All images courtesy of Anja Ulfeldt Getting his ticket to the Exploratorium on the opening night of the new exhibit Cognitive Technologies, Berkeley neuroscientist Jack Gallant was asked if he thought it would work. “It better work,” he said. “It’ll be amazing if it works.” Gallant’s actual words were, characteristically, a smidge more colorful.
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Looking for something to do on your day off? Why not spend some time enjoying science from a different perspective! Science museums are a fun way to discover other areas of science, interact with fundamental experiments, and learn about the history of science and its pupils. When research takes a turn into the dregs, I’ve found that heading out to go on a mini-science expedition is a great way to rejuvenate my excitement for my line of work and light up that child-like wonder at the world around us. Sometimes in research, we get so lost in the minute details of the trees that we need a moment to step back and look at that amazing forest. Fortunately, the Bay Area is bursting at the seams with opportunities to wander out into the woods.
So, without further ado, I present to you my top 5 list of Bay Area adventures for the scientifically-inclined.
The Exploratorium offers a great hands-on experience, to be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Collections are extensive and include everything from microbes to the human body to psychology, Newtonian physics, the properties of light and sound, you name it. Demonstrations are frequent and, with its multi-leveled building, one can easily get lost in the experience of interacting with science face to face. The exhibits are playful and clever; the tactile experience is not one to miss. Put plainly, the Exploratorium has consistently sparked my curiosity and filled me with delight with all of their informative, puzzle-solving, thought-provoking features. Though a popular location, I’ve yet to find the Exploratorium stiflingly crowded. For those who would appreciate a more private and mature experience, adult events (After Dark) occur Thursday evenings. After Dark feature special themed demonstrations and ticket holders are able to wander throughout the premises until 10 PM.
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 AM – 5PM with After Dark events (18+) Thursdays from 6 – 10 PM
Cost: $20 (Bay Area Residents), $15 for After Dark
Located in Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences is a must-see. Complete with a multilevel aquarium (my favorite), four-story rainforest biodome, planetarium, natural history museum, and living roof, CAS is absolutely heart-stopping. Excitingly, several exhibits and shows feature wildlife and natural features native to California. Visitors are also given the opportunity to hear a number of talks about various creatures living at the academy, join scientists in their Project Lab to get a behind-the-scenes look at CAS, watch penguin feedings and coral reef dives, and join in on interactive interviews with academy scientists. Several exhibits, including the shows at the planetarium, are updated every few months, so there is always something new to see! Moreover, on Thursdays, the academy throws NightLife events, often featuring musical guests, for the 21+ crowd. Each week, different special guests come to mingle with ticket holders and private after-hours tours of the academy are available.
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This Sunday, March 20th, from 11am to 4pm, Sunday Streets comes to SF!
Sunday Streets began in Colombia (the event is known there as Ciclovía, or “bike path”). It’s a weekly effort to replace car-choked urban streets with biking and walking avenues – and a fantastically large block party atmosphere. The event is free to the public, and it’s a great way to get some exercise, so get out there! All along Embarcadero, from Fisherman’s Wharf to Mariposa Street (south of AT&T park) will be cordoned off for biking, walking, and all manner of community-driven events.
Sponsors include the Exploratorium and the California Academy of Sciences, so you can get your science fix while you’re there. In addition to a tent full of interactive exhibits, the Exploratorium will also be showing off the work in progress on the new facility between Piers 15 and 17. The new Observatory Workshop at Pier 3 will also be open to the public.
If you can’t make it this weekend, there will be several other Sunday Streets this year, so check out their website for dates and more information.
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