2012 North Carolina Science Festival | North Carolina Science Festival

April 13

The Outdoor Classroom: Integrating Natural Experiences with the Curriculum 4/13 • 8:00 am • Cullowhee Attention NC Teachers! North Carolina public school teachers with three or more years experience, join us this week as we team up with scientists and science educators to explore some of the ways we can incorporate outdoor...
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Edible Schoolyard Day Camp 4/13 • 8:30 am • Greensboro Calling all Kindergarten through 3rd graders! Spend the day in the Edible Schoolyard garden and kitchen helping grow and prepare delicious food. Harness your senses and explore!
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12th Annual Birdhouse Competition at the JC Raulston Arboretum 4/13 • 9:00 am • Raleigh It's that time of year again! The Birdhouse Competition returns to the JC Raulston Arboretum with events scheduled April 12 through April 15. If making birdhouses is not your thing, then looking at them should be. The creations...
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Carowinds Education Days 4/13 • 9:00 am • Charlotte Attention teachers and families: On each Friday during the Festival, Carowinds Theme Park partners with the NC Science Festival and Discovery Place, one of the leading hands-on science centers in the country, to bring classroom...
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Counter Culture Coffee Cupping & Tour 4/13 • 10:00 am • Durham We have a tradition at Counter Culture Coffee: every Friday at 10 am, rain or shine, we stop and taste coffee together at our Durham headquarters and each of our regional training centers. We love to welcome our friends,...
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Fun with Temperature and Pressure: Absolute Zero Extrapolation 4/13 • 10:00 am • Fayetteville This exciting presentation will involve demonstrations, hand-on activities, and an explosion or two. We will use boiling oil and liquid nitrogen to extrapolate absolute zero. We will be investigating cryogenic states of matter....
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Math Moves 4/13 • 10:00 am • Durham Immerse yourself in a world of large and small, shadows and shapes, motion and sound in the Math Moves exhibition at the Museum of Life + Science. Ready, set, grab a friend, get moving and watch as you and your friend’s rates...
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The Truth Behind 2012 4/13 • 10:00 am • Elizabeth City You've seen the movie. You've heard the claims. Now discover the facts about December 21, 2012 in this live, interactive presentation that puts you in charge of the show!
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History & Ecology, Linked on Hatteras Island 4/13 • 11:00 am • Hatteras David Kelmer, well-known local arborist, explains the relationship between Hatteras Island's history and ecology. Today, roughly 2% of the plant life that once flourished here remains. What happened as forests were cleared for...
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TryOn Science 4/13 • 11:30 am • Charlotte Take a stroll down Tryon St. and Try On Science! Spend your lunch hour in the heart of uptown as you experiment with science that touches everyday lives. Wander from station to station getting a taste of the exciting events...
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A World Apart 4/13 • 11:30 am • Charlotte Take a front row seat on the edge of the rainforest as our resident explorer takes you on a journey to learn about the animals and plants that call it home. For additional program times throughout the week, check the Discovery...
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The Science Behind the Eighteenth Century Home 4/13 • 1:30 pm • Edenton The Historic Edenton State Historic Site will offer special programming, “The Science behind the Eighteenth Century Home.” This special tour will include examples of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that...
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Raleigh Rockin' Walkin' Tour 4/13 • 3:00 pm • Raleigh Join us for a 1-hour walking tour of the geology of downtown Raleigh. Meet at the Museum of Natural Sciences on the Bicentennial Mall. We will look at the three major rock types that make up the architecture of downtown Raleigh...
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Aquarium Feeding Tour 4/13 • 4:00 pm • Charlotte Follow along as our live care specialists feed some of our favorite water-dwelling residents. For additional program times throughout the week, check the Discovery Place website.
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An Evening with Jeff Corwin 4/13 • 7:30 pm • Greensboro SIGNATURE EVENT: The North Carolina Science Festival is bringing wildlife biologist and Animal Planet TV host Jeff Corwin to Greensboro. "An Evening with Jeff Corwin" will begin at 7:30 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012, in...
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GLOBE at Night 4/13 • 8:00 pm • Nebo As a citizen-scientist, you can participate in the world-wide study of light pollution called GLOBE at Night. Get involved and help learn how to maintain the Earth’s dark night skies as a natural resource for everyone! Join us...
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Public Stargazing at UNC Asheville 4/13 • 8:30 pm • Asheville The Astronomy Club of Asheville and the University of North Carolina Asheville are teaming up for an evening of star-gazing with telescopes on the quad. Come join us and view Venus, Saturn, Mars, star clusters, and more!
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April 14

Party for the Planet Week at the Aquarium 4/14 • 9:00 am • Pine Knoll Shores Party for the Planet all week in the spirit of Earth Day with fun activities focused on conservation. Express your environmental sentiments with frosting to win cash in the "Cakes for Conservation" cake-decorating contest for...
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NC-MSEN Pre-College Program in Action 4/14 • 9:00 am • UNC-Chapel Hill The UNC-Chapel Hill North Carolina Mathematics and Science Education Network Pre-College Program (NC-MSEN PCP) will share information about our outreach program, which targets average to above-average middle and high school...
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MarineQuest Saturday Morning Marine Explorers 4/14 • 9:00 am • Wilmington Join our MarineQuest staff for a Saturday morning filled with exciting scientific fun at the UNCW Center for Marine Science. Each month we focus on a different theme as we explore sea creatures, marine habitats, and ocean...
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Scope Academy 4/14 • 9:00 am • Raleigh The College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (PAMS) at NC State University invites you to join us as we explore today's most thought-provoking scientific topics. Enjoy classroom sessions led by PAMS' world-class faculty and...
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Scavenger Hunt at Sylvan Heights Bird Park 4/14 • 9:00 am • Scotland Neck Discover the fascinating world of birds at Sylvan Heights Bird Park. With over 200 species of exotic ducks, geese, swans, parrots, pheasants, cranes, flamingos, and more, there's always something new to see. Learn as you explore...
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Star Families: Spring Skies 4/14 • 9:30 am • Chapel Hill Spring has arrived and so have new skywatching opportunities. Underneath the planetarium sky, learn to identify the planets, bright stars and constellations that are easiest to see this spring. Designed for children ages 7-12...
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Kids' Day at Squirrel Lake Park 4/14 • 10:00 am • Matthews Bring the kids and come to Kids' Day at Squirrel Lake Park, a certified wildlife habitat through National Wildlife Federation. We'll have walks through the habitat and all kinds of fun activities designed to let children enjoy...
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Viva Verde Earth Day Festival 4/14 • 10:00 am • Concord This fun, family-friendly event seeks to promote a better understanding of the environment and environmental issues through experiences & education in order to help the public make positive choices to develop & maintain a...
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12th Annual Birdhouse Competition at the JC Raulston Arboretum 4/14 • 10:00 am • Raleigh It's that time of year again! The Birdhouse Competition returns to the JC Raulston Arboretum with events scheduled April 12 through April 15. If making birdhouses is not your thing, then looking at them should be. The creations...
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Second Annual Space & Astronomy Day 4/14 • 10:00 am • Grifton Celebrate the North Carolina Science Festival, and Earth Month, by appreciating the Earth's position within the Solar System and our Galaxy. Enjoy a festival of fun-filled, interactive, space- and astronomy-related learning...
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Crystal Coast Earth Day Festival 4/14 • 10:00 am • Atlantic Beach Join us for hands-on activities and demonstrations to celebrate Earth Day. All activities are free of charge and held at Fort Macon State Park's Coastal Education and Visitor Center, Atlantic Beach. Partnership organized by: NC...
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The Rejects: Hunting and Identifying Fossils 4/14 • 10:00 am • Aurora Aurora Fossil Museum educator Dr. George Oliver will give a simple lecture on fossils that can be found in the Pit of the Pungo formation in the park across from the museum. He will also help visitors find and identify fossils.
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Tour of the North Carolina Botanical Garden 4/14 • 10:00 am • Chapel Hill Join us for a special tour of the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. On this 60-minute tour, you will have a chance to experience the beauty of plants that are native to North Carolina. You will walk through our...
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RoboFest 2012: Robots & Recycling 4/14 • 10:00 am • Greensboro RoboFest is a celebration of science and technology that offers hands-on fun for the whole family. Visitors can watch Natural Science Center robotics teams move LEGO® robots through challenges, run a robot buggy, and free build...
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Planes, Trains and Things That Go! 4/14 • 10:00 am • Winston-Salem Vehicles on the road…they work hard! Enjoy fun crafts and storytimes. Get a monster truck tattoo! Become the pilot of your very own airplane and complete an obstacle course. Explore some fun vehicles and celebrate things on the...
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Robot Rumble 4/14 • 10:00 am • Durham Are you ready to Robot Rumble? Join the leagues of professionals and enthusiasts in the dynamic science of robotics. Hands-on demos, workshops, Bot Hockey and more!
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Forces of Nature Family Learning Lab 4/14 • 10:00 am • Raleigh Experience the adventure on-screen and off in this family program that brings you face to face with the forces of nature. See the film and put your knowledge and skills to work as you track hurricanes, clock your wind speed,...
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Safari School 4/14 • 11:00 am • Wilson Join us as we go on a safari through the animal kingdom to explore the world of wildlife!
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Second Saturday Science at Port Discover 4/14 • 11:00 am • Elizabeth City Come visit Port Discover for an exciting morning of exploration with a local scientist. Reservations required.
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"Indiana Bones and The Kingdom of the Camarasaur" Science Show 4/14 • 11:00 am • Greensboro The 30-minute show is designed to demonstrate how putting the knowledge of science to work can help Indiana Bones and his dinosaur Cameron save Animal Discovery Zoo from becoming a “Robot Jurassic Park” as he faces his...
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UNC Science Expo 4/14 • 11:00 am • Chapel Hill Join us for a science open house and discover current science research happening on UNC's campus! Explore laboratories and try your hand at various activities. The UNC Science Expo will include demonstrations, hands-on...
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LEGO Free Play! North Regional Branch 4/14 • 11:00 am • Fayetteville Children in grades K-5 can let their imaginations run wild with LEGO free play! Registration is required by calling 910-822-1998 ext. 2.
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Zoo Keeper Talks with the Animals 4/14 • 11:30 am • Greensboro Interactive Keeper Talks with trained zoo professionals give visitors a very real and personal glimpse into the lives of the keepers and animals alike. The talks are the perfect way to hear fun stories and learn interesting facts...
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Bird Watching: On the Web and In the Wild 4/14 • 12:00 pm • Asheville Have you wondered what kind of woodpecker is hammering in your backyard? Or what that colorful bird is? Join us for an introduction to birding and an opportunity to become a "citizen scientist". This program will show you how to...
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Fired Up! 4/14 • 12:00 pm • Charlotte Oxygen, heat, and fuel: the fire triangle! Join us at the Stage for some explosively fun experiments. For additional program times throughout the week, check the Discovery Place website.
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The Green Idea Factory Competition 4/14 • 12:00 pm • Davidson Hosted by the Project for Innovation, Energy & Sustainability (PiES), The Green Idea Factory is a green science fair competition among four Lake Norman/Davidson-area high schools. The event will feature an exhibit of all...
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Chapel Hill's Earth Action Day 4/14 • 12:00 pm • Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation presents Earth Action Day, a celebration for sustainable living at Southern Community Park. Get to know your community and learn how our daily choices affect both our ecological and social...
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All About Birds 4/14 • 12:00 pm • Asheville Birds play an important role in our ecosystem as pollinators and seed dispersers. Learn about the physics of flight and craft your own "bird" to fly in a wind tunnel. Identify birds by their unique calls and make a bird feeder to...
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Aquarium Guided Tour 4/14 • 12:30 pm • Charlotte Dive into an exploration of the world’s oceans and learn about the amazing underwater world. For additional program times throughout the week, check the Discovery Place website.
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Energy Innovators 4/14 • 12:30 pm • Raleigh Explore electricity, renewable energy, and ways to reduce your energy use at this walk-up program. From snap circuitry to solar car races and sun-driven crickets, come power up your energy smarts. For additional program times...
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Brewery Tour & Tasting 4/14 • 1:00 pm • Holly Springs A tour of the Carolina Brewing Company Brewery with descriptions of the beer-making process (and tastings!). This event is 21 and over only; bring IDs please.
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Mountain Science Expo: From Beakers to Backyards! 4/14 • 1:00 pm • Asheville Science is all around us, but we don't always know it when we see it. From professional scientists and naturalists, to local businesses and organizations, we'll explore the science at play in our mountain community, and how to...
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Wildest Weather in the Solar System: Full-Dome OmniSphere Show 4/14 • 1:00 pm • Greensboro Witness the most beautiful, powerful, and mysterious weather phenomena in the solar system at the Natural Science Center's newest show, Wildest Weather in the Solar System. Packed with eye-popping visuals and high-end CGI, this...
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Storm the Castle! Headquarters Library 4/14 • 1:00 pm • Fayetteville Teens, learn how to build a catapult right out of the middle ages, if they'd had office supplies, that is. Using instructions from Mini-Weapons of Mass Destruction, build and test your siege machines on paper fortresses....
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Wonders of Light at the Learning Center 4/14 • 1:00 pm • Wilmington Why is the sky blue? What makes a rainbow? Discover the colors of light and see what happens when you mix them. Conduct fun mirror experiments and learn how light travels. Explore the mysteries of light and color and even make an...
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Bird Encounters 4/14 • 2:00 pm • Charlotte Birds! Up close and personal! Learn about bird biology and eggs. See live birds and learn about avian flight.
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Art-rageous! 4/14 • 2:30 pm • Raleigh In celebration of the NC Science Festival, we'll explore the science in art and the art in science in this informal program sure to get your creative juices flowing!
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Planet, Star & Galaxy Viewing at ASU’s Dark Sky Observatory 4/14 • 9:00 pm • Jobs Cabin Join us for a night under the stars at Appalachian State University’s Dark Sky Observatory. The target list for our telescope includes Mars, Saturn, and deep sky objects such as star clusters and galaxies. Stargazing...
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April 15

Party for the Planet Week at the Aquarium 4/15 • 9:00 am • Pine Knoll Shores Party for the Planet all week in the spirit of Earth Day with fun activities focused on conservation. Express your environmental sentiments with frosting to win cash in the "Cakes for Conservation" cake-decorating contest for...
Get Details

"Indiana Bones and The Kingdom of the Camarasaur" Science Show 4/15 • 11:00 am • Greensboro The 30-minute show is designed to demonstrate how putting the knowledge of science to work can help Indiana Bones and his dinosaur Cameron save Animal Discovery Zoo from becoming a “Robot Jurassic Park” as he faces his...
Get Details

Zoo Keeper Talks with the Animals 4/15 • 11:30 am • Greensboro Interactive Keeper Talks with trained zoo professionals give visitors a very real and personal glimpse into the lives of the keepers and animals alike. The talks are the perfect way to hear fun stories and learn interesting facts...
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Solar System and Space Exploration 4/15 • 12:00 pm • Charlotte Visit Discovery Place's Explore More Stuff lab to experience fun and educational activities surrounding our solar system and space exploration. Blast off to explore beyond our world. Experiment with the science that allows us to...
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Gadgets and Gizmos: Humpty Dumpty 4/15 • 1:00 pm • Raleigh Help Humpty! Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty took a two-story fall! Come engineer a protective package to help an egg survive a drop with The Engineering Place, NCSU College of Engineering's K-20 Outreach Program.
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Skullduggery with Christopher Baldwin 4/15 • 1:00 pm • Charlotte Join a skilled master naturalist with particular expertise in identification and interpretation of animal skulls.
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Environmental Art 4/15 • 1:00 pm • Charlotte This project will introduce participants to a watershed approach and how their community is affected by or can affect the quality of the bigger environment: their watershed. In a series of exercises using a watershed approach,...
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Life is Your Lab and Your Studio...Full STEAM Ahead! 4/15 • 1:00 pm • Charlotte Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Parent University, in collaboration with the Arts & Science Council, the North Carolina Science Festival, Discovery Place, and many cultural partners, will host an afternoon of educational and...
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12th Annual Birdhouse Competition at the JC Raulston Arboretum 4/15 • 1:00 pm • Raleigh It's that time of year again! The Birdhouse Competition returns to the JC Raulston Arboretum with events scheduled April 12 through April 15. If making birdhouses is not your thing, then looking at them should be. The creations...
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Cape Fear Skies: Spring Constellations 4/15 • 1:30 pm • Wilmington Venture in to Cape Fear Museum’s portable planetarium and identify patterns of stars found in the spring sky. Parental participation is required. Free for members or with regular admission. Show times are 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and...
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Garden Sprouts 4/15 • 2:30 pm • Raleigh How does your garden grow? From planting, harvesting, and taste-testing to digging in the dirt and exploring nature, you're sure to have fun in the sun! For additional program times throughout the week, check the Marbles Kids...
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Sub Zero 4/15 • 4:00 pm • Charlotte Join us at the Stage as we explore cold chemistry and see what happens at -320 degrees F. For additional program times throughout the week, check the Discovery Place website.
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April 16

Party for the Planet Week at the Aquarium 4/16 • 9:00 am • Pine Knoll Shores Party for the Planet all week in the spirit of Earth Day with fun activities focused on conservation. Express your environmental sentiments with frosting to win cash in the "Cakes for Conservation" cake-decorating contest for...
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BioMoto STEM Challenge 4/16 • 9:00 am • Kannapolis Teams comprised of 16 specially selected 8th-grade students will come to the Human Performance Lab to be assessed for their capabilities, using the same fitness panels that pit crews use to train for NASCAR.
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Going Green at Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools 4/16 • 9:00 am • Charlotte Each school day during the Festival, students at one Charlotte Mecklenburg School will experience presentations and activities related to the CMS environmental stewardship initiative. Energy conservation, recycling, air quality,...
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Appalachian State University Science Expo 4/16 • 9:00 am • Boone A science "open house." Bring your class on a field trip, or just bring yourself, and see the great science that's going on at ASU. We'll have demo shows, talks, exhibits, tours, and hands-on activities featuring physics,...
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The NC Center for Afterschool Programs' SYNERGY 2012 Conference 4/16 • 9:00 am • Charlotte The North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs' (NC CAP) annual statewide professional development conference, SYNERGY, provides afterschool stakeholders a variety of opportunities. SYNERGY 2012 features a STEM track,...
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S2:TEM = Scaling STEM: Transforming Education Matters Conference 4/16 • 12:00 pm • Durham Join educators, students, innovators, and leaders from business and government at S2:TEM = Scaling STEM: Transforming Education Matters. Secondary school developers, educators and students from North Carolina and across the...
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Touch Tank Experience 4/16 • 12:00 pm • Charlotte Visit the Explore More Life Lab to get up close and personal with some marine life at the touch tank. Animals you might discover at the touch tank include sea stars, sea urchins, horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, spider crabs, and...
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NC Mining Technology 4/16 • 2:00 pm • Concord Want to know how gold, copper, and gems are mined in North Carolina? Curious about life down in the mines? The Cabarrus County Public Library will offer an informative lecture on mining technologies used in N.C. Join us to learn...
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Mask Making 4/16 • 2:00 pm • Charlotte Join us in the Explore More Collections Lab. Learn more about the Discovery Place mask collection, which contains artifacts from around the world, and create your own mask to take home.
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Medical Scientists: Come See What We’re All About…. 4/16 • 3:00 pm • Charlotte Are you interested in research and discovering new things? We invite you to come see what we’re all about. Join us for a campus tour and interactive demonstrations, see the scientists in action in our state of the art...
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The Science of Movement and Rehabilitation 4/16 • 3:00 pm • Charlotte Join Carolinas Rehabilitation for an open house as we reveal technologies in rehab, the physics and science of movement, and how the body recovers after injury or illness. View demonstrations on the Lokomat, our robotic therapy...
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Scientific Art Competition 4/16 • 4:00 pm • Chapel Hill Are you ready to be astounded by the images in Chapel Hill Analytical and Nanofabrication Laboratory (CHANL)'s 4th annual Scientific Art Competition? The images displayed were taken during the course of scientific research at...
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Mathematics and the Mystery of Dark Matter 4/16 • 4:30 pm • Raleigh Even after spending billions of dollars on experiments, nobody has been able to find that elusive, mysterious thing hiding out there in the heavens that is called "dark matter." Sounds ominous! But what is it? Why do we believe...
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Storm the Castle! East Regional Branch 4/16 • 6:00 pm • Fayetteville Teens, learn how to build a catapult right out of the middle ages, if they'd used office supplies, that is. Using instructions from Mini-Weapons of Mass Destruction, build and test your siege machines on paper fortresses. All...
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The Healthcare Career Experience 4/16 • 6:00 pm • Charlotte Have you ever considered a career in healthcare? Do you enjoy hands-on activities where you can experience new and exciting things? Then join Carolinas College for an open house where you can practice laparoscopic surgery, draw...
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Living Proof: Drug Treatment for Breast Cancer 4/16 • 7:00 pm • Kannapolis Learn and Live Movie Series featuring Living Proof, about overcoming the challenges of developing the breast cancer drug herceptin.
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April 17

S2:TEM = Scaling STEM: Transforming Education Matters Conference 4/17 • 8:00 am • Durham Join educators, students, innovators, and leaders from business and government at S2:TEM = Scaling STEM: Transforming Education Matters. Secondary school developers, educators and students from North Carolina and across the...
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The NC Center for Afterschool Programs' SYNERGY 2012 Conference 4/17 • 8:30 am • Charlotte The North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs' (NC CAP) annual statewide professional development conference, SYNERGY, provides afterschool stakeholders a variety of opportunities. SYNERGY 2012 features a STEM track,...
Get Details

Party for the Planet Week at the Aquarium 4/17 • 9:00 am • Pine Knoll Shores Party for the Planet all week in the spirit of Earth Day with fun activities focused on conservation. Express your environmental sentiments with frosting to win cash in the "Cakes for Conservation" cake-decorating contest for...
Get Details

BioMoto STEM Challenge 4/17 • 9:00 am • Kannapolis Teams comprised of 16 specially selected 8th-grade students will come to the Human Performance Lab to be assessed for their capabilities, using the same fitness panels that pit crews use to train for NASCAR.
Get Details

2012 Kindergarten Science Expo 4/17 • 9:00 am • Kannapolis All Kannapolis City Schools kindergartners are invited to participate in a field trip to the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) for the 2012 Kindergarten Science Expo. As students arrive, NRI scientists will share a special...
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Homeschool Science Fair! 4/17 • 10:00 am • West Jefferson Although this event is being sponsored by the A.S.H.E. homeschool group, ALL homeschoolers in the area are encouraged to enter the science fair! Please register by April 3rd if you plan to enter a project. For more...
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From the Inside Out 4/17 • 11:00 am • Charlotte Visit the Explore More Life Lab to gain a better understanding of body systems through dissection. Some examples of specimens that we will dissect include sharks, frogs, and fetal pigs. For additional program times throughout...
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Wildest Weather in the Solar System: Full-Dome OmniSphere Show 4/17 • 1:00 pm • Greensboro Witness the most beautiful, powerful, and mysterious weather phenomena in the solar system at the Natural Science Center's newest show, Wildest Weather in the Solar System. Packed with eye-popping visuals and high-end CGI, this...
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Mask Making 4/17 • 2:00 pm • Charlotte Join us in the Explore More Collections Lab. Learn more about the Discovery Place mask collection, which contains artifacts from around the world, and create your own mask to take home.
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The State of the Studies 4/17 • 3:00 pm • Kannapolis The NC Research Campus, Duke Translational Research Institute, the MURDOCK Study, and Carolinas Medical Center are hosting an open house about the value of clinical studies and research with information on studies recruiting...
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Storm the Castle! Spring Lake Branch 4/17 • 4:00 pm • Spring Lake Teens, learn how to build a catapult right out of the middle ages, if they'd used office supplies, that is. Using instructions from Mini-Weapons of Mass Destruction, build and test your siege machines on paper fortresses. All...
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STEM Parent University 4/17 • 4:30 pm • Charlotte Catawba River District, in partnership with Whitewater Academy and Whitewater Middle School, will host a STEM Parent University, open to the general public. This event involves series of fun, hands-on STEM learning models both...
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Robotics @ West Regional Branch Library 4/17 • 5:00 pm • Fayetteville See an award-winning robot demonstrate some of its skills and learn the science behind the construction.
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Modern Marine Science: Discovering Our Ocean 4/17 • 5:00 pm • Wilmington Join us for UNCW MarineQuest Family Night's Modern Marine Science: Discovering Our Ocean! Have you ever wondered what a marine scientist does? What are they looking for in such a large body of water? From the micro-world to the...
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STEM in the City: Kannapolis 4/17 • 6:00 pm • Kannapolis There are so many ways the employees of the City of Kannapolis use math, science, engineering and most of all technology in daily work environments to keep the City running smoothly. STEM in the City is a series of Science Cafes...
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LEGO Robots! Bordeaux Branch 4/17 • 6:00 pm • Fayetteville Ever wanted a robot to do your chores or finish your homework? Learn how to build and program a robot that will do almost anything. Let your imagination run wild - no promises on its ability to finish school work. For more...
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April 18

The NC Center for Afterschool Programs' SYNERGY 2012 Conference 4/18 • 8:00 am • Charlotte The North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs' (NC CAP) annual statewide professional development conference, SYNERGY, provides afterschool stakeholders a variety of opportunities. SYNERGY 2012 features a STEM track,...
Get Details

S2:TEM = Scaling STEM: Transforming Education Matters Conference 4/18 • 8:00 am • Durham Join educators, students, innovators, and leaders from business and government at S2:TEM = Scaling STEM: Transforming Education Matters. Secondary school developers, educators and students from North Carolina and across the...
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UNC Asheville Undergraduate Research Program Spring Symposium 4/18 • 8:30 am • Asheville Want to know what's going on at college? Join us for this special event! The Administration of the University of North Carolina at Asheville and the Undergraduate Research Program welcome you to the Eleventh Annual Spring...
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BioMoto STEM Challenge 4/18 • 9:00 am • Kannapolis Teams comprised of 16 specially selected 8th-grade students will come to the Human Performance Lab to be assessed for their capabilities, using the same fitness panels that pit crews use to train for NASCAR.
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Busy Bees in the Kitchen 4/18 • 9:00 am • Greensboro Drop your kids off for this amazing three-hour program designed for 3-to-5 year-old, pre-K participants! We'll rip, stir, knead, and arrange foods from the garden. We'll also use our five senses to explore the art of cooking....
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Party for the Planet Week at the Aquarium 4/18 • 9:00 am • Pine Knoll Shores Party for the Planet all week in the spirit of Earth Day with fun activities focused on conservation. Express your environmental sentiments with frosting to win cash in the "Cakes for Conservation" cake-decorating contest for...
Get Details

2012 Kindergarten Science Expo 4/18 • 9:00 am • Kannapolis All Kannapolis City Schools kindergartners are invited to participate in a field trip to the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) for the 2012 Kindergarten Science Expo. As students arrive, NRI scientists will share a special...
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Wildlife Wednesday 4/18 • 9:30 am • Greensboro Each Wildlife Wednesday we will learn about a different animal from around the world. A cut-out of the featured animal is provided and children can use their creative imaginations to make a unique creature of their own. April 18...
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Nose-to-Nose Animal Encounter 4/18 • 10:30 am • Charlotte Join us at the Researcher's Hut for an up-close, in-person experience with one of the Museum’s animals, and learn about their tropical habitats. For additional program times throughout the week, check the Discovery Place...
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River Roving Educational Boat Tour 4/18 • 10:30 am • Washington Take a pontoon boat cruise on the Pamlico River with an educator from the NC Estuarium and learn about the environment and habitats of this unique estuary. Free and open to the public; advance reservations are required. Riders...
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Mask Making 4/18 • 2:00 pm • Charlotte Join us in the Explore More Collections Lab. Learn more about the Discovery Place mask collection, which contains artifacts from around the world, and create your own mask to take home.
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Shocking Science! 4/18 • 3:30 pm • Asheville Feel your hair stand on end, light up a florescent bulb with your hand, and see lightning indoors. Join us for this electrifying experience!
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Sing Along with Ranger Joe 4/18 • 4:00 pm • West Jefferson Who has nimble fingers, wears a mask and comes out at night? Discover the wonders of our natural world through song, stories, and crafts with Singing Ranger Joe. A fun family event for all ages.
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Ooey Gooey Science Fun! Cliffdale Branch 4/18 • 4:00 pm • Fayetteville Children in grades K-5 can create some fun and messy science experiments. Registration is required by calling 910-864-3800 ext. 228.
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UNC Emerging Company Showcase 4/18 • 6:00 pm • Chapel Hill The Emerging Company Showcase highlights early-stage companies spinning out of UNC. Come see the latest innovations in life science, chemistry, IT, gaming and more! This is an exciting opportunity for promising young companies to...
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Food Science 4/18 • 6:00 pm • Durham Graduate Women in Science, Rho Tau Chapter and Durham Spirits Co. invite you to a Food Science presentation. This exciting demonstration will include an interactive portion. Participate in the fun and try food samples! Katie...
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Spring: A Book Club Format 4/18 • 7:00 pm • Chapel Hill In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, please join NCBG Director Peter White in this “book club” discussion on the book’s impact as a major landmark in the...
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April 19

Party for the Planet Week at the Aquarium 4/19 • 9:00 am • Pine Knoll Shores Party for the Planet all week in the spirit of Earth Day with fun activities focused on conservation. Express your environmental sentiments with frosting to win cash in the "Cakes for Conservation" cake-decorating contest for...
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Earth Exchange: Presented by Piedmont Natural Gas 4/19 • 9:00 am • Charlotte Come see the fantastic photos taken by students! In November, the students came together for a powerful field trip where they tested water quality, saw a landfill, and toured a "green" building. An overnight stay at Camp...
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Plants, Plants, Plants! 4/19 • 9:00 am • Charlotte Visit Discovery Place's Explore More Life Lab and find out about all the cool things plants can do. Learn what plants provide, how plants grow, and what makes a carnivorous plant. Open throughout April. Check the Discovery...
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Marine Life Collecting Cruise 4/19 • 9:00 am • Beaufort Trawl and dredge aboard a scientific research vessel, the Susan Hudson. Participants will see first-hand some of the marine life species found near shore. Preregistration is required. Call 252-728-7317.
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The Calm Before the Storm: Human Interaction with the Natural Landscape 4/19 • 9:00 am • Charlotte This exhibition continues the examination of man and his relationship with the environment, a photographic theme that began with the influential 1975 exhibition New Topographics: Photographs of a Man-Altered Landscape, which...
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2012 Kindergarten Science Expo 4/19 • 9:00 am • Kannapolis All Kannapolis City Schools kindergartners are invited to participate in a field trip to the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) for the 2012 Kindergarten Science Expo. As students arrive, NRI scientists will share a special...
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Children@Play Science Thursday 4/19 • 10:00 am • Kitty Hawk Stop by Children@Play during the North Carolina Science Festival to see our interactive science traveling exhibit on display. Kids will be able to identify stages of metamorphosis for various insects, and will discover symmetry...
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Toddler Time: Six-Legged Friends 4/19 • 10:00 am • Elizabeth City It’s a buggy world out there. Learn about the characteristics of insects and even examine some up close. Participants will make their own ant models from recycled products.
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Art-rageous! 4/19 • 10:30 am • Raleigh In celebration of the NC Science Festival, we'll explore the science in art and the art in science in this informal program sure to get your creative juices flowing!
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River Roving Educational Boat Tour 4/19 • 10:30 am • Washington Take a pontoon boat cruise on the Pamlico River with an educator from the NC Estuarium and learn about the environment and habitats of this unique estuary. Free and open to the public; advance reservations are required. Riders...
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The Beauty of Pollination 4/19 • 1:00 pm • Harkers Island Celebrate spring by learning about the beauty of pollination! Explore our "Butterfly Pathway", a flowering garden of highly adapted shrubs and perennials that attract bees and butterflies with Carteret County Master Gardeners....
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Health Sciences Learning Adventure! 4/19 • 1:30 pm • Concord High school juniors are invited to an experiential learning adventure at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. This fun, hands-on program will introduce students to the health sciences and the many exciting careers that are...
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Mask Making 4/19 • 2:00 pm • Charlotte Join us in the Explore More Collections Lab. Learn more about the Discovery Place mask collection, which contains artifacts from around the world, and create your own mask to take home.
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What's Glowing On? 4/19 • 2:00 pm • Charlotte Join us at the Stage as we explore the properties of cold light and experiment with things that spark, glow in the dark, and fluoresce. For additional program times throughout the week, check the Discovery Place website.
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Experiments That Erupt! 4/19 • 3:30 pm • Fayetteville Children in grades K-5 can test the power of pressure and watch everyday household items erupt! Registration is required calling 910-485-2955 ext. 241.
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LEGO Robots! Spring Lake Branch 4/19 • 4:00 pm • Spring Lake Tweens, have you ever wanted a robot to do your chores or finish your homework? Learn how to build and program a robot that will do almost anything. Let your imagination run wild - no promises on its ability to finish school work.
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Storm the Castle! West Regional Branch 4/19 • 5:30 pm • Fayetteville Tweens, learn how to build a catapult right out of the middle ages, if they'd used office supplies, that is. Using directions from Mini-Weapons of Mass Destruction, build and test your siege machines on paper fortresses....
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Are Birds Really Dinosaurs? Is Archaeopteryx not a Bird Anymore? 4/19 • 6:00 pm • Boone Seminar led by Dr. Andy Heckert of the Appalachian State University Geology Department. Join us for refreshments at 6 pm followed by the program at 6:30.
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Collaborative Family Science Night with Sterling Elementary School and Johnson C. Smith University 4/19 • 6:00 pm • Pineville In an effort to establish community partnerships with area public schools, Johnson C. Smith University Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students will host a Family Science Night for Sterling Elementary School...
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STEM in the City: Kannapolis 4/19 • 6:00 pm • Kannapolis There are so many ways the employees of the City of Kannapolis use math, science, engineering and most of all technology in daily work environments to keep the City running smoothly. STEM in the City is a series of Science Cafes...
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Science Fiction Film Festival: Busting Bad Biotech 4/19 • 7:00 pm • Raleigh Science Fact or Science Fiction? Bring a friend or the family to watch a Sci Fi film and learn from a real scientist where the lines are crossed (or not) in creating the thrill! Free fun includes: admission, parking, popcorn,...
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Listed: The Endangered Species Act 4/19 • 7:00 pm • Greenville Dr. Joe Roman, the author of Listed, a book for general audiences about the Endangered Species Act, will speak. He will also take questions from the audience and sign books. His talk will be followed by a reception.
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April 20

Carowinds Education Days 4/20 • 9:00 am • Charlotte Attention teachers and families: On each Friday during the Festival, Carowinds Theme Park partners with the NC Science Festival and Discovery Place, one of the leading hands-on science centers in the country, to bring classroom...
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2012 Kindergarten Science Expo 4/20 • 9:00 am • Kannapolis All Kannapolis City Schools kindergartners are invited to participate in a field trip to the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) for the 2012 Kindergarten Science Expo. As students arrive, NRI scientists will share a special...
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Expanding Your Horizons 4/20 • 9:00 am • Asheville This career conference is designed to increase young women's interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by giving seventh-grade girls from the mountains of North Carolina the opportunity to interact with female...
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Party for the Planet Week at the Aquarium 4/20 • 9:00 am • Pine Knoll Shores Party for the Planet all week in the spirit of Earth Day with fun activities focused on conservation. Express your environmental sentiments with frosting to win cash in the "Cakes for Conservation" cake-decorating contest for...
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KCS Moment of Science 4/20 • 9:00 am • Kannapolis On April 20, 2012, starting at 9 am, all Kannapolis City Schools teachers will conduct a science lesson or integrate a science component into their instruction as part of a "Moment of Science" theme. For example, a high school...
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Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering Open House 4/20 • 9:30 am • Greensboro The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering invites you to an open house during the North Carolina Science Festival. You'll have a chance to visit the newest research school in NC, tour the labs and see what live lab...
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Counter Culture Coffee Cupping & Tour 4/20 • 10:00 am • Durham We have a tradition at Counter Culture Coffee: every Friday at 10 am, rain or shine, we stop and taste coffee together at our Durham headquarters and each of our regional training centers. We love to welcome our friends,...
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Fossil Finds 4/20 • 10:00 am • Charlotte Visit Discovery Place's Explore More Collections Lab to unearth and discover the science of paleontology. Make a dino craft and even dig for your own fossil.
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Math Moves 4/20 • 10:00 am • Durham Immerse yourself in a world of large and small, shadows and shapes, motion and sound in the Math Moves exhibition at the Museum of Life + Science. Ready, set, grab a friend, get moving and watch as you and your friend’s rates...
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Rutherford County Science & Tech Expo: Isothermal CC 4/20 • 10:00 am • Spindale Isothermal Community College will showcase its science-related programs to K-12 students in Rutherford and Polk counties. The interactive exhibits and demonstrations will be designed to get students interested in careers and...
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Solar Observing 4/20 • 11:00 am • Asheville Ever seen a sunspot? Come view the sun safely through telescopes equipped with solar filters. The Astronomy Club of Asheville and the University of North Carolina Asheville are teaming up to provide this event on the UNCA quad....
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A World Apart 4/20 • 11:30 am • Charlotte Take a front row seat on the edge of the rainforest as our resident explorer takes you on a journey to learn about the animals and plants that call it home. For additional program times throughout the week, check the Discovery...
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The Science Behind the Eighteenth Century Home 4/20 • 1:30 pm • Edenton The Historic Edenton State Historic Site will offer special programming, “The Science behind the Eighteenth Century Home.” This special tour will include examples of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that...
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Homeschool Special: Weather Watchers 4/20 • 2:00 pm • Charlotte As the seasons turn, the weather changes. We'll learn what different instruments are used to monitor and track the weather. Then we'll create simple weather instruments you can take home to study the weather on your own! Ages...
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NC Museum of Natural Sciences Virtual Library Opening & Open House 4/20 • 2:00 pm • Kannapolis Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will be hosting a real and virtual open house. The college has been selected to be the Kannapolis branch of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences' new wing in Raleigh. Rowan-Cabarrus will be the pilot...
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Mask Making 4/20 • 2:00 pm • Charlotte Join us in the Explore More Collections Lab. Learn more about the Discovery Place mask collection, which contains artifacts from around the world, and create your own mask to take home.
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Owl Pellet Autopsy 4/20 • 4:00 pm • Rocky Mount