The Museum of Nature & Science will host two technology festivals, Discover Technology from February 19-20 and E-Week from February 21-25, to highlight science education and careers in engineering. Discover Technology will feature demonstrations of robots, vehicles, and other technological gadgets. E-Week will build on Discover Technology by adding opportunities for students to interact with engineers and learn how they can pursue careers in STEM fields. Both events are aimed at teaching visitors of all ages about the science behind modern technology.

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Jennifer Whitus,
Communications Manager
214-426-4629
jwhitus@natureandscience.org
Museum of Nature & Science Goes High-Tech
Two Technology and Engineering Festivals Set for Feb. 19-25
DALLAS, Texas (February 9, 2011) – Robots, vehicles and rockets are taking
over the Museum of Nature & Science. Two special festivals, Discover Technology and
E-Week (or “Engineers Week”) will highlight science education, careers in engineering
and the very latest science “toys” for kids of all ages.
What was once the Museum’s popular Tech Fest is now Discover Technology,
which will be held Feb. 19-20 at the Museum’s campus in Fair Park. The weekend-long
festival will feature advanced technological gadgets, and demonstrate the science behind
them.
“Discover Technology gives children and adults the opportunity to see the science
and technology that goes in to some of the products they use every day, and some they
only dream of,” says Stacey Bucklin, family and adult programs manager for the
Museum. “Visitors will get the chance to explore robots, experiment with models of
alternative-energy powered cars and so much more!”
A life-sized replica of R2-D2, the lovable robot from the Star Wars film series, a
digital television broadcast truck and solar-powered toy vehicles are among the scheduled
highlights for Discover Technology. Visitors will be able to operate remote-controlled
robotics, build simple motors, check out 3-D television technology and make rocket
pinwheels! MNS will also present special showings of its popular Electric Theater stage
show, which demonstrates shocking Tesla coils, hair-raising Van de Graaff generators,
electro-magnets and transformers.
Discover Technology is sponsored by Lockheed Martin and IBM and is the
winter installment of MNS’ Discovery Days, a series of specially-themed, weekend-long
family festivals that occur throughout the year at MNS. Time Warner Cable, back for its
second year, is the presenting sponsor of the Discovery Days series. Lockheed Martin,
IBM and Time Warner Cable, along with other technological leaders such as the Dallas
Personal Robotics Group, the American Society of Civil Engineers and Dallas
Makerspace, will be on hand to show off their latest achievements and answer questions
about the science behind the gadgets.
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2. Discover Technology/E-Week, Page 2
The high-tech fun and learning will continue beyond the weekend with E-Week,
which the Museum will host from Feb. 21-25. E-Week at MNS is the local celebration of
National Engineers Week. E-Week builds on all the fun and learning of Discover
Technology by adding the elements of mentoring and career guidance for school-age
children.
“E-Week at MNS is geared specifically at school kids and offers interaction with real
engineers,” says Bucklin. “There will be special activities and demonstrations available
to show kids that math, science and engineering are fun! It’s a great way to get hands-on
and explore the building blocks of technology and get a glimpse of the new gadgets being
developed by professional engineers.”
E-Week at the Museum of Nature & Science is presented by IBM and Time Warner
Cable, and sponsored by Lockheed Martin. During the five-day event, children can meet
with the science wizards of IBM, Time Warner Cable and Lockheed Martin to find out
how they can “play” for a living.
Discover Technology and E-Week are free for MNS members and included in the
price of general exhibit admission for non-members. Regular general exhibit admission
is $10 for adults 18-61; $9 for seniors 62+ and students 12-17; $7 for children 2-11;
Children under 2 are free. Save time and avoid lines by purchasing advance tickets
online. The MNS campus is located in Fair Park. The Science Building is at 1318 S. 2nd
Ave., and the Nature Building is at 3535 Grand Ave. Weekend hours are Saturday 10:00
a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday noon until 5:00 p.m.
For more information about Discovery Days, Discover Technology, E-Week, MNS
membership and general MNS information, visit natureandscience.org.
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About the Museum of Nature & Science
The Museum of Nature & Science – the result of a unique merger in 2006 between the
Dallas Museum of Natural History, The Science Place and the Dallas Children's Museum
– is an AAM- accredited non-profit educational organization located in Dallas's Fair
Park. In support of its mission to inspire minds through nature and science, the museum
delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor experiences through its education,
exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers,
families and life-long learners. The facility also includes the TI Founders IMAX®
Theater and a cutting-edge digital planetarium. The Museum of Nature & Science is
supported in part by funds from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, the Texas
Commission on the Arts and HP. The Museum of Nature & Science also is building a
new $185-million museum on a 4.7-acre site in Victory Park to complement the Fair Park
facilities. To learn more about the Museum of Nature & Science, please visit
www.natureandscience.org.