Join the Museum for "A Science A'Fair"

The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History has teamed up with ABQ Trolley Co. to present the Museum’s next Pure Energy event entitled “A Science A’Fair” from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010. Those who wish to attend the event and enjoy an open-air trolley ride can catch the “Atomic Trolley” at the Albuquerque Convention Center, Third Street and Tijeras Avenue N.W., in downtown Albuquerque.

The Pure Energy “Science A’Fair” event has been designed as an exciting evening of kid fun – adult style. Guests will have the opportunity to “learn by playing” with hands-on science experiments that demonstrate the basics of chemistry and physics. There will also be door prizes, science trivia contests, a “visit” by a 143-year-old woman scientist, and much more.

The ticket cost for the ABQ Trolley ride is $10, which includes admission to the Science A’Fair event. To take the Atomic Trolley, riders should be at the Albuquerque Convention Center loading zone on the west side of west complex at 5 p.m.; the Trolley will depart at 5:15. Trolley riders will also have the opportunity to win door prizes on their ride to the Museum. Tickets for ABQ Trolley may be purchased on their website: http://www.abqtrolley.com/index.php/AtomicTrolley

The Pure Energy membership program caters to people who are 20 to 40 years old by providing free admission to the Museum, invitations to special member events, and much more, but the Pure Energy event, “A Science A’Fair,” is open to all ages. For this night only, Pure Energy memberships will be sold for $20. Membership benefits include free admission to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History as well as more than 300 science centers around the world.

Admission for the Science A’Fair night, for those who do not take the Atomic Trolley, is $8 for the general public and free to Pure Energy members. Refreshments will be provided and a cash bar will be available. For more information or to be informed about future events, call 505-245-2137, extension 113.

Play Reading of "Broken Hammer"

The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History will host a reading of Broken Hammer, a play written by Robert Benjamin, physicist turned playwright. In the play Benjamin blends loyalty and romance with stockpile stewardship. The staged reading will begin at 7:00 pm on September 21 and will be followed by a question and answer session with the author.

Benjamin began his career in play writing after 30 years as a research experimental physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Though his previously produced full-length plays focus on the relationships and secrets, Broken Hammer is different because of its emphasis on science, politics and policy, he said.

In a story where nuclear history is intertwined with intense family dynamics and romance, Benjamin tells a cautionary tale to our technological society of being deceived by computer simulations that are not extremely well validated by scientific experiments.

The reading of Broken Hammer will be preceded by complimentary refreshments and access to Museum exhibits beginning at 6:00 pm. Admission is $5 for Museum members and $10 for non-members. Seating is limited, so please RSVP at 245-2137, ext 114.