In celebration of the support of Saint Louis Science Center members, who help make our mission possible, Member Appreciation Night on December 11 welcomed families, couples, and people of all ages for an exclusive evening of fun and STEM exploration at their Science Center.
Themed around “fire and ice,” the night featured special opportunities to see OMNIMAX® Theater films like Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation and Antarctica; catch a Star Show in the McDonnell Planetarium; and enjoy themed activities across each floor of the Oakland Building’s galleries. But Member Appreciation Night also offered activities that members don’t usually get to experience on a normal visit.
One highlight was the Science Center’s Dr. Becky Thompson, Chief of Science and Education, who held a talk in the T. rex Room based on her book Fire, Ice, and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones. In addition, a special guest from the Saint Louis Blues—Louie—made a special appearance, roaming the museum and taking photos with attendees.
Another was Science Center President and CEO Ray Vandiver, who—guitar in hand—held a campfire singalong with the audience at Energy Stage.
Later, the stage got attendees fired up with fun science demonstrations titled “Burn, Science, Burn!” A longer, more intense version of the “Fire It Up!” stage show, these demos featured new and hotter experiments, including one with the crowd favorite Reubens tube where flames help to visualize sound waves.
Museum galleries like GameXPloration, the Life Science Lab, and even GROW got in on the action, with various activities for members to try.
In GameXPloration, attendees investigated the properties of frozen carbon dioxide and explored the states of matter, density, and temperature using “bouncing bubbles.” At the Life Science Lab, they discovered “extremophiles”—creatures who thrive in extreme conditions, from boiling hot to freezing cold. And in GROW, members uncovered more about hot peppers, including the science behind the fruit’s flavors.
With complimentary hot cocoa available at the Loft, attendees could sit and enjoy the upper-floor view of Forest Park before heading into Makerspace. There, they created working circuits to light up a take-home keepsake designed and created inside the gallery. Meanwhile, on the First Floor attendees were invited to sit for a complimentary photo opportunity against a snowy mountain backdrop.
From the sounds of Energy Stage sing-alongs to the oohs and aahs of families and friends exploring their Science Center, Member Appreciation Night showed once again that for people looking to engage their curiosity while making special memories, there may be no better place to do so.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Member Appreciation Night and thank you to all our members for helping us inspire everyone to be curious and engaged in science!
