Category Archives: Science

Creative Class of 2015: Kevin Delaney

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kevin30rock-headshotThe Science Expert on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Delaney, spends his days on the staff of the Museum of Discovery.  A native of New Jersey, he came to Arkansas a few years ago.  He serves as the director of visitor experience at the museum.  In that capacity, he performs Awesome Science experiments for children and created the Science After Dark program for adults.

His job allows him to combine his interest in science, interacting with the public, and showing off his flair for the dramatic.

Prior to joining the museum staff, Delaney worked as a playwright, director and teacher.

He has made three appearances on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. More are in the works.

The final Science After Dark of 2015 will take place on Friday, October 30.  Watch for more detail.

Creative Class of 2015: Susan Altrui

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cc15 altruiOctober is Arts & Humanities Month.  This year, the Culture Vulture will be highlighting 31 members of Little Rock’s Creative Class: the Creative Class of 2015.

Up first Susan Altrui.  Earlier this year, Altrui was named Assistant Director of the Little Rock Zoo.  She previously had overseen marketing, public relations and fundraising for the Zoo.  During that time, the Zoo opened the penguin and cheetah exhibits as well as undertaken several other initiatives which involved fundraising and friendraising.

In addition to her work with the Zoo, Altrui is the chair of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute board. She has been involved in bringing Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival back from the brink and returning it to higher visibility.  Altrui also served as an executive producer on the documentary Ann Richards’ Texas.

In 2014, she was appointed to the Arkansas Entertainer’s Hall of Fame board.  Altrui is a member of the Junior League of Little Rock and Rotary Club of Little Rock.  In her “spare” time she plays tennis.

SeptemBEER is theme of this month’s Science after Dark at Museum of Discovery

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mod septbeerThe Museum of DIscovery’s monthly Science after Dark is tonight.  This month’s theme: SeptemBEER!

It runs from 6pm to 9pm.  Admission is $5, free for museum members.  The program is for those 21 and up.

Participating breweries:
Stone’s Throw Brewing
Damgoode Pies River Market
Vino’s Pizza-Pub-Brewery
Lost Forty Brewing
Diamond Bear Brewing Company

Activities:
-Tinkering with Solo Cups
-Tinkering with beer bottles (make beer bottles into glasses)
-Beer pong physics
-Flip Cup physics
-Trick Shots (using a catapult, vacuum cannon, trebuchet, hair dryer and strike launcher)

4th Annual Tinkerfest today at Museum of Discovery

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tinkerfestThe Museum of Discovery presents its fourth annual Tinkerfest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, offering the public a chance to discover how everyday objects such as cars and computers work, and opportunities to explore the engineering and science behind building objects.

More than 40 stations will be set up both inside and outside the museum. Among the activities Tinkerfest visitors can engage in:  

  • Toy take-apart
  • Car take-apart
  • Water exploration activities
  • Marshmallow shooters
  • Tiny drawings
  • Light painting
  • “How to make” workshops
  • Squishy circuits
  • Cardboard maze
  • Construction for kids

There also will be food trucks at Tinkerfest selling a variety of food.

“Tinkerfest is one of the great days of the year at the Museum of Discovery,” said Kelley Bass, museum CEO. “It’s invigorating to see hundreds of families engaged in hands-on activities that are as instructional as they are enjoyable. Tinkerfest is directly aligned with the museum’s mission, and we’re happy the public has embraced it so enthusiastically.”

Cross Gunter Witherspoon and Galchus is Tinkerfest’s presenting sponsor. The event is also made possible through financial support from Welspun Tubular; Arkansas Discovery Network; East-Harding Construction; AT&T; Entergy Arkansas; Central Arkansas Water; Nabholz Construction; Arkansas School for Math, Science and Arts; Acxiom; Ace Glass; Caterpillar; VCC; and Spectra Entergy.

Tinkerfest activities are included in the museum’s regular daily admission: $10 for adults, $8 for children 1-12 and free for infants younger than 1. Seniors, teachers, Little Rock city employees and active and retired military are admitted for $8.

To learn more about Tinkerfest, visit https://www.museumofdiscovery.org/events/tinkerfest.  

Museum of Discovery’s mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.

Zoo Brew tonight at the Little Rock Zoo

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6_zoobrew2011-logoJoin the Little Rock Zoo for a frothy celebration like no other on Thursday, September 17! T

his fun craft beer festival takes place in and around Zoo grounds at Cafe Africa and the Civitan Pavilion and features dozens of beers to sample, live music to jam to featuring The Delta Donnie Band, and some of the best food trucks in central Arkansas who will have food available for purchase.

Food trucks include: Agrilla the Bun, Hot Rod Wieners, Katmandumomo, Loblolly Creamry, Pie Hole, Southern Gourmasian, Waffle Wagon, and Bratwurst and Sausage served-up fresh in Cafe Africa! Your ticket includes admission to the event, beer pours, and a free souvenir Zoo Brew cup! Food sold separately.

Brewers include:


 

Golden Eagle of Arkansas

Cost:  $25 per person in advance/$30 at the door

Must be at least 21 years of age to attend.

All proceeds benefit the Arkansas Zoological Foundation for updates and improvements to the Little Rock Zoo.

 

Museum of Discovery’s Kevin Delaney to Make 4th appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’–POSTPONED

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mod delaney 

UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this will be rescheduled for a future date. 

Kevin Delaney, director of visitor experience at the Museum of Discovery, will make his fourth appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” at 10:35 p.m. Friday, September 18, on NBC.  In Little Rock, it will air on KARK.  Delaney serves as the show’s “science expert” and performs multiple science demonstrations with Fallon serving as his lab assistant.

“I cannot wait to return to ‘The Tonight Show’,” Delaney said.  “We’ve got some great demos planned that will show how amazing science is while highlighting some of the exciting things our visitors experience at the museum.”

According to Museum of Discovery CEO Kelley Bass, Delaney’s fourth appearance is perfect timing.  “Kevin’s appearance will occur on the eve of our largest public event, Tinkerfest, which is a day devoted to tinkering and engineering for all ages.  Kevin’s role on ‘The Tonight Show’ has definitely raised awareness about the Museum of Discovery and its mission of igniting a passion for science, technology and math.”

Delaney made his successful “Tonight Show” debut on May 5, 2014 and returned again on November 7, 2014 and most recently, May 22.  To watch his first three appearances, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OELiqiIHZEI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQWtZd8jM3g  and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMplxEE4xdo

For more information, call 501-396-7050 or visit www.museumofdiscovery.org.

Final Day to Explore Mindbender Mansion at the Museum of Discovery!

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Mindbender_logo_CMYKAfter enthralling visitors for months, the Museum of Discovery today bids a fond farewell to Mindbender Mansion. But visitors still have until 5pm!

Mister E. and the Mindbender Society invite you to enter the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion, an eclectic place full of puzzles, brainteasers, and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers. Adults and children alike will enjoy exercising their minds as they try to master each of the 11 individual brain teasers and the three group activities in this fun and unconventional new exhibit.

Visitors to Mindbender Mansion will be greeted by the wacky Mr. E., master brainteaser and puzzler extraordinaire, and current curator of the Mindbender Society. He will explain the mysteries of Mindbender Mansion and how to become a member of the eccentric Mindbender Society by gathering hidden clues and secret passwords. The clues can only be found by solving key puzzles found in select themed areas.

Throughout the exhibit visitors will find a combination of tabletop brainteasers they can solve on their own and larger group challenges that require assistance from their fellow mansion guests.

The group challenges include:

  • Feeding Frenzy-Kitchen mayhem is guaranteed in a race to beat the clock by filling T.V. dinner trays (with five kinds of food) on a fast moving conveyer belt.
  • Spelling Fever-Hopscotch meets Scrabble® in this race to spell correct words within a limited amount of time by hopping on letter squares that light up.
  • Amazing Maze-In this version of the classic steel ball labyrinth game visitors must work together to tilt a table in different directions, guiding a ball into six holes as quickly as possible.

Upon completing each of the select brainteasers and group challenges, visitors will have gathered the necessary clues and secret passwords to become a member of the Mindbender Society and add their portrait to the “Wall of Fame.”