MEDIA

Media Alert

William Skane, Office of News and Public Information, The National Academies
Phone: 202-334-2138, Email: news@nas.edu

January 9 , 2006 – Washington, DC - Think you can't bear to be outside until the cherry blossoms bloom again? Warm up indoors and beat the midwinter blues at the Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences. Located within blocks of the National Mall and easily accessible by Metro, the museum offers public programs that are sure to boost your brain and send serotonin levels soaring this winter.

The Koshland Science Museum invites you to enjoy:

Winter Wonderland: Penguins and Polar Bears
Saturday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Explore life above and below the ice caps with a day of free admission as you learn frosty facts about Antarctica and the Arctic. Chill seekers will enjoy a talk from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. with amazing visuals and polar artifacts, presented by Dr. Thomas Wagner of the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs.

Greening the Built Environment as a Response to Climate Change
Thursday, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Discover ways to choose smart green designs for your next home or office. The Koshland Science Museum and the National Building Museum welcome the University of Virginia's Drs. Tim Beatley and Bruce Hayden, who will discuss the relationship between architecture and climate change, and how specific design features can mitigate potential climate effects on the urban environment. Admission is $12. Advance ticket purchase is required.

Mix and Mingle at the Museum
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Join climate experts and young professionals interested in media, science, and policy at an informal discussion of global warming. Participants will discover the science behind climate change by exploring the Global Warming: Facts and Our Future exhibit at the Koshland Science Museum. Admission is $5 and includes pizza and soda; beer and wine are an additional $5. Reservations are recommended.

Communicating Science with David Clark: Recreating the Past, Exploring the Future
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Ever wonder how documentary films capture the wonders of science? Ask filmmaker David Clark, winner of the 2004 National Academies Communications Award and two Emmy Awards. Clark will describe various techniques for historical recreation, computer graphic animation, model making, and the use of scientific research tools ranging from submersibles to high-definition cameras. Using clips from his most recent productions, Clark will illustrate techniques for communicating science through film. Admission is $5. Advance ticket purchase is recommended.

Rational Comedy for an Irrational Planet with Brian Malow
Thursday, March 16, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Meet Brian Malow, who makes science both fun and funny! The Koshland Science Museum welcomes Malow, a standup comic, writer, and insect photographer, whose routine on Neil Armstrong was heard aboard the space shuttle. Plan to join friends at happy hour for beer, wine, soda, and snacks from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; the comedy show will follow from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $5 for happy hour, and $5 for the comedy hour. Reservations are recommended.

Members of the public can purchase tickets or find out more by calling 202-334-1201, e-mailing ksm@nas.edu, or visiting www.koshland-science.org/events. Reporters who wish to cover these programs must register in advance by contacting Erin Barlow.

Located at 6th & E streets, N.W., in Washington, D.C., the Marian Koshland Science Museum features state-of-the-art exhibits that present the complexities of science in an engaging and accessible way to the general public. The museum explores current scientific issues at the core of many of the nation's public policy decisions, as presented in reports by the National Academies. For more information, please visit www.koshland-science-museum.org.