The Trenton Times published the following article on May 3, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
New Jersey State Museum to host Super Science Saturday
By Mark Syp/For The Times
on May 03, 2013 at 6:07 AM, updated May 03, 2013 at 8:12 AMThis weekend, become a scientist and embark on a journey of discovery.
Travel from the depths of the ocean to the furthest reaches of the universe. Employ both cutting edge technology and time-honored scientific techniques. Interact with creatures both prehistoric and lovable.
Do all of this right here in New Jersey, renowned for its history of scientific innovation, as the New Jersey State Museum presents its 33rd annual Super Science Saturday.
In honor of the day, the museum will be offering free admission and the opportunity for attendees to participate in several science related activities. The State Planetarium will also be getting in on the fun with discounted tickets for most shows and the premiere of its brand new show “To Space and Back.”
“Super Science Saturday is a great opportunity for parents and children to spend the day learning about science through hands-on activities, all while having fun,” says executive director Anthony Gardner. “And if Saturday serves as the catalyst for an interest in the science field in one of our visitors, then we want to continue to serve as a resource for them as well.”
Gardner says this year’s program is unique in that it is the first to incorporate a unified theme, that of “New Jersey Innovation.”
“There’s a lot of innovation that has gone on in New Jersey, from Edison up until today,” says curator of education Beth Cooper. “It’s really something that goes from the past into the future, so we wanted to celebrate that.”
Cooper says that as part of this year’s festivities, the museum will be providing children with a passport to exploration, quite literally.
“At each of the museum’s booths we’ll have a fun activity for the kids and then they can get their passport stamped after they complete the activity” she says. “They can be sure to participate in all the activities and also have a neat souvenir of the day.”
Children will have the chance to interact with several artifacts from across the museum’s collections, including Natural History Highlights, showcasing archaeological finds. The museum’s staff of curators will also be on hand to answer questions and share all the museum has to offer.
In addition to using their passport to take them around the world, kids can also purchase a discounted ticket to the stars. Planetarium curator Jay Schwartz says that in honor of Super Science Saturday the planetarium would be premiering “To Space and Back.”
“It’s the most visually stunning show I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been in the planetarium business for several years,” Schwartz says. He added that in addition to having dazzling visuals, the show demonstrates the ways in which space exploration is relevant to everyday life.
“The show is about how cell phones and other devices we use every day were created as a result of space exploration,” Schwartz says.
In addition to presenting the new program, the planetarium will be showing several of its other shows, including the popular “One World, One Sky,” hosted by Sesame Street’s Big Bird. Cooper says attendees have the chance to meet one of Big Bird’s furry friends.
“We’ll have Cookie Monster here all day,” she says. “I know he’s been doing some science on the show recently, so we’re really glad to have him here helping us to celebrate science.”
The planetarium will also feature a scale model of the solar system, helping to emphasize the distance between the various planets.
The museum will be offering several auditorium shows, including perennial favorites such as the “Mad Scientist Show” and a special show featuring the life-size dinosaur puppet from Field Station Dinosaur in Secaucus. One show the museum made a point to book is a performance from “Jump with Jill,” the rock star nutritionist, who will be teaching kids the importance of eating right and exercising, but with her own rock ‘n’ roll twist.
“We really wanted to get nutritional science into the day,” Cooper says. “It’s very important that kids be active and know what they’re eating.”
Other new events will include a petting zoo and an award ceremony honoring the winners of the museum’s latest contest, highlighting innovative New Jersey high and middle school teachers.
More than 30 booths will featuring science and technology groups from the area, each with a different activity. Trenton-based Robodyssey systems will teach kids about robotics and let them see real robots in action. Jenkinson’s Aquarium, which has participated in the event since its earliest days, will have a hands-on activity where kids can explore marine life.
Like Jenkinson’s, several vendors have been involved in Super Science Saturday for many years. “Rocket Guy” Jerry Iacona of Aerospace Is I.T. has been participating for over a decade and will be there to show kids various model rockets and teach them about the science behind them. If weather permits, Iacona may shoot a few of them off at the end of the day.
Iacona, a former science teacher in the Hamilton school district, shared the reason he keeps returning.
“It’s just fun to know that we’re getting children excited about math and science,” he says without hesitation.