Science Alliance: Middle School Program

Have you ever dreamed of flying through the cosmos? In Digital Universe Flight School, students will learn to operate OpenSpace—an interactive data visualization software, funded in part by NASA, which allows users to explore the entire known universe. Students will travel through space and time to create their own astronomy shows, which they will present in the Rose Center’s Hayden Planetarium.  Students will engage with various halls throughout the Museum, with a focus on astrophysics and curatorial design. They will obtain a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what happens at the Museum and interact with Museum scientists and creators. 

Thursdays:  10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, 12/12

Sold Out

Cost: $1,000

Microbiology is the study of tiny organisms—those that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. You’ve heard about these microorganisms before: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and algae. Now learn how to study them, their central importance to all of life on this Earth, and how microbiology is used to make medicines, improve food safety, protect the environment, or even find ways to grow crops better. Our young explorers will learn how to create microbial communities, sample and culture microbial strains, and use microscopes to examine and study microbes. 

Thursdays: 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, 12/12 

Sold Out

Cost: $1,000

How do ants farm fungus? Why do some birds “moonwalk”? Why do capuchin monkeys like to poke each other in the eye? Animals exhibit complex sets of behaviors. In this course, you will explore the ways that animals form sophisticated social structures, investigate their strategies for finding food and avoiding predators, and discover the lengths they will go to to attract mates and outcompete their rivals. Students will conduct observational field studies of animals in the wild and in captivity, interpret behavioral data like migration patterns and communication strategies, and meet with experts who work to understand the dynamic lives of the animals that coexist with us.  

Fridays: 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 12/6, 12/13 

Sold Out

Cost: $1000

Throughout human history we have always looked to the sky, for navigation, for spiritual guidance, and for understanding our place in the universe. Examine the relationship between the Mayan civilization and the cosmos. Explore the social structure, belief systems, and daily life of Mesoamerica through the lens of archaeoastronomy. Investigate how celestial bodies affect a culture’s interpretation of time, mathematics, our calendrical system, and the way whole cities are designed. You will construct your own timekeeping device, experiment with alternative forms of mathematical calculation, and develop unique calendars.   

Formerly known as: Mesoamerican Archaeoastronomy 

Fridays: 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 12/6, 12/13 

Sold Out

Cost: $1,000

How do ants farm fungus? Why do some birds “moonwalk”? Why do capuchin monkeys like to poke each other in the eye? Animals exhibit complex sets of behaviors. In this course, you will explore the ways that animals form sophisticated social structures, investigate their strategies for finding food and avoiding predators, and discover the lengths they will go to to attract mates and outcompete their rivals. Students will conduct observational field studies of animals in the wild and in captivity, interpret behavioral data like migration patterns and communication strategies, and meet with experts who work to understand the dynamic lives of the animals that coexist with us.  

Saturdays: 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, and 11/16

Sold Out

Tuition Assistance seats are full. 

Cost: $1000