First Night Springfield

Looking for a safe, family friendly way to spend New Year's Eve? Enjoy free admission to Discovery Center from 6-11pm during First Night Springfield with purchase of First Night sticker. (Discovery Center memberships do not apply for this event.) Event includes multiple downtown venues like Discovery Center and Jordan Valley Park. Admission for the evening: $7 advanced stickers, $25/family 4-pack. $8 night of, $30/family 4-pack, children 3 and under free. Call: 831-6200 for advanced stickers. Brought to you by Pension Consultants, Inc.

New Exhibit~ Build A Lunch

On your next visit to Discovery Center be sure to stop by our newest exhibit! Build-A-Lunch is designed to help visitors investigate choices in generating as little trash as possible when making a lunch. Visitors decide the type of carrier in which to pack lunch, which type of packaging to choose for a sandwich, which type of snack to add, and which drink container to use. The exhibit helps identify information to consider when making choices such as whether the item is biodegradable, reusable, convenient etc. Build-A-Lunch was made possible by a grant from Community Foundation of the Ozarks, and is part of DCS’s Environmental Pathway program, a self-guided scavenger hunt that enables visitors to explore the variety of sustainable practices used throughout the LEED gold certified green building.

A Green Holiday

Statistics show that waste generation skyrockets during the holiday season. The city of Springfield's Solid Waste Management Division has a number of suggestions to reduce holiday waste.




Here are a few ideas:

• Reduce and reuse wrapping:. Make the wrapping part of the gift. For example, wrap kitchen items in a kitchen towel.

• When shopping, consolidate purchases in one bag.

• Save gift boxes, bows and ribbons for next year.

• Carefully plan errands and shopping to save fuel and lessen pollution.

• Recycle your old electronics if you get new ones.

• Take your tree to the end of season collections around town to be used for mulch.

• Do not burn wrapping paper. The colored paper contains lead and other heavy materials.

• Mistletoe is highly toxic to children and pets. Use artificial rather than the real thing.
  

Comment on this post and share your green holiday tips with us!

“What I Can See!” Campaign

2009 celebrates the 400^th anniversary of the invention of the telescope. In hopes of raising awareness about astronomy, we have set the goal of getting 150,000 people to look through a telescope in 2009. This is approximately the population of Springfield, Missouri. We will offer a star party once a month where anyone can come down and look through a telescope, then register as a participant in the project. This is a community building event, so feel free to bring down your telescope and “WOW” your neighbors with everything you know, or come down and look through a neighbor’s telescope and be “WOWED!” The Springfield Astronomical Society has partnered with DCS to offer their expertise and knowledge, and to make sure everyone has a chance to see all the amazing objects in our universe! Star Party on Patio Free, admission applies for entering the museum. Can't make it to one of our organized events? That's ok! Use your telescope at your convenience and log your expereince by commenting here! Tell us what you saw!

Downtown Springfield Christmas Parade

Saturday, December 13th at 1pm there will be a Christmas parade in downtown Springfield. Stop by Discovery Center before the parade for hot chocolate provided by a downtown church and enjoy the center! Discovery Center will provide parking to members for free and for those goign to the parade only for $4.00. There will be street closures between 10am to approximately 4pm along the parade route.

Volunteers Dig In!

Discovery Center thanks Michael Lewis and Dave Pestl with Nature's Image for sprucing up the outside of DCS in September! Michael was completing his Eagle Scout project and coordinated a work day to trim trees, plant bushes, weed, mulch, power wash, and pick up trash!

Name NASA's Mars Rover!

Check out the "Name NASA's Next Mars Rover" contest. By writing a short essay, K-12 students can suggest a name for the new Mars Science Laboratory rover. Entries must be received by January 25, 2009.

In the spring, you'll have another chance to participate. Once NASA has 9 finalist names in March, you can vote on your favorites. Stay tuned for more info!

Thanks Davis, Lynn, & Moots!

We want to thank our friends at Davis, Lynn, & Moots for their recent donation to DCS! Davis, Lynn, & Moots chooses different not-for-profit clients to help each month. Their staff are allowed to wear blue jeans on casual days as long as they donate to the cause.

We received a number of items from small to large to use in both exhibit space and education.

Chris & Sarah's Wedding Nov. 30, 2008

Sarah & Chris had every aspect of their day planned in detail with a unique touch. From the vintage theme, to the special chocolate milk toasts, Sarah & Chris wanted something special, different, & meaningful to them. Everything was beautiful and well thought out, start to finish, and we feel so privileged to be able to be a part of your day with you and your family.
Photos provided by DColemanPhotography

Parent's Night Out

Need to do some shopping or just have some time alone? Take advantage of chaperoned play for ages 4-6th grade at Discovery Center while you enjoy an evening out. Pre-payment and pre-registration required . Cost is $25 for Discovery Center Members and $30 for non-members for 1st child. Additional children are $10 each. For availability information and to register, contact 417.862.9910 x706.

Green TV Tip

While display technology has become more efficient over the years—liquid-crystal display (LCD) technology uses less energy per square inch than older cathode-ray tube (CRT) technology—energy use increases with screen size regardless of the technology. Some of today’s HDTVs, as a matter of fact, can consume more electricity in a year than a refrigerator.

Energy consumption varies widely between HDTVs, even between models of similar size. There are ways to ensure your new TV is as efficient as possible:

• Choose the most efficient technology. There are three HDTV technologies on the market today: plasma, LCD, and rear-projection microdisplay (commonly known as DLP, or digital light processing). A study by technology reviewer CNET found that, on average, plasma TVs are the least efficient, consuming 0.33 watt of electricity per square inch of screen, while LCD TVs are slightly better at 0.28 watt per inch. Your best choice to save energy is DLP, which consumes only 0.13 watt per inch.
  
  
• Choose Energy Star-rated models. On November 1, 2008, the EPA released new Energy Star specifications that now set maximum energy consumption limits for TVs in both standby and active modes (previous specifications applied only to standby mode). TVs that meet these new requirements (see the Related Resources) will be up to 30 percent more efficient than non-qualified models.
  
  

Even if you’re not in the market for a new TV, there are ways to reduce the energy being consumed by your current TV:

• Unplug the TV when it is not in use. TVs that have a standby mode continue to draw power even when turned “off.”
  
  
• Turn off the “quick start” option (if applicable). Just by waiting a few more seconds for the TV to warm up, you can significantly reduce standby power consumption.
  
  
• Turn down the brightness settings. Many LCD TVs also have a backlight setting that is often set in stores to be brighter than necessary for most home environments.
  
  
• Buy an Energy Star-rated digital-to-analog (DTA) converter box if you own an analog TV and do not plan to upgrade to digital by February 2009. According to the EPA, if all analog TV owners used Energy Star converter boxes, global warming pollution would be lowered by an amount equivalent to taking a million cars off the road.

Book Club Fun

Come in to the lab each month and do a lab activity that correlates with the month’s book club theme. Don’t forget to bring your book form and your punch card- 3 punches on your punch card means you get to pick a prize from our prize basket!







November Book list:

Beginning and Early Readers (ages 5-7)

How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz
My Town by Rebecca Treays
Are We There Yet, Daddy? by Virginia Walters
Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney
Where Do I Live by Neil Chesanow
There’s a Map on My Lap: All About Maps by Tish Rabe
Got Geography! by Lee Bennett Hopkins
As the Crow Flies: A First Book of Maps by Gail Hartman

Independent Readers (age 8 +)
Road Maps by Ian F. Mahaney
Geography from A to Z by Jack Knowlton
Mapping Penny’s World by Loreen Leedy
Mapping the World by Sylvia A. Johnson
Maps and Globes by Jack Knowlton
Maps by Dana Meachen Rau
Scholastic Atlas of the World by Scholastic Inc.
The Amazing Pop-Up Geography Book by Kate Petty
Where Am I? The Story of Maps and Navigation by A.G. Smith
Ways to Find Your Way: Types of Maps by Kay Jackson

Family Learning Day

Visit Discovery Center on Friday November 21st from 10am-4pm for Family Learning Day! Over, Under, Around the Earth. Focus on atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere—also coordinates with geography awareness month. BrainByte at 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Special museum activities. Classes-30 minute class at 10 a.m. and 1 P.m for ages pre-k to 8, accompanied by a parent. 60 minute class at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for ages 9 and up, no parent required, younger than 9 MUST attend with parent—content will be geared to advanced learners.

Science Sprout Days

Visit Discovery Center Thursday November 20th from 10am-4pm for Science Sprout Days! Brain Bytes on these days will be geared to early learners. Early childhood groups, MOPS groups, play groups are encouraged to use these days for visiting the museum without fear of encountering older groups of students. Early childhood programs can be added for an additional fee, to enhance the visit. For more information, contact Hayley Budd at 417.862.9910x726

Giant Map of Asia!

The Discovery Center of Springfield and the Missouri Geographic Alliance (MGA), in conjunction with the National Geographic Society (NGS), will play host to one of National Geographic's Giant Traveling Maps . The 30 foot by 40 foot map of Asia, featuring political and physical attributes, will be on display November 11-23, 2008 at the Discovery Center located in downtown Springfield.

National Geographic's Traveling Maps tour the country's schools, bringing hands (and feet)-on geography education to tens of thousands of students each year. Designed to combat geographic illiteracy by igniting students' interest in geography, the maps and accompanying activities incorporate physical movement and games to teach students place name geography, physical geography, and cultural geography, as well as map reading skills.

Missouri Geographic Alliance Coordinator, Amy Strickland-Minor says; “The MGA is excited to be partnering with the Discovery Center and NGS to bring this highly-interactive and fun geographic learning opportunity to teachers and students in Southwest Missouri. By exploring Asia on a 1200 square foot scale, students have the opportunity to physically and mentally engage with a region of growing importance in the world of the 21 st century.”

Plan now to be part of this unique learning opportunity! This map from National Geographic is being brought to DCS in collaboration with the Missouri Geographic Alliance. Limited scholarship funds are available through the MO Geographic Alliance. To book a field trip and find out about program options using the map, contact Hayley Budd at 862-9910x726. For map scholarship info., contact Laurie Duncan at 862-9910x701.

Kid's Night at the Museum

Nov. 9, 2008 4pm-7pm
Couldn't make it to the Festival of Trees Event? Enjoy a healthy snack while participating in a live auction to benefit DCS! Enter to win a Wii and bid on an American Girl weekend for 1 adult & 2 kids! Play in the museum & be treated like a star! Only $20.00 per family.Holiday attire please.

Success!

A good time was had by all at the 23rd Annual Festival of Trees! Thanks to over 200 attendees for beating last years fundraising efforts. Discovery Center Springfield grossed over 111,000 dollars to benefit our programs. Thanks again to everyone involved in the event.

Science Sprout Days

Visit Discovery Center Thursday October 30th from 10am-4pm for Science Sprout Days! Brain Bytes on these days will be geared to early learners. Early childhood groups, MOPS groups, play groups are encouraged to use these days for visiting the museum without fear of encountering older groups of students. Early childhood programs can be added for an additional fee, to enhance the visit. For more information, contact Hayley Budd at 417.862.9910x726

Ozark Food Harvest Success!

Due to a record turn out for Free Family Fun Day at Discovery Center, 536 lbs of food was collected for Ozark Food Harvest. We want to thank those that participated and encourage you to come again for our Free Day and our other exciting events!

Family Learning Day

Visit Discovery Center on Thursday October 23rd from 10am-4pm for Family Learning Day! This month's theme is "What’s Out There?" Focus on astronomy, solar system, space travel. BrainByte at 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.—Demonstration of how a comet is made. Auditorium presentations-Star Lab by Beth Whitehead—NASA Education Specialist. Special museum activities-Celebrate Chemistry Week with students from Drury’s Chemistry dept. Outside during the day-Solar Scopes, sponsored by Springfield Astronomical Society. Classes-30 minute class at 10 a.m. and 1 P.m for ages pre-k to 8, accompanied by a parent-Solar System. 60 minute class at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for ages 9 and up, no parent required, younger than 9 MUST attend with parent—content will be geared to advanced learners.

New Auction Items!

Free Family Fun Day!

Discovery Center & Midwest Dairy Association present The “People Behind the Product Free Day”. Learn more about how dairy farmers care for their animals and protect the land while producing quality milk that is wholesome and nutritious. Listen to a Missouri dairy farmer talk more about dairy farming, animal care and land and water preservation. Speak with a registered dietitian about the importance of 3-A-Day of Dairy and how three daily servings of low-fat milk, cheese or yogurt helps build strong bones and healthy bodies. Other activities will include butter making and recipe demonstrations, as well as milk mustache photographs. Information on dairy farming and dairy nutrition, including recipe and nutrition tips, will be available to take home. We will also be collecting non-perishable food items for Ozarks Food Harvest. Please bring your donations when you visit our free day Sunday October 19th from 1-5 pm!

Discovery Center book Club

Come join our book club to celebrate reading and science! Read and Learn along with us in our Explor-atory lab, and win some cool prizes while you are at it!
DCS has a monthly book club for ages 5-12.
Here’s how it works:

• Each month we will have a Book Club theme related to what is going on in the Explor-atory Lab. The theme will be announced on the website and in our lobby.
• We want you to read books that go with our theme and fill out our worksheet to tell us about your book(s).
  
• Come to the Explor-atory Lab and take part in the related lab activities each month.
• Each month that you read a book and complete an activity in the Explor-atory Lab, you will get one punch on your DCS Book Club punch card, which you will receive when you do your first Book Club activity at DCS.
• When you get 3 punches, you can select a prize from the Book Club Prize Box in our gift shop.

Visit our Site for more info!

Green Gas

Source: The National Science Foundation

Clean-Coal Debut in Germany

A new coal plant is the first to capture and store carbon dioxide.

It used to be called stinky town, because the pollution from burning dirty coal was so appalling. But now, if a new pilot plant works, Spremberg, in eastern Germany, could become the birthplace of a clean-coal revolution.

Earlier this month, the world's first coal-fired power plant designed to capture and store carbon dioxide that it produces began operations in Spremberg. The pilot plant has been built at a power station that, under Communist rule last century, used to belch out clouds of sulfurous smoke from burning brown coal, or lignite. "Industrial history is being written," says Tuomo Hatakka, chair of the European board of Vattenfall, the Swedish power company behind the new plant. Indeed, the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is seen by many experts as essential to help the world cut carbon-dioxide emissions in coal-fired power stations.

Vattenfall's small 30-megawatt plant burns the lignite in air from which nitrogen has been removed. Combustion in the resulting oxygen-rich atmosphere produces a waste stream of carbon dioxide and water vapor, three-quarters of which is recycled back into the boiler.

By repeating this process, known as oxyfuel, it is possible to greatly concentrate the carbon dioxide. After particles and sulfur have been removed, and water vapor has been condensed out, the waste gas can be 98 percent carbon dioxide, according to Vattenfall.

The separated carbon dioxide will be cooled down to -28 °C and liquefied. Starting next year, the plan is to transport it by truck 150 miles northwest, to be injected 3,000 meters underground into a depleted inland gas field in Altmark. Ideally, in the future, the gas will be carried by pipeline to underground storage, says Vattenfall.

Compressing and transporting the carbon dioxide takes energy, as does the initial extraction of nitrogen. So these processes reduce the overall efficiency of the plant, although Vattenfall is attempting to counter this by investigating ways of boosting the efficiency of the boiler--by predrying the coal, for example.

The aim, according to the company's vice president, Lars Strömberg, is to develop a power plant with "almost zero" pollution. He says that achieving no emissions will be impossible, "but we will come very, very close to this target."

In an initial three-year testing program, the Schwarze Pumpe pilot plant is expected to assess how components function together and exactly what proportion of carbon dioxide can actually be separated. Using the information gained, Vattenfall plans to scale up to a 300-to-500-megawatt demonstration plant by 2015 and to 1,000-megawatt commercial plants after 2020.

The opening of the plant divided environmental groups in Europe. Some regard CCS technology as a potentially valuable weapon in the battle against climate change, while others see it as an expensive distraction from the pursuit of cleaner renewable-energy technologies.

But the plant was greeted warmly by CCS specialists. For Stuart Haszeldine, a geologist from the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland, it was "a very welcome, and tangible, statement that CCS can be made to work." The European Union wants a further 10 to 15 CCS plants in operation by 2015, he points out.

"Only by actually building plants like this can poorly known costs and risks be better understood and enable the routine deployment of CCS, which so many politicians and energy analysts perceive to be essential for climate cleanup," says Haszeldine. "This is the first; the world now needs lots more."

Oxyfuel is one of three possible CCS technologies. Another uses a scrubbing process to try to capture carbon dioxide in the flue gases emitted after coal has been burned in a conventional power plant. The third involves gasifying the coal, creating hydrogen for generating electricity and carbon monoxide, from which carbon dioxide can be formed and separated.

According to Howard Herzog, a chemical engineer at MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment and manager of MIT's carbon-sequestration

initiative, it's too soon to say which of the clean-coal technologies will be the best. The opening of the oxyfuel plant--which he attended in Germany--was "exciting" because it represented "a significant step forward in developing CCS technology," he says. "Vattenfall's pilot plant will not only develop oxyfuel combustion technology; it will also provide critical information on the potential of oxyfuel combustion as a CO₂-capture technology."

Source: www.technologyreview.com

Did You Know?

...that beneath the French/Swiss border, scientists at the world's largest particle physics research center, CERN (The European Center for Nuclear Research), are using giant machines—particle accelerators and detectors—to study the smallest objects in the universe? On September 10, 2008, a circulating beam of protons inaugurated the 17-mile, subterranean track of the Large Hadron Collider, CERN's newest accelerator. Scientists hope experiments performed with the LHC will provide evidence of long-suspected particles, such as the Higgs Boson, and shed light on the origin of mass and the nature of matter.

Did You Know?

Some aquatic insects and spiders carry an air supply when they dive? These creatures (such as backswimmers, water boatmen, and water spiders) have tiny, water-repelling hairs that hold air bubbles next to their bodies. Oxygen diffuses into these external "lungs" and carbon dioxide diffuses out, enabling the bugs to breathe without surfacing.

Home Depot Launches Free In-Store CFL Recycling Service!

The Home Depot now accepts compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs for recycling. The program includes all 1,973 Home Depot locations. This is great news for the growing population of individuals and families converting to energy-saving CFLs, who are concerned about safe handling of spent bulbs.

Businesses, defined by the U.S. EPA as “large-quantity generators,” are required by law to contract with licensed recovery facilities to recycle fluorescent bulbs, but recycling opportunities for household “small-quantity generators” have rarely been available. With more than 75% of households located within 10 miles of a Home Depot store, this retail outlet collection system is one of the safestand most convenient ways to ensure proper disposal for any CFL user.

Retailers in other parts of the country have been accepting CFLs, and local residents have had some limited or costly bulb recovery options, but the no-cost, broad-based Home Depot program brings a significant new recycling service to the region. At each Home Depot store, customers can simply bring in expired, unbroken CFL bulbs and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will be responsibly recycled by an environmental management company. Save bulb packages to safely transport spent bulbs to Home Depot!

Green Tip

Put dry towels in the dryer with your clothes. Tossing in a couple of dry towels when you run the dryer helps pull moisture out of the other wet clothes, which reduces the number of minutes you'll need to keep the dryer running.

Discovery Center Is Mobile!

Preschool Programs We are now offering eight new outreach programs designed specifically for preschool-aged children. Each topic is approximately 45 minutes in length, and has been designed with the needs of early learners in mind! Let us bring hands-on experiments to your classroom to help you enrich the science learning experiences of your preschool aged children. We’ll do all the work—you get to watch your young learners as they interact with our materials and explore a variety of science concepts. For the presentation of a single one-hour program, for a maximum of 30 students, the fee is $100. The same program can be repeated for an additional $65 each, with a maximum of 3 consecutive programs at one location during the same morning or afternoon reservation. Programs: Storybook Science: Bats combines hands-on activities with the book Stellaluna by Janell Cannon to explore the unique characteristics of bats. Storybook Science: Dinosaurs invites you to join in a Dinosaurumpus! We will investigate the dinosaurs found in this favorite children’s book by Tony Mitton. Story book science: Insects uses The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle to explore the world of our six legged friends. My Amazing Body introduces bones, muscles, hearts, lungs and healthy habits to early learners. How Does Your Garden Grow? Get your hands dirty as we dissect seeds, explore plants, and learn what it takes to get your garden to grow! It's Raining! It's Pouring! Travel the life of a water droplet on its adventure through the water cycle. Lights Out! Learn about the crazy properties of light while experimenting with mirrors and making rainbows. Goopy, Slimy, Bubbly Stuff is perfect for the beginning chemist. Learn how to mix, measure and make careful observations as we create goopy, slimy and bubbly stuff. Registration: For questions and Inquiries, contact Laurie Duncan , Education Director, at 417-862-9910 ext. 701.

EcoSearch.Org Preserving Our Environment

www.EcoSearch.org is a non profit initiative by dedicated environmentalist for making a difference. EcoSearch is a search engine powered by Google with exactly the same results. The only difference is that all the revenue generated through advertisement is donated to various environmental charities.

Their simple goal is to reduce pollution and protect our natural resources.

Following are the charities supported by EcoSearch

Sierra Club
TreePeople
National Resource Defense Council
Heal the Bay
Rainforest Alliance

You can also support EcoSearch just by simply making all your searches at Eco Search.

So next time you search internet remember to search it with www.EcoSearch.org

Science Sprout Days

This new program, exclusively for Early Childhood Learners (up to age 6), includes special free science presentations geared to young learners. Groups may schedule 30 minute programs for an additional fee. For kindergarten or first grade classes, MOPS groups, day care providers, preschools, playgroups, and families. Explore the fun of science and the science of fun on:

September 25, 2008
October 30, 2008
November 29, 2009
January 29, 2009
February 26, 2009

*Advance registration required for group discount. Call or visit our website for more info!

Sea Life Rescue at the Discovery Center

August 26, 2008 - September 11, 2008- Grand Opening of Sea Life Rescue: Coming to you LIVE!, from behind the Shark Tank, it's Sea Trek! Come to the Discovery Center during August - September and we will give you a firsthand look into Sea life Rescue. There will be an on site exhibit as well as an interactive video conference connection with staff from Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida . Video Conference times vary. Discovery Center admission is $7.00 adults, $6.00 seniors and $5.00 children (3-12). Under 3 free. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm.

Tour of Missouri Pit Stop

Discovery Center is proud to sponsor the Tour of Missouri today! The longest stage of the race will end in Springfield after starting in historic Clinton, near the head of the state long Katy Trail.

Last year, spectators witnessed George Hincapie steal the stage and essentially the overall race during this flat stage. The race features three water ways. Edward Jones sprint points are featured in the towns of Stockton and Willard en route to three finish circuits around the downtown of Missouri’s third largest city. Discovery Center Springfield will provide a pit stop for the race around 3pm today. Come downtown to see the excitement firsthand or support your favorite cyclist!

Today In Science History ~ September 8th

In 1930, Scotch Tape was developed by Richard G. Drew at 3M, St. Paul Minn. Originally, 3M only made sandpaper, and during testing Drew observed at a local auto bodyshop that auto painters had difficulty making clean dividing lines on two-color paint jobs. After two years of effort in the company's labs, he invented masking tape (1925), a tan paper tape with a light, pressure sensitive adhesive backing. Five years later, he invented Scotch Brand Cellulose Tape, the first waterproof, see-through, pressure-sensitive tape. Once marketed, the public found the tape had a wide range popular applications in mending, sealing and joining. These financial successes stimulated the company to increase product research and development.