Flagstaff Festival of Science 2007 Schedule of Events

Welcome to the 2007 Flagstaff Festival of Science!!
Dig Science!

Dig Science in the southern Utah desert, the Martian north pole and under the ice in Antarctica. Get ready to uncover a world of mystery and discovery!

After School Talks: 4 & 5pm, weekdays	Lowell Observatory Visitor Center	Designed for family learning & audiences of all ages.
Twilight Talks: 7pm, weekday evenings	Museum of Northern Arizona, Branigar-Chase Discover Center	Complicated concepts designed for more mature audiences from high school students on up.

All activities are FREE (although some events require reservations.)

Friday, Sept. 21

Norton Materials Recovery Facility Tour 3 – 4 p.m., Butler Road and Babbitt Drive
Join in a special behind-the-scenes tour of our local recycling efforts

The Shoemaker Keynote Presentation

Therizinosaur: Mystery of the Sickle Claw Dinosaur

Dr. Dave Gillette

7 p.m., Ardrey Auditorium, NAU

Follow along on a Cretaceous crime scene investigation of sorts. The body was found in what would have been an ancient and unfriendly sea. The victim, not a marine creature, had feathers, but the one-ton beast couldn’t fly. The therizinosaur skeleton finding in the southern Utah desert has scientists stumped. Share in the puzzling discovery of this odd dinosaur with the long sharp claws and the mystery surrounding its demise. The presentation immediately follows the Dig Science Ballet.

Dive into Science Ballet

7 p.m., Ardrey Auditorium, NAU

You won’t want to miss this visual treat as NAU’s Preparatory School for the Performing Arts dances you through The Age of Dinosaurs. This fun presentation is before the Keynote Lecture.

Campus Night Sky Viewing
7:30 – 10:30 p.m., NAU Campus Observatory
Lose yourself in the night sky at NAU’s Atmospheric Research Observatory.

Saturday, Sept. 22

Science in the Park
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Wheeler Park
Perform mock heart surgery, spot an avalanche before it happens, get on board with the Phoenix Mars Mission and uncover the secrets of the Sinagua. This hands-on adventure will have you digging for fossils, understanding conditions in space and exploring sustainable living. From tree roots that dig into the earth to tree rings that dig into the past, people of all ages will Dig Science at Wheeler Park!

Slide Rock Geology Audio/Visual Tour *****CANCELLED******
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Slide Rock State Park
Cool off at scenic Slide Rock and find out how the unique geological features shaped the red rock country. Come early as seating is limited! *****CANCELLED******

Mountain Campus Science and Engineering Day
1 – 4 p.m., NAU Wettaw Building, #88
Attend an exciting chemistry magic show, handle favorite ugly bugs, experience mini Baja and electric cars, see bizarre life forms in plants, view through an electron microscope and solar telescope, make balloon and Alka-Seltzer rockets, have body composition tests performed and operate a seismograph. Don’t miss the tsunamis, earthquakes and aquifers in stereo through the three-dimensional Geo-Wall.

Rock Hounds and River Rats
Erik Berg, Historian
7 p.m., Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Share in the adventure of one of the most ambitious geologic expeditions ever made in the Grand Canyon. Geologists braved fierce rapids in small wooden boats to study the ancient rock formations along the length of the canyon’s deep Inner Gorge.

Campus Night Sky Viewing
7:30 – 10:30 p.m., NAU Campus Observatory
Lose yourself in the night sky at NAU’s Atmospheric Research Observatory.

Sunday, Sept. 23

Interferometer Tours
9 a.m., 11 a.m. & 1 p.m., Anderson Mesa
This powerful array of mirrors allows astronomers to make high precision measurements of the positions of the stars, and even features on their surfaces! This 90-minute tour is appropriate for ages 14 and above; 10- to 13-year-olds are welcome with adult supervision. Call for reservations, 928-779-5132.

Walnut Canyon Nat’l Monument Open House
9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Walnut Canyon Visitor Center I-40 east to Exit 204
Retrace the footsteps of the earliest inhabitants of the canyon. Learn how they hunted, grew crops, built cliff houses, traded with neighbors and adapted to the canyon environment for centuries.

Elden Pueblo Public Day
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Coconino National Forest
Dig science and excavate at an ancient Sinaguan site. Two-hour shifts at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

Fort Valley Experimental Station Open House
1 – 4 p.m., Hwy 180, 1 mile west of Snowbowl Road
Dig into the past and discover what it was like to explore the ponderosa pine forest 100 years ago.

Keyhole Sink Rock Art Field Trip
2 – 4 p.m., I-40 west to Parks Exit 178, turn right, then left onto Historic Route 66, go west for about 4 miles to trailhead
Take this easy one-mile guided hike with an archeologist to a scenic box canyon where prehistoric residents carved their mark into gray volcanic walls. Bring comfortable shoes and water.

Lowell Observatory Open House
5:30 – 9:30 p.m., Lowell Observatory
Study the sky for fascinating celestial objects, visit the Historic Rotunda Library Museum and experience the new John Vickers McAllister Space Theater.

Pluto and Beyond
Anne Minard, Author
7 p.m., Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Peer behind the scenes into the human drama that surrounded Lowell Observatory as it made world-class contributions.

Campus Night Sky Viewing
7:30 – 10:30 p.m., NAU Campus Observatory
Lose yourself in the night sky at NAU’s Atmospheric Research Observatory.

Monday, Sept. 24

Phytosaurs and Other Ancient Creatures
Dylan Rust, MNA
4 p.m., Lowell Observatory
Phytosaurs are crocodile-like prehistoric creatures. Learn about these and other animals that crawled about the earth millions of years ago.

Stardust Mission
Dr. Dave Schleicher, Lowell Observatory
5 p.m., Lowell Observatory
Scientists are sifting through cosmic dust grains carried by comets. Hear about their startling findings and what they now think about the origins of the universe!

CSI Flagstaff: Tracking Anthrax and other
Dangerous Pathogens around the World
Dr. Paul Keim, NAU
7 p.m. Museum of Northern Arizona
Tiny, but deadly organisms struck fear in America’s heart when anthrax arrived in the mail. Hear from the world’s leading anthrax expert about this and other microscopic killers.

The World Without Us
Alan Weisman, U of A
8 p.m., NAU Cline Library
Explore what would happen to Earth if humans vanished. Imagine a place where subways flood, bridges collapse and asphalt jungles turn into real ones.

Tuesday, Sept. 25

Ice Age Deserts of Arizona and Sonora
Dr. Jim Mead, NAU
4 p.m., Lowell Observatory
From mastodons to saber-tooth tigers, fossilized bones of long-lost creatures have left a lasting imprint in science and in our imaginations. Hear the stories that fossils are telling.

Under the Ice in Antarctica
Mindy Bell, FALA
5 p.m., Lowell Observatory
When the Festival is over, this local high school teacher will be shipped off to the frigid world of Antarctica. Hear what she expects to find under the ice and how you can trace her journey!

Phoenix Mars Scout Mission
Carla Bitter, UofA
7 p.m. Museum of Northern Arizona
Launched last month, the Phoenix Mars Scout Mission lander is on its way to the Martian north pole. Find out what signatures of life scientists hope to uncover when a robotic arm digs into the arctic soil!

Wednesday, Sept. 26

Hart Prairie Guided Nature Walk
10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Meet at Fort Valley Plaza Shopping Center, SW Corner
Fall in Hart Prairie will make you fall in love with the area’s aspens, hummingbirds, wildflowers and rich history. Bring sturdy shoes, sun protection and water. No pets please!

Willow Bend Environmental. Education Center Open House
Noon – 6 p.m., Willow Bend Environmental Education Center
Visit the Discovery Room for Sustainable Living and find that it’s easy being green through water conservation, household energy use, native plants and vermicomposting.

Abert’s Squirrels
Dr. Sylvester Allred, NAU
4 p.m., Lowell Observatory
Get to know these tassel-eared acrobats of the forest. They are fun to watch, and they play an important role in the ecosystem.

Diggin’ Healthy Bones
Sherry A. Mace, FMC
5 p.m., Lowell Observatory
Underneath it all, our bones frame our ability to lead healthy, mobile lives. Learn how to keep your skeleton in top form!

Titan’s Methane Monsoon
Dr. Henry Roe, Lowell Observatory
7 p.m. Museum of Northern Arizona
Saturn’s moon, Titan, has been fascinating astronomers with its dry riverbeds, giant ice mountains, drifting methane clouds and liquid methane lakes. Hear from one man who watches Titan almost nightly to gauge the bizarre atmosphere and its impact on this moon’s surface.
Thursday, Sept. 27

Back to Life: Drawing Vanished Animals
Victor Leshyk, MNA
4 p.m., Lowell Observatory
See how artists take the facts from scientists to bring extinct beasts like the therizinosaur back to life in this image-rich presentation.

Checking in with Mars Rovers
Dr. Ken Herkenhoff, USGS
5 p.m., Lowell Observatory
They have far exceeded their expected lifetimes! Spirit and Opportunity, the hard-working robotic field geologists, keep on going. Hear about their discoveries of ancient water activity on the red planet.

The Sun and Climate Change
Dr. Wes Lockwood, Lowell Observatory
7 p.m. Museum of Northern Arizona
The Sun has been a primary player in past climate change on Earth. Explore the past 450 years of solar activity and climate variation. Hear about the Maunder Minimum and the coincident Little Ice Age.

Friday, Sept. 28

Wondrous Worlds
Dr. Paul Geissler, USGS
4 p.m. Lowell Observatory
Just light years away, elements in the universe are putting on a magnificent show! Experience it through the lens of the Hubble telescope.

Light My Fire
Karen Malis-Clark, Coconino National Forest
5 p.m. Lowell Observatory
Find out how foresters are bringing fire safely back into the ponderosa pine forest.

Climate Change
Mike Staudenmaier, National Weather Service
7 p.m. Museum of Northern Arizona
Hear what climate experts are saying about climate change. Learn what they know and what they do not know, and understand more fully the challenges of predicting future climate change.

Campus Night Sky Viewing
7:30 – 10:30 p.m., NAU Campus Observatory
Lose yourself in the night sky at NAU’s Atmospheric Research Observatory.

Saturday, Sept. 29

Flagstaff Solar Tour
9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Willow Bend Environmental Education Center
Pick up maps from Willow Bend and explore solar homes at your own pace. Talk to homeowners and experts about how this technology works.

Interferometer Tours
9 a.m., 11 a.m. & 1 p.m., Anderson Mesa
This powerful array of mirrors allows astronomers to make high precision measurements of the positions of the stars, and even features on their surfaces! This 90-minute tour is appropriate for ages 14 and above; 10- to 13-year-olds are welcome with adult supervision. Call for reservations, 928-779-5132.

Tuzigoot National Monument Open House
8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 1-17 south to exit 287, take Hwy 260 to Cottonwood, take Hwy 89A toward Clarkdale
Crowning a desert hilltop, this prehistoric multi-storied ruin once housed hundreds of Sinaguans. Explore this ancient village in the Verde Valley.

Montezuma Castle National Monument Open House
8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 3 miles off I-17, exit 289
Described as a 20-room, high-rise apartment, it is one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America. Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well tell the Sinaguan story of ingenuity and survival in the harsh desert environment.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Open House
9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Hwy 89, 12 miles north of Flagstaff, right at Sunset Crater Volcano-Wupatki National Monuments sign, 2 miles to Visitor Center
Volcano enthusiasts will be fired up about the interactive activities at the Visitor Center! Discover northern Arizona’s volcanic past and how it impacted people here. Explore the volcanic terrain on the Lava Flow Trail!

Wupatki National Monument Open House
9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Hwy 89 12 miles north of Flagstaff, right at Sunset Crater Volcano-Wupatki National Monuments sign, 21 miles to Visitor Center
View ancient pueblos and imagine life in this desert landscape some 1,000 years ago. Learn how the prehistoric Sinagua grew crops, traded with others and were impacted by the eruption of Sunset Crater Volcano.

Wupatki Area Archeological Guided Hike
10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Meet at Citadel Pueblo parking in Wupatki National Monument to car-pool to location
Join in an easy half- to one-mile hike with an archaeologist to several sites. Make your reservation by calling 928-526-1157.

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport Open House
10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Pulliam Airport
Join the crew at the Flagstaff airport to see various aircraft and the runway expansion project. Pilots will be available to discuss the theory of flight! Mountain Line bus service will be offering free trips to and from the airport from the Beulah bus stop near Wal-Mart.

Hart Prairie Guided Nature Walk
10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Meet at Fort Valley Plaza Shopping Center, SW Corner
Fall in Hart Prairie will make you fall in love with the area’s aspens, hummingbirds, wildflowers and rich history. Bring sturdy shoes, sun protection and water. No pets please!

National Weather Service Open House and Balloon Launch
Noon – 5 p.m., Camp Navajo Army Depot in Bellemont, I-40 Exit 185
Check out the sophisticated instruments that predict violent thunderstorms, pounding hail or gentle rain. Meet the meteorologists who are watching the skies day and night. Watch the weather balloon launch at 4 p.m.!

Fantastic Voyage
Noon – 4 p.m., Flagstaff Medical Center
Take a Fantastic Voyage through your body! Tour the human body, learn about germs, explore an ambulance and helicopter, look into your ears, watch an X-ray of yourself swallowing, learn how the body pumps blood, work a hospital bed and more!

The Arboretum at Flagstaff Open House
1 – 5 p.m., 4 miles south on Woody Mountain Road
Celebrate science at The Arboretum’s annual Fall Open House with guided tours, children’s hands-on activities, a Live Birds of Prey program and a presentation on The Science of Soil.

The Splendor of Chaos
6 – 8 p.m., Coconino Center for the Arts
The world of art meets the world of science through the inviting swirl of chaos. See this art exhibition and meet artists who share their vision of chaos and harmony in a variety of media.

Deep Sky Star Party
7 – 10 p.m., U.S. Naval Observatory
I-40 to Exit 191, 5 miles west of Flagstaff
Arrive before dark and join the star party with the largest optical telescope of the U.S. Navy! Dress for chilly weather and shield your flashlight in a brown paper bag.

Campus Night Sky Viewing
7:30 – 10:30 p.m., NAU Campus Observatory
Lose yourself in the night sky at NAU’s Atmospheric Research Observatory.

Sunday, Sept. 30

Meteor Crater Open House
8 a.m. – 5p.m., I-40 east to Exit 233
A hole lotta science goin’ on at this enormous crater! See for yourself with a guided tour along a portion of the rim, or crash meteorites in an interactive display! If you are 12 years old or older, join in a rare opportunity to hike the entire rim. Make your reservation for this special whole-rim hike, 800-289-5898.

Homolovi Ruins Open House & Guided Hikes
9 a.m. – 5 p.m., I-40 east to Exit 257, 1 mile north on Hwy 87
Once a thriving community, Homolovi Ruins reveal life in the harsh high desert centuries ago. Guided hikes are offered at 9 and 10 a.m.

Scenic Science Skyride
10 a.m., Arizona Snowbowl
Glide to 11,500 feet for breathtaking views. At the top, a Forest Service ranger will give you a glimpse into Arizona’s only Alpine Tundra. But don’t Dig Science here! The rare San Francisco groundsel lives nowhere else! Call ahead to reserve one of 50 free spots on the lift, 928-779-1951, Ext. 109.

Hart Prairie Guided Nature Walks
10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Meet at Fort Valley Plaza Shopping Center, SW Corner
Fall in Hart Prairie will make you fall in love with the area’s aspens, hummingbirds, wildflowers and rich history. Bring sturdy shoes, sun protection and water. No pets please!

Science Day at MNA
1 – 5 p.m., Museum of Northern Arizona Hwy 180, 3 miles north of downtown Flagstaff
View MNA’s new exhibit Therizinosaur: Mystery of the Sickle Claw Dinosaur. Interpretive tours by docents from 1 – 3 p.m. and Paleozoic Undersea Adventure puppet show at 2 and 4 p.m.

U.S. Naval Observatory Open House
12:30 – 4:30 p.m., 1-40 to Exit 191, 5 miles west of Flagstaff
There’s no sea for miles, but the U.S. Navy launches its voyage into the universe from Flagstaff. Enjoy presentations, demonstrations, solar viewing and kids’ activities.

The Splendor and Science of Chaos
Dr. Jim Swift, NAU
2 p.m., Coconino Center for the Arts
See stunning images of the Mandelbrot set, strange attractors and other fractals. Learn about the science behind the pretty pictures on this fascinating journey through the science of chaos. The Splendor of Chaos art exhibition will be open for viewing before and after the lecture.

Campus Night Sky Viewing
7:30 – 10:30 p.m., NAU Campus Observatory
Lose yourself in the night sky at NAU’s Atmospheric Research Observatory.

The 2007 Flagstaff Festival of Science Dig Science is made possible by the generous contributions of our sponsors:

Supernova Friends
City of Flagstaff
Flagstaff Cultural Partners
Northern Arizona University
W. L. Gore & Associates

Galactic Friends
Arizona Central Credit Union
APS
Coconino County
Frances B. McAllister
KNAU
Northern Arizona Association of Realtors

Stellar Friends
The Arboretum at Flagstaff
Arizona Daily Sun
Arizona State Parks
Aspen Printing
Flagstaff Area National Monuments
Flagstaff Medical Center
KNAZ-TV
Machine Solutions
Meteor Crater
Rocky Mountain Research Station
UniSource Energy Services

Planetary Friends
Arizona Space Grant Consortium
Byron and Jennifer Hayes
Coconino National Forest
Cox Media
First State Bank
Joy Cone
Limber Pine Enterprises
KAFF/KMGN
KOLT/The Canyon/The Wolf
KVNA/Sunny 100
Nordstrom and Associates, CPAs
Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. of Flagstaff
SWCA Environmental Consultants
The Inn at NAU
U of A Phoenix Mars Scout Mission
William Breed

Cometary Friends
Boyer Metal
Clear Aire Audio
Coconino Community College
Flagstaff Honda
Grand Canyon Association
Nestle Purina PetCare Co.
Paul and Debbie Holbrook
R & A Import Auto Parts & Repair of Flagstaff

Cosmic Friends
Bill and Josie Leibfried
Bryan and Barbara Bates
Chuck and Dolores Biggerstaff
Flagstaff Athletic Club
Fred and Bonnie Stevens
Jim and Linda Snook
John and Carrie (Morgan) Cannella
Kathy Farretta
Kevin and Gretchen Schindler
McCullough Insurance
Rachel Edelstein
Shannon Clark and Karen Malis-Clark
Steve and Jamie Yoder
Stephen Monroe
The Nature Conservancy
Tyrrell-Marxen Chevrolet-Cadillac
Wayne Ranney
Winnie Ennenga

The Festival is a Flagstaff Unified School District approved activity.

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