North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences always offers free admission, but you might not be aware of the free and inexpensive events, beyond the exhibits, that it offers. You can view all their events here. Some are free and some have fees associated with them. Here are a few upcoming free and cheap events.
Make sure to check the location.
- Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Drive, Raleigh
- Downtown Raleigh, 11 W. Jones Street, Raleigh
- Nature Research Center, 121 W. Jones Street, Raleigh
Right now, of course, the museum is closed, and no in-person events are taking place.
They do have virtual events though. All of these events take place online.
Virtual Trivia Tuesdays
Every Tuesday (currently scheduled through August 25th, 2020)
6 p.m.
Free
Join North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences online for Virtual Trivia Tuesdays! Follow the above link to the Facebook event. This will contain links to play.
This is a great opportunity to virtually mingle with friends, compete for bragging rights and perhaps even learn something cool.
Questions feature a mix of science facts, current news, pop culture and scientific discoveries.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTICIPATION:
After you register, you will need 2 browser windows or 2 devices to play. One for the livestream where you will receive the questions and one to select your answers within the Kahoot Quiz platform.
- To watch the live stream and follow the questions, go to the YouTube link we will email you when you register.
- To answer the questions and receive a score at the end, go to http://kahoot.it.
ON KAHOOT:
- Enter the game PIN, which we will give you on the YouTube screen once we go live.
- Click “Spin” to receive a username.
- Spin again for a different username or click to join the game.
- Select the correct answers or type in your answer as the question requires.
Snakes of North Carolina
Tuesday, August 11th, 2020
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Free
How many snakes can you find in North Carolina? What should you do if you see one? How do you create great habitat for snakes to bring them to you? Learn about the snakes of North Carolina from Rebekah Wofford! Rebekah is a Park Assistant at Durant Nature Preserve, one of our upcoming ecoEXPLORE hotspots, and a former President of the Herpetology Club at NCSU.
This program is part of the ecoEXPLORE citizen science project for North Carolina kids in grades K-8. All are welcome, and you will learn about how to join ecoEXPLORE during the program.
Virtual Science Cafe: Space Rocks
Thursday, August 13th, 2020
7 p.m.
Free
Virtual Science Cafe: Space Rocks! Asteroids, Comets and Their Neighboring Planets with Museum astrophysicist, Dr. Rachel Smith! Watch live on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7-5-pKdZl2o
They’ll explore our small but fascinating rocky neighbors, the asteroids and comets — leftovers from the early beginnings of our solar system ~4.6 billion years ago! What can these ancient relics teach us, and how do they continue to influence planets and life?
Using real data sets and interactive software called OpenSpace, we will explore these belts of nearby rocky debris and their cosmic dance with planets including Earth, the gas-giant Jupiter, and Mars, ending at Jezero impact crater — the next landing site to search for extraterrestrial life!
Learn more about OpenSpace at openspaceproject.com.
The speaker is Dr. Rachel Smith, Head of the Museum’s Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab and Associate Professor at Appalachian State University.
Aquatic Biologist Live Chat
Friday, August 14th, 2020
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Free
Ever wanted to talk to an expert? Now you can! Prairie Ridge is excited to offer a series of virtual Q&A sessions with experts from North Carolina and beyond.
In this program, they’ll will be talking to two aquatic biologists, ichthyologist Gabriela Hogue and aquatic entomologist Chris Goforth. Both are with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and work on aqautic animals in different ways. Bring all of your fish and aquatic insect questions and get your answers live!
Click Tickets to register. You will receive an email with a link to the virtual program after completing registration.
Science Cafe: Exploring Science and Nature Through Adventure
Thursday, August 20th, 2020
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Free
Virtual Science Cafe on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zbUFRMtqgVU
Did you know there were volcanos in North Carolina at one time? Did you know that a mini tarantula lives on Mt. Mitchell? Have you ever found a fulgurite on the beach?
North Carolina possesses an astonishingly rich array of natural wonders. Building on this abundance, April Smith passionately seeks to open the world of nature to everyone.
April Smith will be talking about exploring science and nature through adventure and will introduce some of the Museum’s own staff as contributors to her new guidebook, “Thirty Great North Carolina Science Adventures.”
If you love to be outside while learning and you crave an adventure, this talk and this book are for you!
Dr. April C. Smith is a former environmental researcher who has spent countless hours up to her waist in pluff mud. When she and her family had the opportunity to travel globally for two years, living in seventeen different countries, she learned that teaching science to her own kids is the best job in the world.
Some of their favorite explorations in the entire world have occurred between Banner Elk and the Outer Banks, right here in the phenomenally beautiful state of North Carolina.
Leave a Reply