With only a little over a year left in its current location in the Mesilla Valley Mall (before it moves downtown next to the Museum of Art with its new name - Museum of Nature and Science, or MoNaS for short), this popular museum continues to draw large crowds. At the recent 25th anniversary celebration, almost 700 people attended in just four hours.
On exhibit now is an in-depth look at our symbiotic relationship with trees. A Forest Journey continues through September 11, and features plenty of hands-on activities and educational panels.
If you’re one of those people who just has to know how things work, or if you love toys, the next exhibit is for you. “Toys: The Inside Story” will open from 2 to 4 p.m. on September 17 and run through January 8. Explore how toys work - like checking out the inside of an Etch A Sketch - and create your own toy-like combination of gears, pulleys, cams and circuits.
While you’re there, check out the permanent exhibition of Chihuahuan Desert Animals. On September 3 from 11 a.m. until noon, learn more about local reptiles and build them a lizard shelter during Saturday Science. Register in advance to save a place in the workshop. If you want to know more about our desert denizens, attend Animal Encounters on September 24 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Explore the night sky with Sky Safari at the NMSU observatory on September 3 at 8 p.m. Use the museum’s high-powered telescopes under the guidance of members of the astronomy department. The observatory is at the intramural fields off Williams Avenue.
Children aged three to five will enjoy Dinosaur Train: Dragonflies on September 15 from 9 - 10 a.m. This program is based on a popular PBS series, Dinosaur Train. Kids seven and over can participate in Saturday Science on September 24 from 11 a.m. until noon. This month, they’ll use spaghetti, string and glue to design and build a bridge. They’ll explore how knowing geometry helps them build a strong bridge from light materials. Be sure to register in advance for this free class.
Every Saturday from 1:30 to 3:30, the museum opens the FETCH! Lab to learn real-world science. Based on the TV show FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman, which airs on KRWG at 3:30 p.m., kids have the opportunity to have fun with science.
Science Cafe is held monthly at the Museum of Natural History as a forum for discussion of topics of scientific interest. This month’s cafe will be held Thursday, September 29, at 5:30 p.m. Science Cafe is held in conjunction with Sigma Xi.
If these types of activities and exhibits catch your interest, you may want to consider volunteering at the Museum of Natural History. With so much going on, volunteers are always needed, and your help will be greatly appreciated.
