Archive for September, 2010
Fabulous GIS/GPS Presentations & Workshop!
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The Visiting Scientists Series hosted a fabulous presentation and workshop this weekend on GIS and GPS. Dr. Joseph Kerski presented “Isn’t that Spatial? GIS for a Sustainable World” to a near-capacity crowd at the NECE building on Friday evening. Dr. Kerski spoke about the importance of teaching students to think spatially and become critical thinkers. He demonstrated how GIS is being used to solve real world problems.
Saturday morning, Dr. Kerski visited Gateway to Science to present “Get Outside with GPS,” a children’s workshop. Following a short introduction, all participants went outside with indiviual GPS units, to locate coordinates and explore with geocaching. This was a great hands-on experience for kids and adult alike! While he was in Bismarck, Dr. Kerski also visited classes at Bismarck High School, Century High School, St. Mary’s Central High School and Bismarck State College.
Dr. Joseph Kerski was very complimentary of the people he met in our community, “I would like to thank everyone for allowing me to work with the high schools and college here and for your gracious hospitality. I met so many wonderful people and I wish you all success in your future endeavors. I hope our paths cross again. Happy trails.” signed Joseph (from an e-mail).
Thanks to the Visiting Scientists Series Committee for bringing yet another quality educational presentation to Bismarck!
~Beth Demke, Executive Director
Saturday, September 25th-Plan your Day at Gateway to Science!
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MUSEUM DAY IS THE DAY!
What are you waiting for? Plan your day with us!
Start your visit by bringing your kids and their friends to Dr. Joseph Kerski’s Presentation “Get Outside with GPS.” It’s a unique GPS opportunity for your children! The workshop runs from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. This workshop will cover the science behind, and opportunities abounding with, GPS and provide hands-on experience with data collection, routes, waypoints, tracks, velocities, measuring the Earth’s circumference, and much more. Special note: All children are welcome, but children under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling/friend. This children’s workshop is free, and no registration is required. Space is limited – doors open at 9:30 a.m.
At Noon we open our doors to the Gallery. Come on over and celebrate with Gateway to Science the 6th Annual Museum Day 2010!
Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian Media in which participating museums across the country open their doors for free to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket.
FOR FREE ADMISSION TO GATEWAY TO SCIENCE: fill out the TICKET FORM, email address is very important. You will receive an email confirmation with your ticket. Print your ticket and you will get Free admission to Gateway to Science valid only on Saturday, September 25, 2010.*ONE TICKET PER HOUSEHOLD*
FOR FREE ADMISSION TO OTHER PARTICIPATING MUSEUMS: Click on Museum Day 2010
For more information go to our EVENTS page!
Liliana M. Norby, Communications Specialist
Book Fair Continues (Online)
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Thanks to all who came to our book fair on Saturday at Barnes and Noble’s Bismarck location! It was great to see so many of our members and contributors. Scott Weigum brought some fun science experiments to share with the children, and I even noticed several adults working on Brain Teasers.
If you were not able to attend the book fair, you can still support Gateway to Science with online purchases through September 23. Visit bn.com/bookfair and enter Book Fair ID #10260636 at the checkout. Please help us spread the word by sharing the link with your friends. Thank you for your support!
~Beth Demke, Executive Director
Hey kids…Try GPS with an Expert!
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It’s a unique GPS opportunity for your children! In addition to the public presentation that Scott T. mentioned in his blog, Dr. Joseph Kerski is also giving a special presentation geared for kids: “Get Outside with GPS”on Saturday, September 25, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at Gateway to Science. This workshop will cover the science behind and opportunities abounding with GPS, and provide hands-on experience with data collection, routes, waypoints, tracks, velocities, measuring the Earth’s circumference, and much more. I understand that Dr. Kerski is a very charismatic speaker, and we are very excited to host his workshop at Gateway to Science.
Special note: All children are welcome, but children under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling/friend. This children’s workshop is free, and no registration is required. Space is limited – doors open at 9:30 a.m.
Dr. Joseph Kerski is an education manager for ESRI, the world’s largest producer of GIS software. He also has 17 years of experience with the US Geological Survey.
- Christie, Program Coordinator
Make Slime at the Library!
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Yes, you read correctly. I’ll be hauling our SLIME-making supplies to the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library tomorrow (Wednesday, September 15, 2010)! If you have a child of age 4, 5, or 6, join me at 9:30 a.m. or 10:15 a.m. for the library’s “Preschool Adventures”. What could be more fun than reading a book about slime, and then making some for yourself!
- Christie, Program Coordinator
The Enlightening Dr. Joseph Kerski!
Posted by: | CommentsThrough planning for the Visiting Scientists Series next presentation, I have had the privilege to get to know our guest speaker, Dr. Joseph Kerski. The world has precious few individuals who are so passionate about a subject that they can make the abstract or even the mundane exciting. Dr. Kerski is one of those individuals. Now, I’m not saying GIS is boring. How can a discipline that allows the technical analysis of such varied issues as deforestation, industrial growth in a city, and monitoring of terrorist activities be considered boring?! While I am excited to hear about the many applications of GIS, I am most excited to hear the presentation from Dr. Kerski. The evening is guaranteed to be enlightening, educational, and entertaining.
Come catch Dr. Kerski’s enthusiasm for GIS at “Isn’t that Spatial? GIS for a Sustainable World” on Friday, 9/24 at 7 pm. The presentation will be held in BSC’s National Energy Center of Excellence in the Basin Electric Auditorium (Room 304).
- Scott Tschaekofske, Bismarck State College
Bookfair at Barnes and Noble!
Posted by: | Comments Mark your Calendar! Save the Date!
Benefiting your Favorite Science Center
Gateway to Science!
WHEN: Saturday, September 18
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Join us for fun, hands-on experiments
in the children’s section
WHERE: Barnes and Noble-Bismarck
565 S. 7th Street
A percentage of your Barnes & Noble purchases will benefit Gateway to Science by providing scholarship funds for school groups to visit our gallery during the 2010-11 school year. Café sales as well as pre-orders are included, so enjoy a cup of coffee or a latté while you shop! If you are not able to attend the book fair at Barnes and Noble’s Bismarck location, you can still support Gateway to Science with online purchases. Visit bn.com/bookfair from 9/18/2010 thru 9/23/2010 and enter Book Fair ID #10260636 at the checkout. Help us spread the word! download a Book Fair Flyer from our website and share the link with your friends. Thank you for your support!
Liliana M. Norby, Communications Specialist
Field Trips at Gateway to Science!
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Summer has ended, and students are back to school. Now is the perfect time to plan your field trips.
Gateway to Science welcomes the opportunity to host your classroom’s field trip! We have special rates for schools and other school-related groups. At Gateway to Science we are committed to being an educational resource for teachers and students.
It’s easy to schedule a field trip for your class:
~Email our program coordinator Christie
~Download a field trip reservation form and mail or fax it to us
~Or call us at 701-258-1975
The cost of a field trip is only $2 per student; teachers and chaperones are admitted free. If you would like to sponsor a field trip, call Christie, our program coordinator, or stop by the gallery at the Frances Leach High Prairie Arts & Science Complex. Let us know the school and teacher’s name that you would like to sponsor, and we will take care of the rest! Even though it is inexpensive to bring a class to Gateway to Science, some schools may not be able to afford the admission or the transportation costs. Your field trip sponsorship can make a difference in the lives of students!
Liliana M. Norby, Communications Specialist
Educator’s Club Memberships Available
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Gateway to Science invites all current K-12 teachers and school administrators, employed by an accredited public or private school in North Dakota, to join our Educator’s Club. If you are a teacher, this club is meant for you! If you know a teacher, please share this information with them.
Educators Club Membership costs $35.00 (this is a 30% savings on a Gateway to Science Family Membership valued at $50.00). The membership covers two adults and any children in your family who are under age 18. Students in your class are not covered.
Benefits for Educator’s Club Educator’s Club members include:
- Discounts when using our Traveling Science Trunks
- Unlimited FREE admissions to hands-on exhibit gallery for your family for one year
- FREE* general admission to more than 300 science centers and museums worldwide – ASTC Science Centers
- Receive quarterly editions of Gateway to Science NEWS
- Receive e-mail notifications of upcoming events and special programs
- FREE subscription to e-news
Visit our Educators Club Membership page for more information and to download the application.
~ Beth Demke, Executive Director
Introducing “Preschool Science”!
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For the first time ever, we are offering an exciting, new program designed specifically for your preschoolers and you! “Preschool Science” is a time for preschoolers to explore the scientific world around them with an adult that they love, such as a mom, dad, or grandparent. Each of the 10 classes will introduce a new set of fun, hands-on science activities or games. The leader of “Preschool Science”, Arin Edmundson, is escpecially excited to be reaching out to this curious and fun-loving age group.
Classes will be on Saturday mornings, 10:45-11:30 a.m., starting September 18. Preregistration is required and space is limited, so don’t waste any time – register now before the class fills up!
- Christie, Program Coordinator
