A friend of mine, Tony Lima, used to work with the Miami Science Museum, now known as the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science. Because of him, I used to cover some of the events they would put on for families. (Tony is now the Executive Director of SAVE Dade and doing amazing things for them). I am so glad the museum continued to reach out to me to cover their Innovation & Engineering Weekend this weekend, a series of events for all ages taking place February 19 through 22nd. Not only do I run all of these mom groups in South Florida, but I also run Miami Startups and am fascinated with the strong focus on Innovation within Miami right now. Plus, they are hosting a PechaKucha night, which I learned about from Eddie Selover when I spoke at FLBlogCon. That, I am sure, will be a blast, but schedule is so PACKED this week that it would be rough for me to come down for it. I will be attending on Saturday with my family as they are providing me tickets, so stay tuned for my post-event write-up.
Here is the information about the weekend they provided me with:
What:
It’s time to innovate at Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science! The Museum is hosting its Innovation & Engineering Weekend, a celebration themed around “Building the City of the Future,” featuring a series of event programming from Feb. 19–22, 2015.
Sponsored by Wells Fargo, Ryder and The Knight Foundation, the celebration will provide unlimited opportunities to learn about architecture and design, energy, environment, and transportation challenges and solutions for cities where people are at the heart of the ideas.
Weekend participants will have the unique opportunity to share their thoughts and visions on how to improve Miami’s urban landscape and build the city of the future with leaders from Gehl Studio, a global urban design firm. Gehl Studio will be collecting input on how the new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science building (opening in downtown Miami in 2016) can best support innovation and technological advances in the South Florida community.
Innovation & Engineering Weekend will kick off on Thursday, Feb. 19, with the Museum’s popular “Science Up Close” event series, introduced by Dr. Eldredge Bermingham, the Museum’s Chief Science Officer. The casual science conversation will feature Dr. Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean of the University of Miami School of Architecture, alongside small group discussions about innovation led by local and national authorities on the future of transportation, energy, architecture/design and the environment. Dean el-Khoury, a leader in architecture and design, will discuss “Inhabiting the Internet of Things,” a vision for the future where embedded technologies are in everyday objects and appliances, connecting us to one another and things in ways we are only beginning to imagine. Guests will enjoy music by the Frost School of Music along with complimentary beverages by Wynwood Brewing Company. Admission is free to the public but RVSP is required at http://bit.ly/ScienceUpCloseIE.
On Friday, Feb. 20, the Frost Science Young Patrons continue Innovation & Engineering festival with a fascinating City of the Future PechaKucha Night 20×20 presentation, a speaker format in which 20 images are shown, each for 20 seconds. The evening will begin with a welcome from Gillian Thomas, CEO and President of Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, followed by the presentations. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy beverages in a fun and thought-provoking atmosphere while making their very own pottery through a special Maker’s activity. The evening will conclude by the “raku” kiln fire while the pottery is cured for guests to take home. Suggested donation $10 but RVSP is required at http://bit.ly/PechaKuchaYP. Speakers include:
- David Rifkind, Associate Professor of Architecture at Florida International University, on the future of urban housing with sustainable buildings that have net zero emissions.
- Camille Coley, J.D., Assistant Vice President for Research and Associate Director of Florida Atlantic University’s Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center, on the future of energy through the power of ocean currents.
- Stephen Davis, Ph.D., Wetland Ecologist for the Everglades Foundation, on the future of water for Miami and the importance of the Everglades in solving the water challenge.
- Meg Daly, Founder and President of The Underline, on the future of bikes in solving transportation challenges of the city of the future.
- Trevor Powers, Vice President of Engineering & Facilities of the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, on the innovative design of the new Museum and the role of the Museum in the city of the future.
On Saturday, Feb. 21 and Sunday, Feb. 22, families are encouraged to visit the Museum and enjoy Innovation & Engineering Weekend, two days of technology, green solutions, and interactive activities. Guests will have the opportunity to plant seeds and discover urban gardening and hydroponics, compete in building challenges with local engineers, construct furniture out of recycled materials, explore the world of tomorrow with new research on immersive 3D environments and participate in various hands-on maker activities. Food will be available for purchase by Cheeseburger Baby food truck. Children 12 years old and younger are free with paid adult admission.
Weekend event partners include Best Buy; Critical Craft Forum; DesignLab Miami; Earth Friendly Products; EcoTech Visions; Everglades Foundation; FIU School of Architecture; FIU’s Society of Women Engineers; Gehl Studio; Health in the Hood; FIA Formula E Championship Miami ePrix; Miami Industrial Arts; REM Learning Center; Dr. Robert B. Ingram Elementary School Environmental Club; Starbot; 3D StuffMaker USA; The Green Group; The Underline; Urban Impact; WB Engineering; UM’s American Society of Civil Engineers and more.
During Innovation & Engineering Weekend, visitors can also experience “Miami Cityscapes,” an exhibit of 10 Miami-based artists, each of whom have interpreted the four themes of the weekend: architecture and design, energy, environment and transportation. The artists include Jenny Brillhart, Pablo Cano, Leyden Casanova Rodriguez, Edouard Duval Carrie, Felice Grodin, Maritza Molina, Emmett Moore, Cesar Santos, TM Sisters, and Agustina Woodgate. Internationally recognized artist Matthew Schreiber will also showcase his work throughout the weekend by unveiling a laser installation inside the Museum’s Planetarium, an immersive environment enveloping the viewer in geometric forms. Guests will also be able to exclusively view the Spark-Renault SRT_01E racecar on behalf of the FIA Formula E Championship Miami ePrix, the fifth stop on the world’s first fully electric racing series’ 2014-15 calendar.
Who:
Everyone is welcome!
When:
Thursday, Feb. 19: Science Up Close, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20: The City of the Future PechaKucha, 7–10 p.m.
Sat.–Sun., Feb. 21 & 22: Innovation & Engineering Weekend, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Where:
Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science
3280 South Miami Avenue
Miami, FL 33129
Cost:
Thursday, Feb. 19: Science Up Close, Free with RSVP at http://bit.ly/ScienceUpCloseIE
Friday, Feb. 20: The City of the Future PechaKucha, Suggested admission $10; RSVP at http://bit.ly/PechaKuchaYP
Sat.–Sun., Feb. 21 & 22: Innovation & Engineering Weekend, Children 12 years old and younger are free with paid adult admission
How:
For more information about Innovation & Engineering Weekend, visit www.miamisci.org/iefrost or call (305) 646-4200.
About the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science (Formerly Miami Science Museum)
Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science aims to make a difference in people’s lives by inspiring them to appreciate the impact that science and technology can have on every facet of our world. For nearly 65 years, the Museum’s award-winning educational programs, family-focused exhibits, historic planetarium, and Batchelor Wildlife Center have enriched locals and tourists alike. In 2016, the Museum will continue to inspire visitors in a new state-of-the-art facility designed by Grimshaw Architects currently under construction at Museum Park, in the heart of downtown Miami. The Museum will be structured around a lushly landscaped indoor and outdoor Living Core Aquarium of terrestrial and aquatic environments, featuring a Gulf Stream tank experience totaling over 500,000 gallons of salt water. The facility will also feature a state-of-the-art full dome Planetarium, the Knight Learning Center, Innovation Center and Cafe, and an Exploration Center featuring permanent interactive exhibits: Feathers to the Stars and The River of Grass. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and a member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers. The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science is funded with the support of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. Learn more at https://www.miamisci.org or call (305) 646-4200.
The existing Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science is located at 3280 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33129. The Museum is open every day from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 3; students (with valid ID), seniors (62+) and children 3-12, $10.95; adults are $14.95. Parking is free.
Disclosure: I am being provided with tickets for my family to attend one of the days for coverage. This in no way affects the opinions expressed by me.
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