Page 6 - Spirit of Hot Springs

6TT • SPIRIT OF HOT SPRINGS • SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015 TRILAKES EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRATGAZETTE ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FILE PHOTOS
The Mid-America Science Museum features 75 new and returning exhibits. New exhibits were designed by Global Studios, which is part of the Exploratorium in San Fransisco.These hands-on exhibits feature a variety of activities that explore various aspects of science and technology.
SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS
Mid-America Science Museum unveils renovations, new attractions
By Cody Graves
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
Summer is just around the corner, and with the kids out of school, one Hot Springs institution is brand new and ready to get kids learning.
The Mid-America Science Museum recently reopened its doors after a seven-month renovation. The museum now features more than 75 new exhibits designed to spark an interest in science in children, young and old.
The reason for the renovation was that the museum hadn’t had been updated since it opened in 1979, and with the progress of science and technology, the exhibits had become outdated.
“We thought it was about time,” said Jim Miller, director of marketing. “This is not the museum that you came to when you were growing up.”
A majority of the new exhibits in the renovation, which were possible through a $7.8 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, awarded in 2011, were designed by Global Studios, part of the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California.
For kids, the Mid-America Science Museum is designed for exploring and learning. One of the new exhibits, the Gyroid Climber, is a mathematical jungle-gym labyrinth that allows kids to crawl through a massive geometric pattern.This 10-foot cube features 27 separate pieces sitting on playground safety matting and offers a chance to explore the gyroid, which was discovered by mathematician Alan Schoen in 1970.
One of the most intriguing new exhibits at the museum is Rain & Terrain, a high-tech toy that uses a projector to transform a simple sandbox into an interface for learning about land forms and watersheds.When visitors sculpt
the white sand-like material into hills and valleys, the projector transmits topographic lines onto the surface and adds streams and lakes to depressions.Visitors can swipe a hand over the landscape and watch the projection change.
The Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk, which is sponsored by the Adver tising and Promotion Commission of Hot Springs, is an outdoor exhibition that extends into the forest canopy from the main building. A treehouse pavilion, rope netting and hands-on activities add to the adventure.
“We’re really proud of the Skywalk because it’s one of a kind,” Miller said.
Not all the exhibits are brand new, Miller said. Some old favorites, like the Tesla Theater, are still showcased at the museum, as well as the kinetic sculptures designed by Frederick Rowland Emett that were featured in the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Miller said the museum is important to the
Hot Springs and Garland County area because the facility gives locals a place to learn about science, along with conducting a number of outreach programs in the community, including visits to area schools.
This summer, the museum will hold its third annual Tinkerfest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 20.Tinkerfest is inspired by the growing maker movement across the country. Tinkering is all about making discoveries and using those discoveries in creative ways. Tinkerfest is a chance to combine and put a creative spin on science, technology and art.There is no extra cost to attend Tinkerfest, but regular museum admission will apply: $10 for adults and $7 for children and seniors.
Starting after Memorial Day weekend, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1-6 p.m. Sundays. For more information, visit www. midamericamuseum.org.