Field Trips
FRACTALS AS ART
Now Open: Sept. 3, 2011 through Jan. 22, 2012
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Kalamazoo
This exhibit shows the interplay between art and science as computers now add precision to an ancient graphical technique. Based on mathematical equations of iterations, fractal art breaks a shape into smaller pieces that resemble the larger whole. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum exhibit explains the science behind fractals and displays an impressive gallery of fractal images.
INVERTED PENDULUMS
Now Open
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Ann Arbor
Students can use a computer to control this inverted pendulum, created by University of Michigan students. The inverted pendulum demonstrates many key aspects of science and technology, and uses the same circuitry as Segways and other fascinating innovations.
BIGGER THAN T. REX:
GIANT KILLER DINOSAURS OF ARGENTINA
Jan. 20 through May 15, 2011
Alden B. Down Museum of Science & Art
Midland
"Step into an ancient world where nothing looks like Earth as we know it! Here, you’ll witness the recently discovered 'Twin Towers of Terror': a 45-foot Giganotosaurus skeleton, and its companion 24-foot juvenile Mapusaurus skeleton." Also view T. Rex and other dinosaur fossil heads and enjoy hands-on activities.
SIMPLE MACHINES
Now Open
Impression 5
Lansing
Experience one of Impression 5's newest exhibits, where you can learn how simple machines can make lifting yourself on a pulley chair or raising a 500-pound block of cement easy tasks.
JOURNEY OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Now Open
Air Zoo
Portage
"Your adventure is a 3-D tour of service aboard the space shuttle. As you settle in and get ready for launch, you learn the mission objective: the International Space Station."
MONARCH BUTTERFLY AND CECROPIA MOTH
Now Open
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Ann Arbor
"Experience Monarch caterpillar metamorphosis first-hand. Observe dozens of Cecropia caterpillars feeding on apple leaves and busily spinning their cocoons. You might even see a Monarch Butterfly emerge from a chrysalis and released into the wild by our staff."
HOLIDAY PLANETARIUM SHOWS
Nov. 24, 2010 through Jan. 2, 2011
Cranbrook Institute of Science
Bloomfield Hills
Explore the stars through special themed programs like "Christmas Lights!" "The Mystery of the Xmas Star" and "Michigan Sky Tonight."
COLLECTIONS, SCIENCE, AND SCHOLARSHIP
Open through July 31, 2011
University of Michigan Museum
Ann Arbor
"The exhibit showcases collections research... that any researcher can use to test previous research, conduct new studies, and compare newly collected material to earlier discoveries."
ARCHAEOLOGY! CURRENT RESEARCH IN THE U-M MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Now Open
University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History
Ann Arbor
"Among the many topics featured in this exhibition are: recent archaeological research under Lake Huron, studies of the remains of 19th century Ann Arbor, ... and how archaeologists study the diets of ancient peoples."
VIEWSPACE EXHIBIT FROM NASA
Now Open
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Ann Arbor
Daily updated images from NASA's space telescopes give unique access to astronomy and new discoveries.
