Denver Museum of Nature & Science: Key Programs and Events (November)

Included in this advisory are key programs and events at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, which aim to inspire curiosity and excite minds of all ages through scientific discovery.

EXHIBITIONS

Genghis Khan Invades Denver - Now through February 7, 2010
Explore the culture, conquests, and heritage of the world's greatest conqueror, when the treasures and stories of Genghis Khan's 13th-century Mongol Empire are presented in Denver for the first time. The Genghis Khan exhibition, at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science from October 16, 2009, through February 7, 2010, offers an adventure in the vast grassland of Central Asia, amid the relics of Genghis Khan's reign.

NOVEMBER EVENTS

Space Science - Life Out There
Tuesday, November 3 at 7 p.m. - $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers
(Special Offer: 2 for 1 Tickets)
What is life, really? How did it begin on Earth and where else might we find it in our solar system and beyond? David Grinspoon, PhD, curator of astrobiology, and Ka Chun Yu, PhD, curator of space science, offer a mind-blowing trip through space and time.  Search for clues to life, from the infant Earth where life first arose to the mysterious, promising depths of Saturn's strangely vibrant moons. The journey includes state-of-the-art digital visuals and live musical interpretation by House Band to the Universe. Presented with support from the NASA Astrobiology Institute.

Children's Workshop - Fishy Tales of Sharks and Whales
Saturday, November 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - $40 for members, $50 for nonmembers
Dive deep into the world of sharks and whales. Using stories and crafts, learn about the differences between sharks and whales. Ages 4 and 5.

Children's Workshop - Digging for Dinosaurs
Saturday, November 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - $40 for members, $50 for nonmembers
Become a junior paleontologist and piece together clues to prehistoric times. Dig for dinosaur bones, and visit Prehistoric Journey to see amazing fossils. Walk like a dinosaur and touch a fossil footprint. Create your own fossil to take home. Grades K and 1.

Children's Workshop - Genghis Khan: I Spy! NEW
Saturday, November 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - $40 for members, $50 for nonmembers
Explore the exciting new exhibition Genghis Khan. Become a "Mongolian spy" and create new ways to smuggle a message or information. Grades 2 and 3.

Children's Workshop - Mummy Mysteries
Saturday, November 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - $40 for members, $50 for nonmembers
Uncover the Egyptian mysteries of mummification and the afterlife. Learn about funerary rituals, inspect actual linen wrappings, create Egyptian hieroglyphs, experiment with tools in a "dig," and complete a field notebook to take home. Grades 4-6.

Behind-the-Scenes Tour - The Stories Behind Expedition Health
Wednesday, November 11 at 6 p.m. - $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers
Bridget Coughlin, PhD, the Museum's vice president of strategic partnerships and programs and curator of human health, was involved in the development of Expedition Health from start to finish. She will share firsthand the science behind the interactive exhibits, the secrets of the multimillion dollar software programs, and unprecedented access to the plastinated anatomical collections.

Genghis Khan - Mongolia: Ancient Landscapes, Modern Treasures
Thursday, November 12 at 7 p.m. - $15 for members, $18 for nonmembers
Mongolia's vast landscapes range from the ecologically rich grasslands of the Asian steppe to the harsh Gobi Desert. The Nature Conservancy and the Museum invite you to discover the story of Mongolia's landscape today, and in the deep past, and to find out why Genghis Khan would have felt at home in Colorado. After the presentations, visit the Genghis Khan exhibition and enjoy coffee and dessert.

Celebrating the Year of Darwin - Meet Charles Darwin!
Sunday, November 15 at 4 p.m. - $15 for members, $18 for nonmembers
Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species and spend an afternoon with the affable young Charles Darwin as portrayed by enactor Brian "Fox" Ellis. Hear humorous tales of Darwin's training as a naturalist, his insights into South American geology, his discovery of strange creatures on the Galápagos archipelago, and the scientific evidence that led to his revolutionary theory. Equal parts dramatic storytelling, stand-up comedy, and show-and-tell, Ellis brings this infamous man to life.

Genghis Khan - Beasts from the East: Conserving Mongolia's Wildlife in the Gobi Desert
Tuesday, November 17 at 7 p.m. - $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers
(Special Offer: 2 for 1 Tickets)
Mongolia's Gobi Desert may seem harsh to humans, but numerous species call it home, including the last wild two-humped camels and some of the world's largest vultures. Much of this wildlife is threatened by loss of habitat, illegal or over hunting, and over grazing by domestic livestock. Conservationists are working hard to reverse these threats and safeguard endangered species. Rich Reading, PhD, director of conservation biology, Denver Zoo, will discuss efforts to conserve wildlife in the Gobi and his own fieldwork over the last 15 years.

Space Science - 60 Minutes in Space
Wednesday, November 18 at 7 p.m. - FREE
Go "behind the stories" in space science using the best images and animation available to help understand new developments. Hosted by Museum space scientists Steven Lee, Dimitri Klebe, David Grinspoon, and Ka Chun Yu, PhDs.

Children's Workshop - To the Moon and Beyond!
Saturday, November 21 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. - $60 for members, $70 for nonmembers
Is the moon made of cheese? Do "little green men" live on Mars? Separate fact from fiction in this hands-on class. Discover the evidence scientists use to understand the solar system. View meteorites, create space crafts, and see a Planetarium show or two. Grades K and 1.

Parent-Child Workshop - The Cutting Edge
Saturday, November 21 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. - $60 for members, $70 for nonmembers
Sharpen your scalpel and prepare to dissect. Cut open an organ and then suture it back together. Dissect a sheep brain, heart, and eyeball, and perform a close study of a frog's internal systems. Learn about the latest about organ transplantation. PreK-1 with an adult.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science - 2001 Colorado Boulevard (Montview & Colorado Boulevard)
Website: /

Hours: Open daily, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Museum Admission:

• Adult - $11
• Junior/Senior (3-18, 65+) - $6

Reservations: 303.322.7009, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• For lectures and programs: reservations are required, with the exception of free activities.
• For Expedition Health: admission is included in general admission, but advance reservations are required.

IMAX Admission

• Adult - $8
• Junior/senior $6

Planetarium (includes Museum Admission)

• Adult - $16
• Junior/Senior - $10

MEDIA CONTACTS

Heather Hope, PR Manager: 303-370-8372, [email protected]
Laura Holtman, PR Manager: 303-370-6407, [email protected]

NOTE: Please let us know if this monthly event/program update is more appropriate for another person at your organization, so we can update our contact list.

About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region's leading resource for informal science education. A variety of engaging exhibits, discussions and activities help Museum visitors celebrate and understand the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205.  To learn more about the Museum, check www.dmns.org, or call 303-322-7009.

Many of the Museum's educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District.