Chabot News

Chabot Hosts Shuttle Launch Celebration

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Watch the last shuttle launch at Chabot Space & Science Center

Chabot Space & Science Center Hosts Celebration

For Last NASA Space Shuttle Launch

June 30, 2011 – OAKLAND, Calif. When NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on Friday, July 8, it will be the last in the 30 year history of the space shuttle program. Chabot Space & Science Center is hosting an event for space flight enthusiasts to experience the launch together on the giant screen in Chabot’s MegaDome Theater and throughout the Center. Experts will be on hand to answer questions about the launch and the significance of space shuttle program. The 12-day mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch at 8:26am PDT on Friday, July 8.

"There’s a sense of community when we experience these historic events as a group,” said Ben Burress, Staff Astronomer at Chabot Space & Science Center. "We’re celebrating the history of human space flight and all of its technological advances and achievements. Like all explorations, it opens new possibilities to the next generation of discoveries.”

Atlantis will carry a crew of four: Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim. It will be NASA’s 135th space shuttle flight and will carry the Raffaello multipurpose logistics module to deliver supplies, logistics and spare parts to the International Space Station. The mission also will fly a system to investigate the potential for robotically refueling existing spacecraft and return a failed ammonia pump module to help NASA better understand the failure mechanism and improve pump designs for future systems.

NASA's space shuttle fleet began sending payloads to space with its first launch on April 12, 1981 as humanity's first reusable spacecraft. Starting with Columbia and continuing with Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, the spacecraft has carried people into orbit repeatedly, launched, recovered and repaired satellites, conducted cutting-edge research and built the largest structure in space, the International Space Station.

Doors open for the event 7:30am. The launch is scheduled for 8:26am PDT but is subject to change. Tickets for the event are $10 and include an all day pass to Chabot Space & Science Center and are available by calling the Box Office at (510) 336-7373 or on line at www.ChabotSpace.org. Chabot Members are admitted free.

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Chabot Space & Science Center, a Smithsonian affiliate, and Bay Area Certified Green Business, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit interactive science center whose mission is to inspire and educate students of all ages about Planet Earth and the Universe. Founded in 1883, the Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd. just off Highway 13 in the Oakland hills. For more information, visit www.ChabotSpace.org.

Chabot's Champions of Science Honored

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Educators, Individuals, Foundations, and Corporations honored for supporting Chabot

Chabot Space & Science Center Honors
Champions of Science

September 20, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif. Honoring their continuing support of science education, Chabot Space & Science Center recently held a tribute to Champions of Science at Chabot's annual fundraiser, The Starlight Gala. A longtime educator, individual supporters, a foundation, and a corporation were honored for their substantial and longtime work in partnership with Chabot to increase knowledge of, and interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Over the last decade, the awardees have contributed countless hours and over $10 million in grant funding to Chabot Space & Science Center.

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, established in 2000, was presented with a Champion of Science Foundation Award for its longtime support of programs like Chabot's Teacher Training Institute, and Bill Nye's Climate Lab. The Moore Foundation supports programs and projects at science rich learning institutions around the Bay Area that advance environmental conservation and scientific research. In partnership with these institutions, the Foundation seeks to increase scientific awareness and critical inquiry.

Ed and Camille Penhoet were named Champion of Science Individual Honorees for their leadership and lifelong mission of improving society through science and technology education. Ed's service as board chairman at Chabot helped the Center grow and develop into a formidable STEM education institution. In 1981, Ed co-founded Chiron Corporation and served as its chief executive officer until 1998. Ed is also long time member of the board of trustees and former president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The couple are both graduates of Stanford University.

The Director of Education, Etta Heber, has served at Chabot for nearly two decades and was honored with a Champion of Science Educator Award. Thousands of Bay Area students have Etta to thank for her years of promoting and facilitating science education funding and innovative programs. A former classroom teacher, she led and advanced Chabot’s STEM education programs such as the Techbridge after school science program for girls, the teen volunteer Galaxy Explorers at Chabot Space & Science Center, Teacher Training Institutes, and the Champions of Science, an afterschool science program. Etta has coauthored several articles regarding gender-equity in science and technology and has been a principal investigator on a number of sizeable federal and foundation grants, enabling the inspiration of immeasurable dreams of students in science.

Their extensive and prolonged community involvement in STEM initiatives earned Chevron the honor of Champion of Science Corporate Award. Chabot Space & Science Center has been a fortunate recipient of the company’s vision and active strategic investments in the future of the communities in which they do business. Through their partnerships, Chevron supports programs, like Chabot’s after school Champions of Science, which help strengthen school systems and STEM curriculum, increase professional development opportunities for teachers, and provide extra resources in the classroom — all leading to college ready, career bound young people.

"On behalf of all the families and students who have access to quality science education, we thank all of our Champions of Science honorees. Without their determination and generosity, we would not be able to provide important science education opportunities to people who need them the most. They are all making a difference in people’s lives through their tireless support of science literacy," said Alexander Zwissler, Executive Director and CEO of Chabot Space & Science Center.

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Chabot Space & Science Center, a Smithsonian affiliate, and Bay Area Certified Green Business, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit interactive science center whose mission is to inspire and educate the public about Planet Earth and the Universe. Founded in 1883, the Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd. just off Highway 13 in the Oakland hills. For more information, visit www.ChabotSpace.org.

Summer Movie Nights at Chabot

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Documentaries on Fridays, Classic Sci-Fi on Saturdays this summer

Summer Movie Nights at Chabot Space & Science Center

Documentaries on Fridays, Classic Sci-Fi on Saturdays

June 27, 2011â€” OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center will begin showing documentary and classic science fiction films on selected Friday and Saturday evenings as part of Summer Movie Nights. Documentaries from The Video Project will be screened on Friday nights, and on Saturday nights, classic science fiction films will be shown in HD when available on Chabot Space & Science Centerâ€™s giant screen MegaDome Theater. The films will be shown at 6:00pm and 8:00pm (or 8:30pm), and are included with General Admission to Chabot Space & Science Center.

Film titles and show times are listed below.

Documentaries: Fridays (6pm and 8pm)

Coral Sea Dreaming â€“ Awaken Friday, July 1 and Friday, August 12 (6pm and 8pm)
A vivid, in depth exploration of one of the planet's great natural wonders - coral reefs - which harbor the greatest biodiversity of any ecosystem on earth. The story of coral reefs spans 500 million years and stars some of the most exotic and wondrous creatures on earth.

The Venus Theory Friday, July 15 and Friday, August 19 (6pm and 8pm)
Exploring the possibility of the Earth's temperature one day equaling the temperature on the planet Venus, this film interviews leading scientists from around the world who clearly explain the science behind climate change.

Into Eternity Friday, July 22 and Friday, August 26 (6pm and 8pm)
The world's nuclear power plants have generated an estimated 300,000 tons of high-level radioactive waste that must be safely stored for 100,000 years or more. Every year, they generate another 12,000 metric tons of high-level waste. Into Eternity is the first feature documentary to explore the mind-boggling scientific and philosophical questions long-term nuclear waste storage poses.

So Right So Smart Friday, July 29 and Friday August 5 (6pm and 8pm)
The film profiles companies on the cutting edge of more sustainable business practices who are proving that being environmentally friendly is both good for the earth and good for business. Their inspiring stories of leadership and innovative change provide hopeful models for the larger business community and other institutions.

Science Fiction Films: Saturdays (6pm and 8:00pm or 8:30pm)

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Saturday, July 2 (6pm and 8:30pm)
Rated PG
Genetic superman Khan (Ricardo Montalban), aided by his renegade followers, sets a deadly trap for his old enemy, Admiral Kirk (William Shatner). Kirk's coming to grips with his age, and his confrontations with his son and Khan make for a great Star Trek adventure.

Flash Gordon (1980) Saturday, July 16 (6pm and 8:30pm)
Rated PG
A football player and his friends travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyrant, Ming the Merciless, to save Earth.

Forbidden Planet (1956) Saturday, July 23 (6pm and 8:00pm)
This film is not rated.
An interstellar expedition journeys to planet Altair-4 to look for the survivors of an earlier voyage. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) and his daughter (Anne Francis) are the only survivors to escape the wrath of a terrifying space monster in this classic sci-fi adventure set in the year 2200.

Serenity (2005) Saturday, July 30 (6pm and 8:30pm)
Rated PG-13
The film is based on the TV series Firefly and takes place 500 years in the future. Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his crew take on any job that pays - even criminal assignments. Now this cast of colorful characters must protect their new psychic crewmate while trying to discover her secret and why The Alliance wants her so badly.

District 9 Saturday, August 6 (6pm & 8:30pm)
Rated R
An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions in South Africa suddenly find a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology.

Monsters, Inc. (2001) Saturday, August 13 (6pm & 8pm)
Rated G
This animated feature from the creators of Toy Story shows us the life behind the scenes of things that go bump in the night. The big, blue and fuzzy James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) and his opinionated, one-eyed roommate Mike Wzowski (Billy Crystal) are two professional "scare specialists." When they accidentally let a young girl named Boo into their world behind the closets and under the beds, it throws their life into chaos.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) Saturday, August 20 (6pm & 8:30pm)
Rated PG
A barrage of UFOs surprises an Indiana town and leads lineman Roy Leary on a journey he will never forget. Richard Dreyfuss and acclaimed director Francois Truffaut star in this Academy Award® winning film that sparked a whole new genre of contemporary extraterrestrial film.

Cool Your School Competition Begins

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Students compete to save energy in their schools with help from Chabot

Chabot Space & Science Center Holds "Cool Your School"
Competition Among Select Bay Area Schools

February 29, 2012 - OAKLAND, Calif. - Chabot Space & Science Center is expanding its popular Bill Nye's Climate Lab exhibition and launching a competition among area elementary school students to help them "cool their schools." Using the innovative Building Dashboard Network, designed by Oakland-based Lucid, schools in the competition will receive feedback on their schools' energy usage. "Cool Your School" aims to teach energy conservation strategies and inspire behavior change-behavior change that students will hopefully take home to mom and dad.

Four Bay Area schools have been equipped with the web-based monitoring tool. Each school's baseline energy consumption data will populate a colorful dashboard when the competition launches on March 1, 2012. Students will then be set loose to strategize on how to reduce their school's consumption, in an effort to become the Cool Your School champion. Each school will also take a field trip to Chabot Space & Science Center and its Bill Nye's Climate Lab, to learn the fundamentals of using clean, sustainable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The goal is to change behavior to minimize the impact on the environment. This technology powers a social network for buildings, helping students understand their schools' energy usage, and empowering them to implement conservation programs," said Alexander Zwissler, Executive Director/CEO at Chabot Space & Science Center.

Using the Building Dashboard Network in the classroom opens the door to many science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) principles. Lessons on water, gas, and electricity consumption become part of instruction on climate science and energy literacy. Math skills are enhanced through use of graphs comparing energy usage and the monitoring of data. Energy savings are compared with competing schools' buildings to discover the effects of each school's power reduction efforts.

"When students are asked to interpret and analyze patterns of data that reflect their own behavior in the buildings in which they learn, play, work, or live, exercises become especially meaningful and inspiring," said Andrew deCoriolis, Lucid's Director of Engagement.

Students can manipulate data display options on their Building Dashboard in a variety of ways to illustrate patterns of energy consumption, increasing their understanding of how energy consumption is measured and how much it costs.

Cool Your School is happening in close connection with new work to expand Bill Nye's Climate Lab at Chabot Space & Science Center. The exhibition opened at Chabot in November of 2010, utilizing the humor and talents of Bill Nye the Climate Guy: an Emmy Award-winning media personality. Its accompanying website brings the experience to a home or school computer to gain points while finding clean energy solutions.

To see the Building Dashboard Network for the schools involved, visit their websites:

buildingdashboard.net/parkday (Park Day School in Oakland)
buildingdashboard.net/olr    (Our Lady of the Rosary School in Union City)
buildingdashboard.net/stelizabeth   (Saint Elizabeth School in Oakland)
buildingdashboard.net/stjarlath        (Saint Jarlath School in Oakland)

For information on visiting schools participating in the "Cool Your School" challenge, contact Lyisha Johnson, at Chabot Space & Science Center at ljohnson@chabotspace.org, or (510) 336-7304.

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My Einstein - Personal Memories of Einstein

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Stephanie Asker shares stories, photos, and home movies.

Chabot Space & Science Center Presents "My Einstein -
Personal Memories of Albert Einstein"

October 13, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif. Stephanie Asker, whose father was Albert Einstein's tax accountant, will share her personal stories, photos and home movies from her childhood interactions with the famous physicist at Chabot Space & Science Center on Friday, October 21 at 8pm. The event is free with General Admission.

Most think of Albert Einstein as an enigmatic, wild-haired physicist, who developed the famous formula, E=mc². But to Stephanie Asker, he was her father's friend who sketched drawings for her and explained his famous theory of relativity using simple illustrations he drew on the top of a cake box.

"I first met Professor Einstein when I was four years old. I didn't realize he was very famous so I just played with him. During a family visit he sat me on his shoulders and I actually pulled his hair! He laughed and laughed at this and sounded like Santa Claus,” Asker later recalled.

Every year, from the ages of four through eighteen, Stephanie Asker traveled with her parents to spend the day with Professor Einstein and his family at their home in Princeton, New Jersey or their summer retreat on Long Island. Asker is a retired psychotherapist who was in private practice in four states and founded Wall Street Counseling Center in New York. She has given conferences and workshops to Fortune 500 corporations as well as colleges and many other organizations.

Stephanie Asker's father, Leo Mattersdorf was an amateur astronomer and also Einstein's tax accountant. In January, 1938 Einstein presented his personal telescope, which he had brought with him to America, to Mattersdorf. In a letter, he thanks him for helping him "wage the war with the great dragon on his behalf.” The great dragon referred to the Internal Revenue Service. The telescope and a copy of the letter are on exhibit at Chabot Space & Science Center.

Along with personal stories of her childhood encounters with Einstein, Stephanie Asker will also share images and home movies of her family gatherings with the "father of modern physics” and arguably the most famous scientist in history.

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

New Portable Planetarium Expands Universes

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Chabot's Galaxy Explorers use new inflatable planetarium to share love of science

Chabot Space & Science Center Pumps Up
New Portable Planetarium

February 10, 2012 â€" OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center's high school interns, the Galaxy Explorers, are using a new tool to engage the public in astronomy: a state of the art portable digital planetarium, which will enable the youth leaders to program and present customized planetarium shows to thousands of their peers at libraries, science fairs, conferences, and at under served Bay Area schools. The Peer-to-Peer Planetarium (P2P) uses the latest in mobile planetarium technology and is funded by a grant from NASA.

The specialized software called Digital Sky is used to program planetarium shows using the same powerful system used in Chabot Space & Science Center's full-dome planetarium. It features high resolution star fields, realistic planets, dynamic atmospheric effects, such as northern lights and cosmic ray showers, space debris, satellite tracking, over 400 thousand asteroids, and detailed motion through the solar system and beyond. The inflatable dome and comprehensive software system brings big theater capabilities to small, portable domes.

"The portable planetarium enables us to reach out to classrooms that may not have the opportunity to visit Chabot Space & Science Centerâ€™s digital full-dome planetarium," said Lisa Hoover, Youth Development Manager at Chabot Space & Science Center. "It also is another tool for our teen volunteers to enrich their education and share it with others, giving them valuable programming and presenting experience."

The portable planetarium sets up in about one hour and has room inside for about 35 children or 25 adults sitting on the floor. The experience brings classical astronomy into the digital age. Presentations can be customized for any skill or age level and can last anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour, depending on the audience.

Since its inception 13 years ago, Chabotâ€™s Galaxy Explorers have graduated and attended colleges such as MIT, UC, Caltech, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, Harvard, and Princeton. Several graduates are working in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers at organizations such as NASA, JPL, Space X, and Lockheed Martin. Galaxy Explorers often point to their experience as interns at Chabot Space & Science Center as valuable growth experience in public speaking, confidence, and leadership skills.

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PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org
Images Available

Astronaut Rex Walheim visits Chabot on Friday, March 9

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Part of NASA Family Night Destination Station

Chabot Space & Science Center Hosts Astronaut Rex Walheim For NASA's Family Night Destination Station

February 29, 2012- Oakland, Calif. - Chabot Space & Science Center welcomes NASA's Destination Station- a family celebration of space and science on Friday, March 9 from 6pm- 9pm. San Carlos resident astronaut Rex Walheim will be signing autographs, posing for photographs, and answering questions from visitors as part of the celebration from 6pm-7:15pm.

Destination Station is NASA Johnson Space Center's national awareness campaign promoting research opportunities and community education about activities on board the International Space Station. Mr. Walheim was a Mission Specialist on STS-135, the final NASA Space Shuttle flight. He'll speak about the real and potential impacts of the International Space Station on our everyday lives.

Astronaut Rex Walheim is a veteran of three space flights, and has logged over 36 days in space, including more than 36 extravehicular activity (EVA) hours in five spacewalks. Walheim graduated from San Carlos High School, then went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force before being selected by NASA in 1996.

"NASA Johnson Space Center and astronaut Walheim are very excited to share the wonders of the International Space Station with the Chabot Space & Science Center and the city of Oakland. The space station is such a treasure to our nation. We want the community to know the research conducted aboard the station truly improves our life on Earth," said Ciandra T. Jackson, Public Relations Specialist at NASA Johnson Space Center.

Although the space shuttles have been retired, there is still a great deal of NASA research taking place on the International Space Station. Some of the related activities on the International Space Station are on display in the Beyond Blastoff: Living and Working in Space exhibition at Chabot Space & Science Center.

The special NASA visit to Chabot Space & Science Center includes astronaut presentations, a Question and Answer session with Rex Walheim, demonstrations, and craft activities for the whole family. The event is free with General Admission to Chabot Space & Science Center. For ticket information visit ChabotSpace.org or call the Chabot Box Office at (510) 336-7373. The Center is open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with live planetarium shows at 6:30pm and 8:30pm, and telescope viewing (weather permitting).

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

Michael Levi Elected Chair of JPA Board

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Senior Scientist, Ph.D., to lead Chabot Space & Science Center's JPA Board

Chabot Space & Science Center Announces Election of
Michael Levi as Chair of JPA Board of Directors

January 13, 2012 - OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center announces the election of Michael Levi as Chair of the Joint Powers Agency (JPA) Board of Directors which governs Chabot along with the Oakland Unified School District, the City of Oakland, the East Bay Regional Park District, and the Eastbay Astronomical Society. Levi had been serving as Vice Chair of the JPA Board. He replaces Oakland Mayor Jean Quan at the end of her term as Chair. Mayor Quan remains on the board.

Levi is a practicing experimental astrophysicist and elementary particle physicist. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1984 and his B.A. from Harvard College in 1977. He is a Senior Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and a Senior Space Fellow at the University of California Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory.

"Michael's relationships and experience within the scientific research community will support his outstanding work furthering our mission. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to build Chabot's outstanding science education programs," said Alexander Zwissler, CEO/Executive Director of Chabot Space & Science Center.

Levi leads an international team of scientists who are designing a new experiment, called BigBOSS, to study dark energy and the accelerating expansion of the Universe. Levi was awarded Fellow of the American Physical Society, and has held positions at Stanford University, CERN (the European accelerator laboratory), and the Naval Research Laboratory.

"Jean Quan has limitless energy and enthusiasm and deftly guided Chabot Space & Science Center through tough budgets and on to great educational programs, as witnessed by our new award winning Bill Nye's Climate Lab. I hope to infuse my passion for science into the institution. This is a tremendously exciting time for scientific discovery. I look forward to sharing that enthusiasm by continuing to make Chabot Space & Science Center a positive force in the community and encouraging students to pursue careers in engineering and science," said Levi.

Levi lives in Oakland with his wife (also an astrophysicist) and two children. He enjoys skiing, tennis, backpacking, and flies high-powered rockets with his son.

Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

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12th Annual New Year's Eve Balloon Drop

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ring in the New Year without staying up past your kids' bed time!

Chabot Space & Science Center Hosts 12th Annual
New Year's Eve Balloon Drop

December 16, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif. - Chabot Space & Science Center announces the 12th Annual New Year's Eve Balloon Drop, a daytime celebration for families. To ring in 2012, hundreds of balloons drop from the ceiling to celebrate the New Year global style. When it's 11a.m. in Oakland, it will be 2012 somewhere on the planet. To mark the occasion, Chabot will drop balloons on eager, waiting children in the photo-friendly celebration. Each child will receive a small prize to commemorate the event.

At exactly the stroke of 11a.m., 1p.m., and 4p.m. Pacific Standard Time, the balloons will fall and the celebration begins. The family tradition continues with an environmental focus. Over 1,000 balloons will be turned into compost instead of ending up in a landfill. The latex balloons are made from natural rubber and are biodegradable.

The New Year's Eve Balloon Drop began at Chabot Space & Science Center as an approach for families to celebrate the New Year with children without having to stay up past their bedtimes. It's also a method to teach children about the turning Earth and its time zones. For instance, when it's 4:00p.m. Pacific Standard Time, it is midnight Greenwich Mean Time at zero degrees longitude on the prime meridian. That is when people in London, England are ringing in the New Year while itâ€™s still afternoon in Oakland.

There are three separate times for the balloon drops and for kids 5 years old and under, and two separate drops for kids ages 6 through 12, who enjoy popping balloons and making more noise than the younger ones who may want to hang on to their balloons before adding them to the compost pile.

Tickets for the New Year's Eve Balloon Drop are $4 per child, plus admission to Chabot Space & Science Center. The countdown starts precisely at 10:45am, 12:45pm, and 3:45pm and space is limited. To purchase tickets or to make reservations, call the Box Office at (510) 336-7373.

Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

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Chabot Space & Science Center, a Smithsonian affiliate and Bay Area Certified Green Business is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit interactive science center whose mission is to inspire and educate students of all ages about Planet Earth and the Universe. Founded in 1883, the Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd. just off Highway 13 in the Oakland hills. For more information, visit chabotspace.org.

Fall Climb-It Challenge Begins

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Funded by MTC Grant, program will give discounts to visitors using public transportation/carpools

Chabot Space & Science Center Announces the Fall Climb-It Challenge To
Increase Public Transit and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

October 5, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center is launching the Climb-It Challenge, to encourage the public to visit the Center using alternative methods of transportation on selected dates. The events on three Saturdays will include free shuttle transportation and discounts on admission. The program is a pilot project funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Climate Initiatives Program to educate, inspire and empower youth and their families to make transportation-related behavior changes that reduce GHG emissions and vehicle miles traveled; impart the knowledge and skills to youth and their families that will lead to the greatest reduction in GHG emissions in the long term; and provide elements to empower visitors and remove barriers to behavior change.

A free shuttle will bring people from the Fruitvale BART station to Chabot Space & Science Center on Saturdays, October 22, November 26, and December 10, from 11am - 4pm, leaving every 40 minutes. The last shuttle will depart Chabot at 3:40pm. Riders on the free shuttle will receive $2 off General Admission to Chabot, home of Bill Nye's Climate Lab, a positive, solutions-oriented exhibition centered on the Earth's changing climate.

Visitors will also receive $2 off General Admission when arriving in a carpool with three riders or more on the same dates. Upon arrival at Chabot Space & Science Center, everyone in the carpool will receive a R.A.R.E. (Reduce Admissions Reduced Emissions) card, redeemable for $2 off General Admission.

"Bill Nye's Climate Lab is an engaging, dynamic exhibition demonstrating the importance of sustainable choices and generating clean energy solutions such as hydropower and biofuels," said Alexander Zwissler, Executive Director/CEO at Chabot Space & Science Center. "This funding from the MTC will give greater access to the Climate Lab to students from around the Bay Area. As a bonus, they'll be helping to reduce carbon emissions by carpooling or taking advantage of the free shuttle."

Transportation contributes approximately one-third of all U.S. carbon dioxide emissions and is a major contributor to greenhouse gas in the Earth’s atmosphere. Exhibits in Bill Nye's Climate Lab teach students how climate scientists learn from ancient mud and ice cores, and detect historic atmospheric conditions using tools such as tree rings to study levels of carbon dioxide. Hands-on activities allow visitors to create energy efficient buildings, smart power grids and plan for ecological transportation systems. Using Climate Scout ID badges, visitors continue their experience at home or at school by visiting the accompanying website, BillsClimateLab.org.

Special activities at Chabot Space & Science Center for the Climb-It Challenge include composting workshops, garden tours, gardening tips, guided hikes through the redwood ecosystem surrounding Chabot, and a souvenir pedometer giveaway, quantifying the amount of energy saved by reducing the burning of fossil fuels. For more information about the Climb-It Challenge, visit ChabotSpace.org/climb-it.

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

Supernova Discoverer Visits Chabot

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Exploding star visible through Chabot's telescope

Chabot Space & Science Center Hosts Supernova Discoverer
On Observatory Deck to View Exploding Star

September 2, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif. - On Saturday evening, September 10 beginning at dusk, a researcher who recently discovered a supernova in a galaxy 21 million light-years away will visit the observatories at Chabot Space & Science Center and speak with visitors as they view the spiral galaxy through Chabot's 36-inch reflector telescope.

Peter Nugent, the senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) who first spotted the supernova, will be among the stargazers at Chabot discussing the significance of his discovery. "We caught this supernova very soon after explosion. It is getting brighter by the minute. Observing it unfold should be a wild ride. It is an instant cosmic classic," said Nugent, who is also an adjunct Professor of Astronomy at UC Berkeley.

Researchers at Berkeley Lab and the University of California, Berkeley detected the supernova just hours after its explosion, a rare feat made possible with a specialized survey telescope and state-of-the-art computational tools. This type of supernova is known as a type 1a supernova, caused by a collapsing, small star known as a white dwarf.

The supernova, called SN 2011fe, is appearing so bright that observers on Earth may be able to see it with a good pair of binoculars over the next few weeks. The Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) is located in the constellation Ursa Major, near the Big Dipper. According to astronomers, this is the closest and brightest supernova of this type detected in the last 30 years and will be closely studied for years to come. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope will be focused on the supernova to help astronomers learn more about this "nearby" phenomenon. Many supernova explosions occur much further away, in the neighborhood of one billion light-years distant, too far to be seen by most telescopes.

Chabot Space & Science Center's telescopes are open to the public on Friday and Saturday evenings, weather permitting. For more information on observing and all the activities at Chabot Space & Science Center, visit ChabotSpace.org.

Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org or
Jon R. Weiner. 510-486-4014. jrweiner@lbl.gov

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Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory addresses the world's most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab's scientific expertise has been recognized with 12 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. For more, visit www.lbl.gov.

$150K Grant to Develop Space-Themed Playground

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Launchpad Science Playground to increase exhibit space at Chabot

Chabot Space & Science Center Awarded $150,000 Grant
To Develop Outdoor Space-Themed Play Area

August 11, 2011,- OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center has been awarded a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services 2011 Museums for America Program to develop an exciting new outdoor exhibition, Launchpad Science Playground.

Launchpad Science Playground will engage children and families in imaginative play in a vividly themed space exploration environment, utilizing 10,000 square feet of outdoor space at Chabot Space & Science Center. "Launchpad Science Playground will vastly increase Chabot’s exhibit space. We're excited to create a safe and welcoming new community resource where future space explorers will discover science through play," said Tamara Schwarz, Senior Manager of Experience Design at Chabot Space & Science Center.

The preliminary concept for the Launchpad features a storyline evoking the excitement, mystery, and romance of early space exploration. Visitors will explore planetary geology, astrobiology, and scientists' quest to understand our Universe and search for extra-terrestrial life as they play and engage in hands-on activities throughout the exhibit. Play areas include an astronaut training zone and a space laboratory zone, offering a welcome space for outdoor voices and active imaginative play where kids can "train" as the astronauts and engineers for a future mission.

"Play is an incredibly important part of children's learning and development. This stimulating exhibition will provide a great outlet for kids' energy and will provide a memorable setting to develop and encourage science process skills." said Alexander Zwissler, CEO/Executive Director at Chabot Space & Science Center. "Launchpad Space Playground will promote exploring, investigating, hypothesizing, and will convey the excitement of science." The Launchpad is targeted to open to the public in 2014.

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

Galaxy Explorers Invited to Participate in Rio Summit

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Chabot Program Receives Signal Honor Among International Science Center Peers

Galaxy Explorers Invited to Participate in Rio Summit: Chabot Program Receives Signal Honor Among International Science Center Peers

August 12, 2011, - OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center's innovative youth volunteer outreach program, Galaxy Explorers, has been chosen by the Association of Science & Technology Centers ("ASTC") as one of ten science centers worldwide to participate in SCEnaRioS: Science Centers Engagement and the Rio Summit. The program is collaboration between ASTC, UNESCO and the Fondation FIOCRUZ, intended to engage young people around the world in a discussion around major topics central to the deliberations at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro this June. A grant of $14,000 has been awarded to Chabot for the project.

Chabot's Galaxy Explorers will work with youth teams from Canada and Denmark to create a web-based discussion and presentation concerning Clean Alternative Energies and the Green Economy. Youth teams from science centers in Brazil, Mozambique, Australia, Singapore, China, Florida and Colombia will address water and health topics. Their combined work will serve as the core of a virtual library of online activities and exhibitions to provide science center/museum experience to places in the world that do not yet have such centers.

"The Galaxy Explorers demonstrate the importance of studying STEM core curricula as a springboard to higher education, and public involvement, and the importance of science literacy to an understanding of critical issues facing the world today," said Lisa Hoover, Youth Development Manager at Chabot Space & Science Center. "We look forward to showcasing their work on a global scale."

Since 1997, hundreds of Galaxy Explorers from Chabot have gone on to study science, technology, engineering, and math at premier universities around the country. Many are currently employed in STEM careers and point to their experience as teen volunteers as a launching pad for their occupations helping people through scientific discovery.

The Galaxy Explorers' work will also be presented at the 6th Science Center World Congress in Cape Town, South Africa in September and at the "Planet Under Pressure" conference, which brings leading scientists from around the globe to London in March 2012 to discuss the science behind the Rio+20 priorities. The final results from the teams will be featured during the Rio+20 conference in June, to illustrate the unique contributions science centers can make to the implementation of UN and UN agencies' global policies.

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

Cosmos 360- A New Live Planetarium Show

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new live planetarium show, Cosmos 360 is presented every Friday and Saturday at 7pm and 9pm

Chabot Space & Science Center Presents
New Live Planetarium Show: Cosmos 360

July 29, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center announces the opening of a new live planetarium show, Cosmos 360. The show is produced by Chabot Space & Science Center and will be presented every Friday and Saturday evening at 7pm and 9pm and is included with General Admission. Cosmos 360 will be updated throughout the year, showing the current night sky conditions.

"Every presentation of Cosmos 360 is unique and out of this world," said Emily Chan, Astronomy Instructor and Planetarium Presenter at Chabot Space & Science Center. "Visitors can ask questions after the show and then, weather permitting, stroll out to look through Chabot's giant, historic telescopes."

Featuring breathtaking views of the night sky on the full-dome digital planetarium, audiences will learn to identify familiar patterns of stars, including how to find the North Star, and how to use recognizable points of light to "star hop" and locate other stars. Cosmos 360 transports viewers beyond the solar system past our galaxy to observe clusters galaxies in an infinite universe. The family friendly show teaches the concept of measuring the vastness of space using light years, explaining why our nearest stellar neighbors won’t discover today’s news until 2015.

With an expert guide and cutting-edge astronomical visuals, Cosmos 360 reveals the workings of the universe from new perspectives. Chabot Space & Science Center’s state of the art digital full-dome projection system surrounds the audience with unparalleled celestial scenery, enabling the exploration of cosmos from the comfort of your chair.

Chabot Space & Science Center is open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturday. The Center’s Skyline Bistro is also open late for an evening of dining, exhibit exploration and telescope viewing (weather permitting). For more information about all of the shows, exhibitions, and activities at Chabot Space & Science Center, visit ChabotSpace.org

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

Skyline Bistro Opens at Chabot

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Skyline Bistro, offering a fresh, healthy menu

Skyline Bistro Opens at

Chabot Space & Science Center

July 14, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center announces the opening of
The Skyline Bistro, offering a fresh, healthy menu for breakfast or lunch, plus dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. SpringLoaf Catering co-owners Caroline and Darius Somary, of Lafayette will operate and manage The Skyline Bistro, which is now open to the public during hours of operation at Chabot Space & Science Center.

Utilizing local and sustainably produced ingredients, The Skyline Bistro will offer healthy meal selections designed for families or groups to share, reflecting a philosophy of nurturing mealtimes together. Fresh salads and seasonal products will be featured daily as well as kid-friendly choices that include those with special dietary needs. Gluten free sandwiches and baked goods will be available on a daily basis. The Skyline Bistro will feature Peet's Coffee and Tea, and Nespresso coffee espresso, latte and cappuccino drinks.

"We take great pride in what we do and the most gratifying reward comes from a guest who remembers years later what they ate at an event or outing," said Darius Somary. "We look forward to serving families in the universe who are interested in healthy and delicious choices for our planet."

The culinary principles at The Skyline Bistro emphasize elegant simplicity, authenticity and clean balance of flavor. Making food from scratch, free from MSG, hydrogenated fats and industrially pre-manufactured "convenience foods", The Skyline Bistro will create fresh and delicious food every day Chabot is open. To accommodate visitors taking advantage of Chabot evening hours on Fridays and Saturdays, dinner items will be on the menu Friday and Saturday.

"We want to establish Chabot as a destination not only for our engaging and interactive exhibitions, shows and activities, but also for our dining experience, especially at night. Whether someone is grabbing a bite for lunch, a snack or having a candlelit supper at Chabot, it reflects our personality. The Skyline Bistro brings a sense of fun, vitality and interactive customer service for our guests. We are pleased to partner with them and share the same vision," said Sharon Fletcher, Director of Visitor Experience at Chabot Space & Science Center.

SpringLoaf Catering is a member of the International Slow Food Association, which works to preserve local food traditions and promote a just and sustainable food system and incorporate full recycling and composting practices in their offices and kitchens, donating any larger amounts of leftover food to area food banks and shelters. For more information on SpringLoaf Catering, visit www.springloaf.com.

Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

Chabot Receives $1.8 Million Grant from Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Grant to support enhancements to the Center’s Bill Nye's Climate Lab exhibition and website.

Chabot Space & Science Center Receives $1.8 Million Grant
from The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

June 22, 2011 – OAKLAND, Calif. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation of Palo Alto has awarded Chabot Space & Science Center a $1.8 million grant to support phase II enhancements to the Center’s Bill Nye’s Climate Lab exhibition and website. The Lab enables kids ages 8-14 to learn basic principles of climate science and engage in behaviors that address climate change.

Bill Nye’s Climate Lab opened in November 2010, offering an optimistic, solutions-oriented, highly interactive educational experience focusing on climate science. Featuring Emmy-award winning science educator Bill Nye as commander of the Clean Energy Space Station, visitors join an urgent mission to thwart climate change by discovering exciting new clean energy opportunities while gathering "solutions” on their Climate Scout ID badges. The exhibition is one of the most popular in the Center’s history; the accompanying website, BillsClimateLab.org, continues the experience at home or in the classroom with online information and activities.

"The support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation enables us to build upon the success of Bill Nye’s Climate Lab and increase the number of kids actively engaged in climate science through personalized learning and understanding with real world actions,” said Alexander Zwissler, Executive Director/CEO at Chabot Space & Science Center. "We thank the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for supporting our efforts.”

In Phase II of Bill Nye’s Climate Lab, Chabot will focus on linking users’ experiences at the science center with virtual learning and real-world experiences. Chabot will partner with Oakland-based Lucid Design Group to add a Building Dashboard Kiosk to the exhibition to monitor the facility’s real-time energy use alongside interactive exhibits about building efficiency and energy use. Chabot will introduce the Building Dashboard Network to Bay Area middle schools to monitor energy usage and initiate school-based energy conservation competitions. Additional expansion includes developing new Climate Lab games that seamlessly span learning experiences at Chabot, in online and mobile media, and in visitors’ homes, schools and communities. These will showcase Climate Scout achievements, first-person comments and pledges, and stories of actions taken outside of Chabot.

"Bill Nye’s Climate Lab raises the bar for climate change education. It creates a fun environment where kids and their families learn how their actions add up. We’re thrilled to develop innovative strategies for using game play and personalization to expand the Climate Scout community and keep them engaged.” said Tamara Schwarz, Senior Manager of Experience Design at Chabot.

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, established in 2000, seeks to advance environmental conservation and scientific research around the world and improve the quality of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Francisco Bay Area Science Learning area of focus supports science-rich educational institutions such as science museums to enhance science education and learning by students (especially children) and the public to increase science literacy. For more information, visit www.moore.org.

Chabot Partners with Peet's Coffee & Tea and Fentons Creamery

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Three local treasures team up for summer events.

Chabot Space & Science Center Partners with Peet's Coffee &Tea
and Fentons Creamery for Summer Events

June 2, 2011–OAKLAND, Calif. –Three Bay Area landmark businesses are partnering this summer for Coffee with the Stars, Bike It, and Kitchen Chemistry at Chabot Space & Science Center. Celebrating these local treasures, visitors can enjoy free coffee and ice cream while learning about science and helping to save energy.

Brewing up some special 'star breaks' stargazers on Chabot's observatory decks will be able to warm themselves with free brewed coffee courtesy of Peet's Coffee & Tea from 7pm-10pm on Fridays, June17, July 15, and August 19. The blending of two Bay Area treasures, Chabot Space & Science Center and Peet's Coffee & Tea, Coffee with the Stars will delight all of your senses.

"We are delighted to further our support of Chabot Space & Science Center through several one-of-kind events this summer, including Coffee with the Stars and Kitchen Chemistry," said Erica Hess, senior manager, community relations, Peet's Coffee & Tea. "We look forward to sharing a cup of Peet's with 'stargazers' and educating the public about the science of coffee which will be a fun, interactive way to highlight some of the essentials that go into a great cup of Peet's"

In 1966, Peet's Coffee & Tea was founded in Berkeley by Alfred Peet who sparked the specialty coffee movement in the U.S. Mr. Peet believed in artisan roasting by hand in small batches to achieve a signature roast style that brings out the depth of the bean and produces a cup that is rich, complex and full flavored. 45 years later, Peet's remains true to its artisan traditions. Behind each cup of coffee and tea is dedication and commitment to quality and craft.

Bike It on Saturday, June 25 will feature local bike shops and bicycle experts, giving safety tips to visitors who want to learn about cleaner transportation. Join conversations with bike enthusiasts, hands-on clinics and guidance on alternate transportation, and a bike hike in the Redwoods will round out the day. Plus, see how a bike-powered blender will generate sustainable 'spoke shakes' using Fentons ice cream. The demonstrations are free with general admission and take place throughout the Center.

"We support Oakland's 'Star on the Hill' and add a 'Sweet' incentive for Chabot guests in the form of a special Fentons Offer on the admission ticket," said Scott Whidden, Fentons Creamery's Master Blender. "This year we've expanded our community partnership with Chabot to include a month-long 'Science of Ice Cream' event in July which includes hands-on interaction and activities such as making milkshakes on a bike as well as an 'Out of this World' celebration on National Ice Cream Day at Fentons on July 17th."

Fentons Creamery was founded in Oakland in 1894 by E.S. Fenton who loved kids so much he had 13 of his own who all took part in the family business. A grandchild of Fenton persuaded him to make ice cream and the family eventually opened a restaurant in 1922. The popular Piedmont Avenue restaurant in Oakland was even featured in the 2009 Oscar winning Pixar film, Up.

Kitchen Chemistry on Saturday, July 23 will feature demonstrations of the science of ice cream by Fentons Creamery experts and the science of coffee by Peets Coffee & Tea staff members. Also Chabot's teen volunteers, Galaxy Explorers will demonstrate edible and inedible concoctions as visitors observe the chemical transformations. From the garden to the table, science is present in all aspects of food and beverage growing and preparation. For those who think science is just for the stale laboratory, you're in for a treat! The demonstrations are free with general admission and take place in Chabot's outdoor Courtyard.

For more information on all of Chabot's events and activities, visit www.chabotspace.org

Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

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Fentons Creamery is a family owned and operated retro soda fountain that features daily ice cream production and fountain sundae making with two locations: 4226 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, CA and 1669 E. Monte Vista Avenue in Vacaville, CA. Founded in Oakland, CA in 1894, Fentons Creamery is a landmark institution that has served generations its famous handcrafted ice creams and sauces. For more information, visit www.fentonscreamery.com.

Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc., is the premier specialty coffee and tea company in the United States. The company was founded in 1966 in Berkeley, Calif. by Alfred Peet. Peet was an early tea authority who later became widely recognized as the grandfather of specialty coffee in the U.S. Today, Peet's Coffee & Tea offers superior quality coffees and teas in multiple forms, by sourcing the best quality coffee beans and tea leaves in the world, adhering to strict high quality and taste standards, and controlling product quality through its unique direct store delivery selling and merchandising system. Peet's is committed to strategically growing its business through many channels while maintaining the extraordinary quality of its coffees and teas. For more information about Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc., visit www.peets.com.

Galileo Learning Partners with Chabot's Summer Camp

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Chabot partners with Galileo Learning to Run Summer Camp

Chabot Space & Science Center Partners
with Galileo Learning to Run Summer Camp

January 4, 2012 - OAKLAND, Calif. Galileo Learning and Chabot Space & Science Center are pleased to announce that starting in summer 2012, Galileo Learning will be operating Chabot's summer camp program, Chabot Space & Science Camp, formerly known as Space Explorers.

In an effort to grow its popular Space Explorer Summer Camp program, the partnership combines Chabot Space & Science Center's world-class learning facility with Galileo Learning's expertise in delivering high quality summer educational programming in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

"We are pleased to find such a qualified partner as Galileo in our efforts to expand our STEM offerings through our summer camp programs," said Alexander Zwissler, Executive Director/CEO of Chabot Space & Science Center.

Galileo Learning, whose mission is to develop innovators who can envision and create a better world, runs three key programs at 30+ sites throughout the Bay Area—Camp Galileo (Pre-K through 5th graders), Galileo Summer Quest (5th through 8th graders), and The Tech Summer Camps (4th — 8th graders). Galileo is excited to support such an important Oakland institution that is also committed to inspiring youth and educators.

"Galileo is thrilled to team up with Chabot to create a one-of-a-kind program for students passionate about space, the earth, engineering, and technology", said Glen Tripp, CEO & Founder of Galileo Learning. Galileo plans to work closely with Chabot's Education Team to leverage much of what was offered in the past, in addition to evolving the program to meet the needs of Chabot and the surrounding community.

Galileo has nine years of experience in a similar partnership with The Tech Museum of Innovation where Galileo operates its summer program, The Tech Summer Camps. This has allowed The Tech Museum to focus on meeting its key initiatives while also delivering a high quality summer program that sells out annually.

Enrollment for Chabot Space & Science Camp will begin on February 1, 2012.

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Camp Galileo and Galileo Summer Quest are operated by Galileo Learning, an Oakland-based company that operates summer enrichment programs throughout the Bay Area which emphasize high-quality hands-on curriculum focused on creativity, innovation and teamwork, and employ enthusiastic experienced staff. For more information or to enroll visit www.galileo-learning.com.

2012 Future Fridays Speaker Series

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A Series of Community Conversations with Science and Futurist Thought Leaders

Chabot Space & Science Center Presents Future Fridays:
A Series of Community Conversations with Science and Futurist Thought Leaders

February 2, 2012 - OAKLAND, Calif. - Chabot Space & Science Center announces the second exciting season of Future Fridays: a series of four community conversations. Future thought-leaders Brian David Johnson, Ben Burtt, Bill Nye The Climate Guy, and Jay Jayawardhana will engage audiences with emerging scenarios, trends and connections to how science and technology in their respective fields affect our everyday world and beyond. The Future Fridays series is proudly sponsored by Rudney Associates.

The first Future Fridays discussion is Friday, March 23 from 6:00pm-7:30pm featuring Brian David Johnson. The future is Brian David Johnson's business. As a futurist at Intel Corporation, he develops an actionable vision for computing in 2020. His work is called "future casting"-using ethnographic field studies, technology research, trend data, and even science fiction to provide Intel with a pragmatic vision of consumers and computing. He is the author of Screen Future, The Future of Entertainment, Computing, and the Devices We Love. Brian has also directed two feature films and is an illustrator and commissioned painter. Advance ticket holders will receive a complimentary copy of Brian’s recent book The Tomorrow Project Anthology - Conversations About the Future (2011).

"It’s always exciting to look ahead at the potential for science and technology. These visionaries will find an audience at Chabot that embraces anticipatory thinking about our society," said Alexander Zwissler, CEO/Executive Director at Chabot Space & Science Center.

Past Future Fridays speakers included physicist Dr. Michio Kaku, author and humorist Mary Roach, Environmental Leader Bill McKibben, and Astronaut Al Worden. All events in last year's series were sold out.

"It is an honor and a privilege to sponsor the Future Fridays Speakers Series," said Eric Rudney, President of Rudney Associates and Chairman of Chabot's Foundation Board of Directors. "Identifying trends and emerging technologies will help us all look to the future with excitement while preparing for learning and innovation."

Registration for series tickets is only available by calling Chabot Space & Science Center Visitor Services at (510) 336-7373. All other tickets can be purchased at Chabot's Box Office or on Chabot's website, www.ChabotSpace.org.

Upcoming Future Fridays speakers include:

Friday, April 20 - Ben Burtt- Sound Designer and Director, Lucasfilm/Pixar. Ben has won four Academy Awards for Sound Effects in such films as E.T., Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, for which he created the sound of the lightsabers by mixing the humming sound of his TV set - tuned between channels - with the sound of an old 35mm projector. Ben was a physics major and has enjoyed an illustrious career in the motion picture industry for over 30 years. "Sound Effects in the movies are there to create an illusion, says Burtt, "But behind all this sonic 'make-believe', I exploit scientific principles to create special noises."

Friday, May 11 - Bill Nye the Climate Guy- scientist, engineer, comedian, author, and inventor, is a man with a mission: to help foster a scientifically literate society, to help people everywhere understand and appreciate the science that makes our world work. Bill Nye is also the Executive Director of the Planetary Society, the world’s largest space interest organization. He is the driving force behind the Bill Nye's Climate Lab exhibition at Chabot Space & Science Center, where visitors learn how to be a climate scientist, while showcasing the humor and education skills of the Emmy Award-winning personality.

Friday, November 2 - Ray Jayawardhana is a professor and Canada Research Chair in observational astrophysics at the University of Toronto. A graduate of Yale and Harvard and a recent winner of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, he uses many of the world's largest telescopes to explore planetary origins and diversity. He is an award-winning writer whose articles have appeared in The Economist, New York Times, Scientific American, Astronomy and Muse, and the author of Strange New Worlds: The Search for Alien Planets and Life Beyond Our Solar System (2011). Wired magazine put it best: "As astronomers go, RayJay is a rock star."

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

Rudney Associates- Is an objective fee-based financial advisory and investment management firm since 1983. For more information visit: www.rudneyassociates.com

Chabot Opens NightSchool- An Adults Only Science Experiment

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Friday, November 18, 7pm-11p, Students of life to attend first NightSchool event

Chabot Space & Science Center Presents NightSchool
The East Bay's Hybrid Social Encounter & Science Experiment for Adults

October 26, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center's introduces NightSchool, an adults-only encounter featuring DIY workshops, live art, music, food science, and rotating science experiments. At NightSchool, students of life can explore, imagine, create and mingle in an incredibly inspiring and magical setting. Themes and activities reflect current events, favorite pastimes and playful experiences, each celebrating the unique, resourceful and exciting community of the East Bay.

On the third Friday of each month, from 7pm-11pm, students of the universe (18-years-old and up) will gather for some higher education 1,500 feet above sea level, at the unique campus at Chabot Space & Science Center. School starts November 18th, with "Curiosity," in honor of the next generation Mars Rover mission launching at the end of the month.

The syllabus for the inaugural "Curiosity" themed NightSchool includes Stargazing 101, and Telescope Making 101, where you can learn about the night sky and how to build an instrument used to observe it. Other activities include a one hour mission to Mars in the Challenger Learning Center, and Café Conversations about the next generation Mars rover with Chabot Astronomer Ben Burress and the "Search for ET" with UC Berkeley researcher Dan Werthimer. Bring or borrow a broken something-or-other and learn how to assess, disassemble and possibly repair it in a Fixit Clinic. Tinkering experts will be on hand for guidance in the NightSchool Workspace. Space is limited for classes and missions available on a first-come-first-served basis. Registration will be available at the event.

Tuition for NightSchool is $15 or only $5 for Chabot members and includes full access to Chabot's hands-on interactive exhibits, special activities, workshops, open labs, discussion forums, live Planetarium show, film screenings, dancing with the real stars, telescope viewing (weather permitting), and other extracurricular activities. Food, beer and wine are available for purchase. For future NightSchool event themes, visit ChabotSpace.org/nightschool.htm

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

Chabot Hosts Bay Area Science Festival Events

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Star Party, Moonlight Hikes, Panel Discussions, and Apollo Astronaut Talk

Chabot Space & Science Center Hosts Events
Part of Bay Area Science Festival

October 24, 2011 – OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center is hosting several events as part of the inaugural Bay Area Science Festival. Moonlight hikes, a Star Party with telescope viewing and a cosmologist panel discussion, in addition to a discussion with a former Apollo Astronaut, highlight some of the activities at Chabot in celebration of scientific education. Activities are part of the 10-day festival showcasing the region’s role in scientific progress, providing innovative opportunities to build community around science, technology, and engineering.

Kicking off the events is Apollo Astronaut Al Worden, who speaks at Chabot on Friday, November 4 at 6 pm. Al Worden flew to the moon on the Apollo 15 mission in 1971. He piloted the Command Module alone for three days orbiting the moon, while his fellow astronauts collected samples (including the moon rock on exhibit at Chabot Space & Science Center) and conducted experiments on the lunar surface. Nine months after his return from the moon, Worden received a phone call telling him he was fired and ordering him out of his office by the end of the week. He has never before told the entire story around the dramatic events that shook NASA and ended his spaceflight career. In his new book, Falling to Earth, Worden recounts them fully for the first time. Tickets for the discussion are $23 in advance or $29 at the door. He will be signing copies of his book after the event.

A moonlight hike takes place in the hills surrounding Chabot on Friday, November 4 at 6pm and Saturday, November 5 at 4pm, under the glowing light of the moon. The moderately strenuous yet serene 3-4 mile hike in our backyard, the redwood ecosystem surrounding Chabot, is guided by an experienced hiker. The hikes are $7 per person and reservations can be made by calling the Chabot Box Office at 510-336-7373.

A Star Party on Saturday, November 5, from 6pm-midnight will wind up the events at Chabot with telescope viewing, live planetarium shows, science demonstrations, and a panel discussion titled "A Light in the Dark” from 8pm-9pm with Greg Aldering, Eric Linder, and David Schlegel, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who have made several discoveries including supernovae and the presence of dark energy. The panel will shed light on the latest information surrounding one of cosmology’s greatest mysteries, the structure of most of the universe: dark energy. The Star Party activities are free with General Admission.
For more information, visit ChabotSpace.org. For more information on the Bay Area Science Festival, visit Bayareascience.org.

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

NASA Awards Grant to Chabot for Space Weather Exhibit

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

$412,000 grant will fund opening of space weather exhibition in fall 2013

NASA Awards Chabot Space & Science Center
$412,000 Grant For Space Weather Exhibition

October 19, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center has been awarded a $412,000 grant from NASA to create an innovative solar astronomy exhibition showcasing stunning images of the Sun, examining "space weather" created by solar activity and its influences on the Earth. The exhibition is scheduled to open at Chabot Space & Science Center in the fall of 2013.

The Sun not only dominates the weather on the Earth, it also drives weather in space, above and around our planet. NASA missions, such as the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO), are studying the Sun and revealing the dynamic nature of our nearby star and its variability and connection to the Earth. The solar wind, driven by a continuous stream of plasma from the Sun, in addition to flares, coronal mass ejections, and magnetic storms, influence the entire solar system and can impact global communications systems and orbiting spacecraft.

"The information harvested from these solar missions is opening our eyes to the effects of space weather on humans. With new tools and instruments, we will reveal to the public this once invisible activity of the Sun and study its impact on our lives," said Ben Burress, Astronomer at Chabot Space & Science Center and Co-Investigator on the space weather exhibition.

The centerpiece of the exhibition will be compelling high resolution imagery of the Sun from NASA's SDO mission, provided to Chabot by Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory. The mesmerizing visualizations of eruptions, flares, prominences, and coronal mass ejections are all the result of colossal nuclear explosions taking place right next to our planet. Interactive stations in the exhibition will illustrate the outcome of solar storms, displaying colorful aurora, and forecasting geomagnetic storm warnings.

A large, interactive, electric plasma globe will allow visitors to touch and manipulate the plasma strings within it, suggestive of shapes and motions seen in time-lapse movies of the Sun's atmospheric plasma and magnetic fields. The exhibition features a pair of electromagnets which can be switched on demonstrating the loops and arcs surrounding the Sun's magnetic active polar regions. Visitors can also manipulate infrared cameras, revealing how scientists study non-visible light waves in space.

"The space weather exhibit enhances Chabot's existing public solar astronomy demonstrations and observations and will inspire students to learn more about the Sun and its effect on our planet," said Alexander Zwissler, Executive Director/CEO at Chabot Space & Science Center, and Principal Investigator of the Space Weather exhibition.

Chabot Space & Science Center is uniquely qualified to create and deliver this extraordinary solar astronomy learning opportunity as a teaching center for science and space literacy with a proud 128-year legacy of serving Bay Area communities through exhibits, school field trips, science camps, community outreach, and its giant, historic telescopes.

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

Chabot Exhibition Wins Prominent Award

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Bill Nye's Climate Lab Wins ASTC's Leading Edge Award

Chabot Space & Science Center's Climate Exhibition
Receives Prominent Award from National Science Center Organization

October 17, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif. Chabot Space & Science Center's exhibition Bill Nye's Climate Lab was awarded The Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award for Visitor Experience from the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC). The award is presented in recognition of extraordinary accomplishments that not only enhance the performance of the awarded institution, but that significantly advances the mission of science-technology centers and museums worldwide.

Chabot Space & Science Center Executive Director/CEO Alexander Zwissler accepted the award at the ASTC annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland. "Bill Nye's Climate Lab is a groundbreaking exhibition focused on the planet's most urgent scientific challenge. It engages visitors to take action to reduce greenhouse gasses and create energy solutions that can lead us to a sustainable future. We are honored to receive this award and the recognition coming from our peers at science-technology centers around the world," said Zwissler.

A seven member jury of professionals, knowledgeable about the science center field, representing a broad spectrum of ASTC's worldwide membership reviewed the eligible nominees to select the award. The award is named after Roy L. Shafer, who served as CEO of the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio and was a past president of ASTC and a member of its Board of Directors.

Founded in 1973, ASTC numbers nearly 600 member institutions in over 40 countries. Members include not only science centers and museums, but also nature centers, aquariums, planetariums, zoos, botanical gardens, and natural history and children's museums, as well as companies, consultants, and other organizations that share an interest in informal science education.

Opened in November of 2010, Bill Nye's Climate Lab at Chabot Space & Science Center is an innovative, hands-on exhibition educating visitors about the science of climate change cultivating positive, workable solutions to the challenge of energy production on the planet. The exhibition's Webby Award nominated website, BillsClimateLab.org continues the visitor experience at home or in the classroom.

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

The Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of science centers and museums dedicated to furthering public engagement with science among increasingly diverse audiences. ASTC encourages excellence and innovation in informal science learning by serving and linking its members worldwide and advancing their common goals. For more information visit www.astc.org

Chabot Space & Science Center, a Smithsonian affiliate, and Bay Area Certified Green Business, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit interactive science center whose mission is to inspire and educate students of all ages about Planet Earth and the Universe. Founded in 1883, the Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd. just off Highway 13 in the Oakland hills. For more information, visit www.chabotspace.org.

Foundation Board Elects Two Officers

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Eric Rudney and John Spees elected President and Treasurer of Chabot's Foundation Board

Chabot Space & Science Center's
Foundation Board of Directors Elects New Officers

October 4, 2011 - OAKLAND, Calif.- Chabot Space & Science Center announces the election of two officers to its Foundation Board of Directors. Eric Rudney has been elected Board Chair and John Spees as Treasurer. The previous Board Chair, Jerry Fiddler, and Treasurer Al Peters, will remain on the Board as Directors. The Foundation Board of Directors is primarily responsible for fundraising and continuing the center's mission of educating and inspiring students of all ages about planet Earth and the Universe.

Eric Rudney is a Registered Investment Advisor with over twenty eight years of experience in investment planning and asset management for high net worth and corporate clients. For the past three consecutive years, the East Bay Business Times ranked Rudney Associates among the top-10 largest wealth management firms in the East Bay. In 2008 the Winners Circle named Eric the East Bay's best independent wealth management advisor.

Eric supports and has served on the board of a number of local organizations that give back to the community and contribute to social change including BUILD, where he was Chairman of the Advisory Board, the Diablo Regional Art Association, Las Trampas Inc., and the Wheelchair Foundation. Eric is a graduate of UC Berkeley and attended CSU Hayward studying for his MBA Business/Finance. Rudney Associates are the proud sponsors of Chabot Space & Science Center's Future Friday Speaker Series.

"I look forward to leading the Foundation Board and highlighting the outstanding science education programs at Chabot Space & Science Center," said Rudney. "There is simply no match for the opportunities provided to students daily at Chabot and we recognize the value of that inspiration in all our work on the Board."

John Spees is a co-founder and a Managing Partner for Granite Capital Management, a Registered Investment Advisory and Wealth Management Firm located in the East Bay. The firm provides investment advisory services to individuals, families and small businesses. Prior to starting Granite in 2000, John spent 16 years trading fixed income securities and related derivatives for Bank of America and Security Pacific Bank. John is also a manager of, and investor in, Granite Investors LLC, a leveraged fixed income investment partnership organized to participate in the Federal Reserve's Term Asset Backed Loan Facility.

John is married to an Oakland Public School teacher and he and his wife have two children. He holds an MBA and BS from the HAAS School of Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley, with an emphasis in Finance.

"The Foundation Board of Directors' mission is much more than fundraising for Chabot. Weâ€™re making a difference in people's lives through access to science education and that is our objective every day," said Spees.

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Contact: PR Department at (510) 336-7310 or PR@ChabotSpace.org

Chabot News

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Supernova Discoverer Visits Chabot

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$150K Grant to Develop Space-Themed Playground

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Galaxy Explorers Invited to Participate in Rio Summit

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NASA Awards Grant to Chabot for Space Weather Exhibit

NASA Awards Chabot Space & Science Center $412,000 Grant For Space Weather Exhibition

Chabot Exhibition Wins Prominent Award

Chabot Space & Science Center's Climate Exhibition Receives Prominent Award from National Science Center Organization

Foundation Board Elects Two Officers

Chabot Space & Science Center's Foundation Board of Directors Elects New Officers

Chabot Space & Science Center Hosts Celebration

For Last NASA Space Shuttle Launch

Chabot Space & Science Center Honors
Champions of Science

Summer Movie Nights at Chabot Space & Science Center

Documentaries on Fridays, Classic Sci-Fi on Saturdays

Chabot Space & Science Center Holds "Cool Your School"
Competition Among Select Bay Area Schools

Chabot Space & Science Center Presents "My Einstein -
Personal Memories of Albert Einstein"

Chabot Space & Science Center Pumps Up
New Portable Planetarium

Chabot Space & Science Center Announces Election of
Michael Levi as Chair of JPA Board of Directors

Chabot Space & Science Center Hosts 12th Annual
New Year's Eve Balloon Drop

Chabot Space & Science Center Announces the Fall Climb-It Challenge To
Increase Public Transit and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Chabot Space & Science Center Hosts Supernova Discoverer
On Observatory Deck to View Exploding Star

Chabot Space & Science Center Awarded $150,000 Grant
To Develop Outdoor Space-Themed Play Area

Chabot Space & Science Center Presents
New Live Planetarium Show: Cosmos 360

Skyline Bistro Opens at

Chabot Space & Science Center

Chabot Space & Science Center Receives $1.8 Million Grant
from The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Chabot Space & Science Center Partners with Peet's Coffee &Tea
and Fentons Creamery for Summer Events

Chabot Space & Science Center Partners
with Galileo Learning to Run Summer Camp

Chabot Space & Science Center Presents Future Fridays:
A Series of Community Conversations with Science and Futurist Thought Leaders

Chabot Space & Science Center Presents NightSchool
The East Bay's Hybrid Social Encounter & Science Experiment for Adults

Chabot Space & Science Center Hosts Events
Part of Bay Area Science Festival

NASA Awards Chabot Space & Science Center
$412,000 Grant For Space Weather Exhibition

Chabot Space & Science Center's Climate Exhibition
Receives Prominent Award from National Science Center Organization

Chabot Space & Science Center's
Foundation Board of Directors Elects New Officers