Philadelphia Science Festival Sets Dates for 2013, Aims to Get
Locals Questioning... Well, Everything
Third annual event set for
April 18 -28, 2013 with more than 100
thought-provoking events
The Dow Chemical Company returns for
the third year as presenting sponsor of the Festival
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Philadelphia Science Festival organizers have questions –
lots of questions. So as they announce dates for the third annual
event and more than 100 programs in April
2013, they decided to explore potential answers. After all,
they're not the only ones who want to know what makes clothing
"sweat proof," why Philly soft pretzels taste so darn good and even
how ancient Egyptians mummified their deceased.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100924/TFILOGO)
The result is a social media campaign leading up to the
3rd Annual Philadelphia Science Festival April 18-28. The campaign will kick off early
next year and relies on world renowned experts from within the
Festival's core collaborating institutions – experts like
Robert Hicks, Ph.D., director of the
Mutter Museum, and Stephen Phillips,
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology – to answer those questions.
The scientific experts lend their insight to a series of online
videos being rolled out through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and
Pinterest with the hash tag #BeCurious. The videos will also be a
key component of the Festival's new website and blog slated to
launch early next year.
"The premise behind the Science Festival is to engage all
Philadelphians, people who don't necessarily consider themselves
scientists in the traditional sense," said Dennis M. Wint, President and CEO of The
Franklin Institute, which organizes the
Philadelphia Science Festival. "We want everyone to look at the
world around us, at what we eat, drink, read and watch everyday
with a sense of curiosity. To realize that others are just as
curious and that it's possible that we might wonder about the same
things. Together, we can discover the answers, tapping into some of
the best minds in the world right here in Philadelphia. Hopefully, the conversations we
start during these 10 days each April will fuel our collective
curiosity for years to come."
Since its founding in 2011, the Philadelphia Science Festival –
one of the first of its kind in the nation – has brought together
more than 250 new partnerships and collaborations, taking science
out of the classroom and into restaurants, museums, libraries,
galleries and even onto street corners. More than 120,000 people
(including an estimated 30,000+ students) have participated in
programs, most of them free or offered at-cost, in the first two
years. Festival organizers expect exponential growth as the concept
catches on. When it first started, the idea of a citywide science
celebration was unheard of in mainstream America, although it's a
growing trend in Europe, Wint
said.
A complete list of Festival events will be available in February
at philasciencefestival.org, but below is a sampling of the
signature programs already confirmed.
— Science Carnival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Saturday, April 20 10am-4pm
A free outdoor carnival on the
Parkway, featuring more than 100 hands-on interactive activities,
science-themed performances and demonstrations that the whole
family can enjoy. FREE
— Icarus at the Edge of Time (Philadelphia Premiere)
Wednesday, April 24 at
8pm | The Kimmel Center's Verizon
Hall
The Festival and PIFA partner up to "reach for the
stars" in the Philadelphia
premiere of Icarus at the Edge of Time, a whirlwind journey through
space and time – to the very edge of understanding. A futuristic
update of the Greek myth, Icarus at the Edge of Time is based on
the children's book by Brian Greene,
America's best-selling and most visible physicist. Now set in outer
space, the story focuses on a boy who challenges the awesome might
of a black hole. It comes alive in Verizon Hall accompanied by
stunning multimedia works and the vibrant sound of the Philadelphia
Youth Orchestra. ($)
— Beer Chemistry: Perfect Pairings
Friday, April 26 at 7pm | Yards Brewing Company
We all love a
cold one, but what makes an IPA different from a saison? The Yards
brewmasters show you the chemistry behind some of our favorite
brews and the science behind the flavors. Afterward, the experience
continues in the Yards Tasting Room with six beer and food pairings
specifically selected for their properties. The only caveat? Guests
must be 21 or older. ($)
— Murder at the Mutter™: Outbreak!
Friday, April 26 at 7pm | The Mutter Museum of The College of
Physicians of Philadelphia
The third iteration of
this real-life whodunit! Local forensic experts help you decipher
clues and analyze data to solve the mystery of a hypothetical
outbreak – all while learning about the life and skills of a crime
scene investigator. ($)
— Naturepalooza
Saturday, April 27 from
10am to 2pm | Schuylkill Center for
Environmental Education
In recognition of Earth Day, this is a celebration of all things
natural. Get down and dirty with family-friendly explorations,
citizen science projects, environmental art, games and story times.
Plus, the Pavilion Stage will feature a lively and entertaining mix
of live music, animal shows, poetry and special guests – and
there's even a native plant sale.
— Science of Play Discovery Day
Saturday, April 27 from
10am to 4pm | Please Touch
Museum
Playing is science? You betcha. "Playing around" with
ideas is critical to discovery, and young children – with their
limitless curiosity and love of play and exploration – make
excellent scientists. We'll introduce kids to the process of
scientific inquiry using STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Art and Math) principles found in toys, animals, art and the
natural world. Come join the Philadelphia Zoo, the Please Touch
Museum, and other kid-focused organizations as we host a day of
science and play for the smallest scientists in the city!
— The Morgue the Merrier: The Science of the Living Dead
Saturday, April 27 at 6pm | Laurel Hill Cemetery
Join Dr.
Steven Scholzman, author of the
"Zombie Autopsies," and discover how we have defined "dead" and
"alive" throughout history, take part in a body part scavenger hunt
and check out a live zombie autopsy. Afterwards, party like the
living dead with refreshments, drinks and zombie activities!
The Festival coincides with The Franklin Institute Awards Week,
which each year honors pioneers in science, technology and business
leadership. Continuing its nearly 200 year old legacy of bringing
the world's most influential scientists to Philadelphia to be recognized for their
extraordinary achievements (think Einstein, Curie, and Hawking),
The Franklin Institute Awards is among the oldest and most widely
known awards programs in science. Among the eight recipients being
honored on Thursday, April 25 are:
Michael Dell, Chairman and CEO of
Dell Inc., who helped revolutionize personal computing, making it
accessible to the masses; William
Labov, Ph.D., of the University of
Pennsylvania, who established the cognitive basis of
language variation and change and has studied non-standard
dialects; and Subra Suresh, Sc.D.,
director of the National Science Foundation, for helping change our
understanding of how materials behave and whose research also
showed how deformation of biological cells can be linked to
diseases.
The Laureates – both past and present – will be in Philadelphia between
April 22 and April 26 and will participate in a series of
lectures, panels and hands-on demonstrations as well as in specific
Festival programming.
"Connecting today's leading scientific minds with the
Philadelphia community – to have
them work and play alongside each other for a few days – is exactly
the kind of accessible science that would make our namesake,
Benjamin Franklin, proud," said
Wint. "Through their remarkable accomplishments, in an array of
disciplines, each laureate has positively impacted the quality of
human life and deepened our understanding of the universe."
In addition to these programs, there will be special
celebrations in 15 Free Library branch locations as part of PSF's
Neighborhood Science Afterschool initiative. The 2013 Festival will
close with Discovery Weekend, featuring six events taking place in
neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and gardens, with hands-on,
interactive activities designed to engage communities in the
science taking place where they live.
About The Franklin Institute
Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative
leader in the field of science and technology learning, as well as
a dynamic center of activity. Pennsylvania's most visited museum, it is
dedicated to creating a passion for learning about science by
offering access to hands-on science education. For more
information, visit www.fi.edu.
About the Philadelphia Science Festival
One of the first celebrations of its kind in the country, the
Philadelphia Science Festival is a 10-day celebration of science
and technology in everyday places – parks, restaurants, bars,
libraries and museums. It asks Philadelphians to question the world
around them and aims to inspire not only the next generation of
scientists and engineers, but also create homegrown citizen
scientists. More than 105 partners are working together to produce
the Festival, which runs April 18-28
is presented by The Dow Chemical Company and organized by The
Franklin Institute. To learn more,
visit PhilaScienceFestival.org or call 215-448-1128.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Photos and artwork are available for publication at:
http://www.philasciencefestival.org/communicate/press-room
- PSF is on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Pinterest:
PHLScienceFest
- The 2013 hashtag is #PSF2013
SOURCE The Franklin Institute