A month of space and Earth science-related activities on the University of Colorado Boulder campus will kick off Our Space. Our Future., the universitywide Grand Challenge announced today.
Boulder campus departments and cultural institutions will host over 20 events and exhibits, including talks by space sciences professionals, showings of space films by the International Film Series, art installations, displays of student space pods and a scavenger hunt for a rover named Destiny.
The first event of the month is a talk by Frank Buzzard, a retired space shuttle and International Space Station chief engineer, titled “How space exploration has benefitted you.” His talk is from 3 to 4 p.m. today in the UMC Gallery. On Friday, Sept. 18, a talk by Bill Nye the Science Guy will be simulcast live from Denver from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at Fiske Planetarium.
In coordination with the kick-off, the International Film Series is presenting five space-related film screenings this week:
–Mars with filmmaker Q&A (free event)
Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m., Muenzinger Auditorium
–E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial on 35 mm film (regular admission)
Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m., Visual Arts Complex 1B20
–The American Astronaut on 35 mm film with filmmaker Q&A (free event)
Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m., Muenzinger Auditorium
–Small Star Seminar with a live performance by The American Astronaut’s own Cory McAbee (regular admission)
Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m., Muenzinger Auditorium
–The Weatherman Shorts: Space—five short films (free event)
Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m., Muenzinger Auditorium
Other Events
Full-Moon Poetry Reading
Sept. 28, 10 p.m., CU-Boulder Visual Arts Complex Courtyard
Under the light of the full moon, the Boulder Poetry Tribe will perform a space-themed poetry reading.
Bella Gaia Screening
Oct. 4, 4 p.m., Fiske Planetarium (regular admission)
Bella Gaia is a globally recognized immersive experience created by award-winning director, composer and violinist Kenji Williams. The multimedia show combines high-fidelity imagery of the Earth from space, data visualizations and stirring performances of music and dance from around the world threaded by an orbiting flight path and stunning NASA imagery from the International Space Station.
The War of the Worlds
Oct. 7, 6 to 7 p.m. Tune in your radio to CU 1190
CU-Boulder’s student-run Radio 1190 will broadcast the radio drama The War of the Worlds, produced by Orson Welles in 1938.
Cold as Ice Pluto Party
Oct. 15, 9 to 11 p.m., CU Recreation Center Ice Rink
Join the CU Art Museum for a celebration of NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto. The CU Rec Center’s ice rink will be transformed with dramatic lighting and video game projections, space-themed music and activities and ice games to honor Pluto. Space-themed attire is strongly encouraged! Skate rental for non-CU students is $2. Free for CU students.
Homecoming Football Game
Honoring CU-Boulder Astronauts
Oct. 17, game time to be determined, Folsom Field (regular admission)
CU-Boulder is proud to be affiliated with 18 NASA astronauts, whom we will honor at our 2015 homecoming game. Even CU’s mascot Chip is getting into the spirit and will greet fans during the game wearing his spacesuit. The Buffaloes play the Arizona Wildcats. Tickets are available at www.cubuffs.com.
Exhibits
What does space mean to you?
Sept. 25, 2015–Jan. 31, 2016, CU Museum of Natural History
The CU Museum of Natural History asks local elementary students, “What do you think is the most interesting discovery made through our study of space?” Come see their responses and add your own answers at a special exhibit in the museum. You may even see your response on the museum’s Twitter feed @cumuseumevents.
Life on Earth Observed from Space
Sept. 21–Nov. 29, CU Museum of Natural History
Explore touch-screen mounted images of life on Earth from NASA’s Earth Observatory for a special citizen-scientist project. This event is organized in collaboration with Tom Yulsman of CU-Boulder’s College of Media, Communication and Information, who directs the Center for Environmental Journalism.
Find Destiny!
Sept. 14–Oct. 17
CU-Boulder’s Students for the Exploration and Development of Space present a conceptual and interactive Mars rover named Destiny that will interact with students, staff and faculty as it explores campus. Watch for Destiny as it “roves” across campus and share your photos on social media with #CUDestinyRover. Prizes will be awarded for Destiny sightings.
Constellation Star Map Signs
Sept. 14–Oct. 17, outdoor areas near Old Main, the CU Art Museum and the Law Library
CU-Boulder alumnus Toby Fike (MFA ’11) has created three special star map signs. During the day the signs project constellations on the ground with sunlight and at night solar-powered lights illuminate the constellations from below. Share your best photos with #CUstarsigns and tag @cuartmuseum and we’ll retweet our favorites.
Star Tracking Big Dipper
Sept. 21–Oct. 17, Fiske Planetarium
CU-Boulder alumnus Toby Fike (MFA ’11) harnesses the sun through solar tracking motors and magnifying glasses to create a solar projection of the big dipper. Snap your best photo, share it in social media with #CUbigdipper and tag @cuartmuseum and we’ll share our favorites.
Wanderings
Sept. 14–Oct. 17, Gemmill Engineering Library
Megan Gafford, a master’s candidate in fine arts, illuminates the stairwell gallery with a series of drawings suspended in lightboxes. She created each drawing by observing objects found on walks and viewed through a microscope. Gafford explores how the art of observation unites astronomy and art, but inverts the astronomer’s approach by turning the lens around to reflect on “inner space.”
Mirrors
Sept. 14–Oct. 17, Norlin Library Commons
Painter and CU alumna Ashley Williams (MFA ’13) recently created a series of works inspired by mirrors, moons and humankind’s fascination with space.
Student Developed Space Pods
2049ers Asteroid Miners
Sept. 21–Oct. 17, Norlin Library Commons
Co-leads Kevin Dimond and Daniel Pette (aerospace engineering) and the team (Skyler Werner, Rohit Jose, Anders Markoff, Ben Shamalov, Jason Ryan and Daniel LeVon )
Precious and rare metals are critical to technologies such as cellphones and laptops, which are ubiquitous to modern-day life. However, our terrestrial supplies of these metals are being steadily depleted. The 2049ers Asteroid Miners Space Pod will demonstrate that asteroid mining is not only possible, but also profitable.
Wearable Technology
Sept. 21–Oct. 17, Location TBD
Justin Chin, Civil Engineering
In light of recent advancements in wearable technology and textile research, the Wearable Technology Space Pod explores how NASA spacesuit designs and technologies will further inspire and transform the everyday clothing we will wear in the future.
Astronaut Portrait Gallery and Lego Exhibit
CU Heritage Center, Old Main, Third Floor
Visit the CU Heritage Center to see our Astronaut Wall of Fame portrait gallery.
See our Lego “Hit the Bricks” model of the CU-Boulder campus, which includes a Voyager spacecraft. Learn about the fascinating mission work of each Boulder astronaut as you wander the museum’s Space Exploration Gallery. Exhibits are open during regular Heritage Center hours, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Our Space. Our Future. events and exhibits are sponsored by the CU Art Museum, the CU Museum of Natural History, CU’s Radio 1190, the International Film Series and Fiske Planetarium.
Details on Our Space. Our Future. and the planned events can be found at www.colorado.edu/grandchallenges.