.
Astronauts of all ages – kids and adults – can fly to the Moon with NASA volunteers in the Challenger Learning Center. Great fun for the family!
Saturday, February 23 Tickets $10 per person, kids 6 and under free
View the night sky through the large Observatory telescopes every Saturday evening until 10 p.m. Gift Shop, exhibits and Discovery Dome open at 3 p.m. Telescope tickets go on sale at 5 p.m. Viewing begins at dusk. Directions are posted at www.hmns. org/observatory. Current observatory weather conditions can be accessed at www.weatherbug.com, zip code 77461.
H M N S g e o r g e o b s e r v a t o r y • c o c k r e ll b u t t e r f l y c e n t e r
GeorgeObservatory
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You might think that there would be fewer butterflies or less activity in the Butterfly Center during the winter months. Not so! In fact, because the sun seems brighter on those crisp winter days, our tropical butterflies are particularly active. Since we seldom have snow here in Houston, let butterflies provide your “winter wonderland” inside our rainforest. Instead of snowflakes, you’ll see flashing blue morphos flit by, dozens of orange julias basking in the sun, the odd birdwing (still alive after six weeks!) hovering at the fairy duster plant, rice paper butterflies sailing overhead, and a host of others flitting through the air or sipping at flowers or enjoying plates
of their favorite overripe fruit. On a bright and sunny day – no matter what the temperature outdoors – you’ll be rewarded with a fluttering, colorful show. BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR Monday, February 11, 6 p.m. Tickets $27, Members $20 Join Butterfly Center staff for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Cockrell Butterfly Center, insect zoo, containment room and rooftop greenhouses. See areas not open to the public, where staff cares for the Museum’s butterflies and other insects. Kids 5 and above welcome!
www.hmns.org/observatory • www.hmns.org/butterflycenter
A Butterfly Winter Wonderland
HMNS just for kids www.hmns.org/birthdays
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Birthdays with a little Brain Power! Be a guest at your own child’s party this year! Let HMNS handle everything for you— the decorations, entertainment, craft, party favors, party coordinator and more. Visit www.hmns.org/birthdays for complete party-planning info, including optional add-ons. Party Smarty Packages Birthday Party Packages include a private party room, tables and chairs for 20 children and 20 adults, a creative craft project, and tour of your chosen venue—Hall of Paleontology, Cockrell Butterfly Center, or a Planetarium film. Themes: Dinosaur, Butterfly/Bugs, or Astronomy Weekend Parties begin at $350, Members $300 Weekday Parties begin at $250, Members $200 Deluxe Party Packages Not enough you say? You want more? Upgrade to a Deluxe Birthday Party that includes a live show, more guests, a private room inside the designated venue—Bee Hive in the Cockrell Butterfly Center, Morian Overlook in the Hall of Paleontology, or Arnold Space Hall—and much more. Deluxe Themes: Partysaurus, Winged Wonderland, Galactic Gathering Deluxe packages begin at $800.
gems 2013 NEW! LEGO ROBOTICS CLASS HMNS in Hermann Park: Tuesdays, January 8 - March 19, 4:30 - 6 p.m. HMNS at Sugar Land: Thursdays, January 10 - March 21, 4:30 - 6 p.m. Registration $240, Members $190
The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council and the Houston Museum of Natural Science invite you to attend GEMS – Girls Exploring Math and Science event. The Museum’s Grand Hall and permanent exhibit halls will be filled with hands-on 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. Visit the Museum’s exhibit halls, see booths and activities created by Girl Scout troops, play science and math games, try your hand at cool contraptions and much, much more! GEMS is open to Girl Scouts of all ages, as well as friends and family. Explore the world of math and science as a troop field trip or a family outing.
Our most popular summer camp is now available during the school year! Join us 10 Tuesdays or Thursdays after school to explore the basics of NXT Robotics Engineering. Build models with our LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT TM system and then use a computer to program your model to obey your every command! This program is limited to 16 students in grades 4 – 7, with a minimum of 10 students. Registration available at store.hmns.org in the Weekday Classes section.
in Science series for Girl Scouts. Boy Scouts, join us for “Eagle Week” this Spring Break when HMNS will offer Environment, Citizenship in the Nation, and the Citizenship in the Community Merit Badges. Registration is open now for all classes through the spring. Visit hmns.org/scouts to answer all your scout class questions.
January kicks off the 2013 Scout program at HMNS, George Observatory, and HMNS at Sugar Land. HMNS awarded over 4,000 Merit Badges in 2012, and 2013 will be even bigger. Added this year are more Tiger and Brownie Trails classes and the Careers
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www.hmns.org/kids
ATTENTION SCOUTS!
HMNS just for kids
Girls Exploring Math and Science Saturday, February 16 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. free with Museum admission Generously supported by Air Liquide
XPLORATIONS SUMMER CAMP 2013 It is time to plan your summer science adventures! The 2013 Xplorations catalog will be mailed and available online at hmns.org/summercamp in mid-February. Remember; register early to secure your camp spots! Priority Membership Registration Begins: February 21 - President’s Circle February 25 - Benefactor February 28 - Discoverer March 4 - Voyager March 18 - Family April 1 - General Public
for teac h ers FIELD TRIP DISCOUNT IN JANUARY
HMNS for teachers
Bring your students to the Museum on any Monday or Tuesday during the month of January 2013 and receive free admission to the permanent exhibition halls when you purchase tickets to one of the following: Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center or Burke Baker Planetarium.
www.hmns.org/education
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FIELD TRIP SCIENCE LABS
Cost: $165 - $200 per lab Capacity: 25 students per lab Coming to HMNS or HMNS at Sugar Land for a field trip? Try one of our Weekday Science Labs! With new topics each month, our labs 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. Each lab lasts one hour and includes admission to the Museum’s permanent exhibit halls for lab participants. Time Labs for Grades 1-8
February: Ancient Writing Try your hand as an ancient scribe! Experiment with different writing styles from different ancient cultures and discover the earliest alphabets. March: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Come travel the world as you discover the wonders of the ancient world, from the Lighthouse of Alexandria to the Great Pyramids of Giza. ConocoPhillips TechNo Science Labs for Grades 1-8
Biology Lab for Grades 5-10
January: Water Works Discover surprising things about water and explore surface tension and capillary action.
February: The Wizard of Os…mosis Explore the mystery of molecular motion as you experiment with diffusion and osmosis. Includes microscope use.
Dissection Labs for Grades 5-10 January: Waste Not, Want Not From filtration to waste removal, investigate our very own water treatment plant, the kidney. Includes kidney dissection. March: Seeing Stars Not the kind that twinkle, but the kind that crawl. Dive deep into this class about the starfish and its echinoderm cousins. Includes starfish dissection.
January: Maya Prophecy Explore the truth behind the 2012 prophecy as you discover the continent’s longest-lived indigenous civilization and some of their enduring contributions.
March: Slow and Steady Wins the Race Built to last, turtles and tortoises are some of Earth’s most charming creatures. Amble on up as we take a close look at these chelonians.
TEKS LABS ON DEMAND
Wildlife Lab for Grades 1-8
Cost: $200 at HMNS, add a $75 travel fee for school visit Capacity: up to 25 students
February: Warning Signs Not construction ahead or falling rocks, but how animals use spots and stripes as a visual display communicating their species, gender, and ferocity. Learn to read the signs from an animal’s point of view.
Need help with a TEKS objective? Each Lab on Demand is tailored to your grade-level needs and can be offered at the Museum while you are here for a field trip, or we can bring the lab to your classroom. Available topics are Chemistry, Force and Motion,
For more information and for all educators programs, visit www.HMNS.org/teachers or contact educationquestions@hmns.org
Electricity, Light and Optics, Magnets, Storm Science, Ancient Egypt, Cells, Earth Science, and Dissection. Email educationquestions@hmns.org for more information.
EXXONMOBIL TEACHER TUESDAYS $25 per educator
MUSEUM EDUCATOR OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, January 26, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. “Chemistry!” Tuesday, February 26, 5 - 8 p.m. (grades 6-10) Investigate a world of exciting, dramatic chemical changes, including combustion, luminescence and building an electrochemical cell.
Discover a world of educational resources, trainings, programs, tools and field trips! Attend 3 presentations during the event and earn 3 hours of Continuing Education Credits. For more information and registration at houstonmuseumdistrict.org
“Probability and Problem Solving” Tuesday, March 26, 5 - 8 p.m. (grades 5-9)
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DEVON ENERGY CORPORATION EDUCATOR LATE NIGHT
Does teaching about weather create a high-pressure system in your classroom? Let us help you blow those storm clouds away in this wild weather workshop.
Gifted & Talented Workshop: Differentiation through Flexible Grouping… Adding the Museum to Your Teacher Toolbox! Friday, January 25, 5 - 11 p.m.
“The Heart is the Place to Start!” Tuesday, February 5, 5 - 8 p.m. (grades 5-10) While the heart is the center of the circulatory system, it doesn’t work alone. Come circulate with other educators as we investigate arteries, veins, cells, kidneys and more in this hands-on interactive experience.
This TAGT-approved workshop for educators includes hands-on interactive activities designed for immediate implementation. Participants will earn 6 hours of credit toward the completion of their 30 hours of G/T teacher training or 6 hours of update credit for those who have completed their 30 hours. Dinner included.
HMNS OUTREACH PROGRAMS
BRING THE MUSEUM TO YOUR CLASSROOM! (713) 639-4658 outreach@hmns.org www.hmns.org/outreach
Chevron Earth Science on Wheels ConocoPhillips Science on Stage Docents to Go Wildlife on Wheels Discovery Dome Bugs on Wheels
www.hmns.org/education
Discover how fun math can be when you explore probability and problem solving using real world applications.
“Storm Science” Tuesday, January 22, 5 - 8 p.m. (grades 3 - 8)
HMNS for teachers
Discover ideas and activities to bring your classroom to life as you go behind the scenes with HMNS curators and staff in these exciting interactive workshops. These programs are for teachers only. Includes dinner and 3 hours CPE credit.
Adult education DISTINGUISHED LECTURES Tickets $18, Members $12 www.hmns.org/lectures Sponsored by the Favrot Fund
was first created. The songs, stories, laws and ceremonies of the present are informed by that ancient past and are meant to teach children about their connection to the lands of their ancestors. This lecture is co-sponsored by Archaeological Institute of America – Houston Society and the Honorary Consul General of Australia in Houston.
WIESS ENERGY PROGRAMMING
H M N S a d u lt e d u c at i o n
RICE CONTINUING STUDIES
www.hmns.org/adults
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Courses Co-sponsored by HMNS Registration and more information at www.gscs.rice.edu or (713) 348-4803.
“Near Earth Objects: Finding Them Before They Find Us” Donald Yeomans, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology Wednesday, January 16, 6:30 p.m. Of all the natural disasters that could befall us, only an Earth impact by a large comet or asteroid has the potential to end civilization in a single blow. Dr. Donald Yeomans introduces us to the science of near-Earth objects—and the ongoing quest to find them before they find us. Yeomans will explain how past collisions made life on Earth possible, caused the extinctions and spurred evolution. Learn of today’s efforts to find, track and study comets and asteroids, and how these near-Earth objects can be used by man in the future. “Dreamtime – Aboriginal Interweaving of Past, Present and Future” David Lee, Australia Rock Art Research Association Tuesday, January 22, 2013, 6:30 p.m. The ceremonial traditions of Aboriginal peoples of Australia are concerned primarily with lessons learned during the “Dreamtime” when the world
Overview of the Energy Industry Thursday, January 24 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. $200 per person Led by experts in the fields of upstream, downstream, and energy economics in the 21st century, including energy alternatives, this course includes breakfast, lunch, and a tour of Wiess Energy Hall. To register, visit www. hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629. Online Training
“The Romanovs of Imperial Russia, The Fabled Art of Fabergé” Five Mondays, February 11 - March 18 (no class March 11) 6:30 - 8 p.m. Registration $170 HMNS Members: $160
Energy 101 offers an extended look into the world of oil and gas, including hydrocarbon formation, geology, drilling, refining, products, transportation, distribution and energy alternatives. This online course is great for people new to the industry and those seeking a comprehensive overview about how the industry works. A discount to attend “Overview of the Energy Industry” (above) at HMNS is included with the purchase of online course. Available at www.energy101training.com. Wiess Energy Hall Tour
“Gems of the Medici” Six Tuesdays, February 12 - March 19, 6:30 - 8 p.m. Registration $170 HMNS Members: $160
Explore the application of scientific concepts and advanced technology in the oil and gas industry. Learn the processes of energy development, from how oil and natural gas are formed, to the ways in which various types of energy are used. To schedule a tour contact Daniel Burch at (713) 639-4737 or dburch@hmns.org.
Tanzania: A Treasure Trove of Wildlife & Culture, Past and Present November 11-22, 2013 The unique eco-system of the Ngorongoro Crater, the vast savannahs of the Serengeti, the forest and grassland near the shores of Lake Manyara, and the renowned anthropological and geological sites at Olduvai Gorge—see the wonders of east Africa.
Travel Night Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m. Interested travelers and those already registered can meet our trip leaders and learn more about this HMNS travel opportunity.
hmns museum store Shopping has gotten a whole lot smarter! museumstore.hmns.org
From scientific wonders and home goods that make you giggle, to apparel that makes you think twice and exclusive designer jewelry at discounts you can’t get anywhere else, HMNS is the smartest shopping spot. When you can’t make it to the Museum Store, shop online!
Use your member discount to shop our new online Museum Store from anywhere, anytime, and feel good about gifting—100 percent of purchase proceeds benefit HMNS and our educational programming.
Partners in Education HMNS offers a wide array of educational programs for students and adults. From outreach programs like Wildlife on Wheels to evening Behind-the-Scenes Tours for adults, our Museum has something to engage everyone in lifelong learning. The Museum is deeply grateful to a special group of donors—Partners in Education—for making sure that HMNS has the financial resources needed to continue our science education programming. A sincere thanks to the 2012-2013 Partners in Education, for their financial support: Baker Hughes Foundation BBVA Compass Boeing Cirro Energy ConocoPhillips Fort Bend Junior Service League Indo American Charity Foundation Kinder Morgan Foundation The Lubrizol Foundation LyondellBasell Morgan Stanley Nalco Company The Newfield Foundation Reliant Energy Wells Fargo
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www.hmns.org/donate
This two-week trip includes safaris to superb areas for seeing giraffe, zebra, elephant, hippo, tree-climbing and black-mained lion, black rhino, wildebeest, impala, flamingo, warthog, baboon, and many other species of African wildlife.
You will also visit the site where the roots of modern man were unearthed by Mary Leakey and a Maasai village. Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout, HMNS curator of anthropology and David Temple, associate curator of paleontology, will accompany this trip exclusively for HMNS. Space is very limited. Visit www.hmns.org/travel for complete itinerary, pricing and registration. Contact travel@hmns.org for questions.
H M N S t r av e l p r o g r a m • pa r t n e r s i n e d u c at i o n • m u s e u m s t o r e
t r av e l p r o g r a m
Partners in Education
For tickets to all events, visit www
j a n u a ry Exhibition Last Day at Sugar Land Conservation Quest Sunday, January 6
HMNS events calendar
Lego Robotics Class Tuesday, January 8, 4:30 p.m. (page 17)
www.hmns.org/calendar
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Distinguished Lecture “The Maya Collapse” Tuesday, January 8, 6:30 p.m. (page 9) Lego Robotics Class at Sugar Land Thursday, January 10, 4:30 p.m. (page 17) Behind-the-Scenes Tours Gems of the Medici (page 7) Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History (page 9) Monday, January 14, 6 p.m.
Distinguished Lecture “Near Earth Objects: Finding Them Before They Find Us” Wednesday, January 16, 6:30 p.m. (page 20) LaB 5555 Friday, January 18, 7 - 10 p.m. (page 23) ExxonMobil Teacher Tuesday “Storm Science” Tuesday, January 22, 5 p.m. (page 19) Distinguished Lecture “Dreamtime – Aboriginal Interweaving of Past, Present and Future” Tuesday, January 22, 6:30 p.m. (page 20)
Continuing Education Overview of the Energy Industry Thursday, January 24, 8:30 a.m. (page 20) Devon Energy Corp. Educator Late Night “Gifted & Talented Workshop: Differentiation through Flexible Grouping” Friday, January 25, 5 p.m. (page 19) Museum Educator Open House Saturday, January 26, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (page 19) Fabergé Symposium Thursday, January 31, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (page 5)
f e br u a ry Special Exhibition Opens Fabergé: A Brilliant Vision Friday, February 1 (page 4) Members Only Event Fabergé:A Brilliant Vision Saturday, February 2, 6 - 10 p.m. (page 5) ExxonMobil Teacher Tuesday “The Heart is the Place to Start!” Tuesday, February 5, 5 p.m. (page 19) Distinguished Lecture “Mapping the Renaissance” Tuesday, February 5, 6:30 p.m. (page 7) Special Exhibition Opens at Sugar Land Zula Patrol: Mission Weather Friday, February 8 (page 10) LaB 5555 Friday, February 8, 7 - 10 p.m. (page 23)
Behind-the-Scenes Tours Gems of the Medici (page 7) Maya 2012: Prophecy Becomes History (page 9) Cockrell Butterfly Center (page 15) Monday, February 11, 6 p.m. Valentine’s Day Dinner and Lecture HMNS at Sugar Land Thursday, February 14, 6 p.m. (page 11) GEMS 2013 Girls Exploring Math and Science Saturday, February 16, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (page 17) Behind-the-Scenes Tour Fabergé:A Brilliant Vision Tuesday, February 19, 6 p.m. (page 5) Xplorations Summer Camp President’s Circle Registration Begins Thursday, February 21 (page 17)
Family Space Day at George Observatory Saturday, February 23, time (page 15) Xplorations Summer Camp Benefactor Registration Begins Monday, February 25 (page 19) Distinguished Lecture “Carl Fabergé, Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars” Monday, February 25, 6:30 p.m. (page 5) ExxonMobil Teacher Tuesday “Chemistry!” Tuesday, February 26, 5 p.m. (page 19) Distinguished Lecture “Renaissance Architecture and the Patronage of the Medici” Tuesday, February 26, 6:30 p.m. (page 7)
w.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.
You are far too intelligent to miss an event like this. Keep your beakers full and your smarts stimulated at LaB 5555—the party place with an intellectual twist. Check out a hot science topic, formulate a few cocktail concoctions, enjoy the hottest food truck fare, then rock your maddest dance moves to some live music. Save the Dates for LaB 5555 in 2013! January 18 February 8 March 22 April 26 May 31 June 28 July 26 August 23 September 27 October 25 (Spirits & Skeletons) November 22 December 20
The 2012 Excellence in Science Luncheon was held on November 13, 2012 at the Museum with Pat Burk, Jason Fertitta and Gary Petersen serving as chairmen. The event featured Dr. Scott Tinker, director of the Bureau of Economic Geology, state geologist of Texas, director of the Advanced Energy Consortium, and professor at the University of Texas at Austin. HMNS honored two students and two teachers for outstanding achievement in science or mathematics. The winners of the 2012 Evelyn Frensley Scholarships for Outstanding Achievement in Science or Mathematics are Samira Nounou of Cypress Lakes High School and Hilda Sebesta of Carl Wunsche Sr. High School. The winners of the 2012 Wilhelmina C. Robertson Excellence in Science or Mathematics Teaching Awards are Bhavna Rawal of Northbrook High School and Andrea Schultz of Condit Elementary. From left to right: Andrea Schultz, Samira Nounou, Hilda Sebesta and Bhavna Rawal
Applications for the 2013 Excellence in Science or Mathematics Teaching Awards and Student Scholarships are now available at www.hmns.org/education. The deadline for applications is April 26.
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www.hmns.org/lab5555 • www.hmns.org/education
EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE AWARDS LUNCHEON
H M N S l a b 5 5 5 5 • e x c e ll e n c e i n s c i e n c e l u n c h e o n
LaB 5555 Geek responsibly! 7 - 10 p.m. Tickets $20, Members $12
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HMNS News is now available online at www.hmns.org/magazine HMNS activities are supported in part by funds provided by the Houston Arts Alliance.
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.
coming in 2013
www.hmns.org/magazine
H M N S N E W S • january / february 2013 • VOLUME 18, Number 1
5555 Hermann Park Drive Houston, Texas 77030
opens february 1
coming in march
New Permanent exhibition welch hall of Chemistry Opens Fall 2013
New Permanent Exhibition Hall of ancient egypt Opens Summer 2013