For Immediate Release Contact: Nancy O'Shea (312) 665-7103 (For Media Use Only) Evolving Planet Public Programs LECTURES Evolving Science at The Field Museum Saturdays, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10 and July 8 at 2pm in Rice Hall Field Museum scientists are featured in a free afternoon lecture series as part of the Museum’s “Scientist at the Field” Saturdays. Potential speakers include: Peter Makovicky, Jennifer McElwain, Robert Martin, Meenakshi Wadhwa, and Maureen Kearny. Free with Museum admission. PERFORMANCES Staged Reading of Inherit the Wind Saturday and Sunday, March 18 & 19, 2006 at 1pm in James Simpson Theatre (Student Performance, Friday, March 17 at 11 am in JST. Tickets: $4 non-Chgo., $3 Chicago student) Directed by Bernie Sahlins—co-founder of Chicago’s Second City—this multi-media adaptation of the famed play Inherit the Wind brings to life the “Scopes Monkey Trial.” Based on a real-life case in 1925, the reading presents two great lawyers arguing the case for and against a science teacher accused of the “crime” of teaching evolution. Tickets: $16, students/educators $14, members $12 What Killed the Dinosaurs? You Decide Saturday, April 22, at 11am in James Simpson Theatre Families are invited to determine history! The most scientifically credible dinosaur extinction theories go head to head in a mock trial, with the audience casting their vote.. WGN radio show personality John Williams will moderate this exciting event, with actors from Galileo players portraying proponents of the various extinction theories. Cost: $16, $14 students/educators, $12 members FAMILY PROGRAMS Create a Play in One Day! Saturday, March 11 from 10am–2pm Join us for a one-day residency program with Foundation Theatre Group. Children ages 7-11 write a short dinosaur play under the tutelage of professional actors, cast it with their new friends from the workshop, and perform it in the Museum’s main Stanley Field Hall that same day. Cost: $24, $20 members. The Birth of the Earth Fridays, May 12 and 19 from 6pm-8pm Do a deep dive into Earth’s history in a series of workshops focusing on the evolutionary and geologic timeline of the earth. Topics include: basics of natural selection, radioactive half-life and dating techniques, geologic eras, fossils, the migration of hominids, Pangea, and Ice Age Illinois. Families with children ages 7–12. Cost: $15, $12 members GALLERY PROGRAMS Dinosaur Discovery Days Opening weekend; March 11 and 12 from 10am-4pm Celebrate the grand opening of Evolving Planet by taking part in a performance, seeing rarely viewed specimens from the Museum’s collections, handling real fossils, and more! Wander through the exhibitions with colossal dinosaur puppets and check out any of these dynamic hands-on activities: Storytime, Scientists at the Field, Interpretive Stations, dinosaur masks, and Harris Educational Loan boxes. Free with Museum admission. Interpretive Stations Beginning Friday, March 10 Geological Hot Spots Using the Mega Maps of the Americas, visitors will have an opportunity to discover various geological hot spots and bonanza sites through the Americas. Free with Museum admission. NEW! Pangea Learn how continents formed by piecing together a large magnetic version of Pangea, then create a Pangea flip book to take home! Free with Museum admission. NEW! Extinction Game Taking inspiration from Evolving Planet’s attractor wall, visitors will be engaged in a game that covers the extinction stops in the exhibition. Free with Museum admission. Artist at the Field with Karen Carr Saturday, March 11 from 10am-2pm Visitors will have an opportunity to visit with Evolving Planet illustrator, Karen Carr, from 10am-noon. Select visitors will have an opportunity to take a guided tour with the artist through Evolving Planet at 1 pm (sign up will be limited to 45 participants). Free with Museum admission. Scientist at the Field Second Saturday of every month, 11 am-2 pm Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with Field Museum scientists and learn about their current research. Free with Museum admission. Storytime Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 pm; Daily in July and August at 1:30 pm Come with your pre-school-aged companions and listen to Field Museum educators read books about dinosaurs. Free with Museum admission. FIELD TRIPS AND ADULT PROGRAMS Advanced Chicago Geology Wednesdays, September 13 and 20, from 6 pm-9 pm; Field Trip on Saturday, September 30, from 8 am-4 pm This combination class and field trip allows adult amateur geologists a chance to learn and practice field techniques through classroom lectures and demonstrations as well as site visits to premier local geological areas. The field trip will include a visit to the Chicago Portage in Palos Hills to explore glacial remnants, a rare stop at Camp Sagawau Forest Preserve (Cook County’s only canyon), and Mazon Creek for fossil collecting. Cost: $95, members $85 Experience Thornton Quarry October EXACT DATE TBD, from 8:30 am–2 pm Get a behind-the-scenes look at the daily operations of the world’s largest commercial limestone quarry. Take a tour of the workings of the quarry, then learn about the organisms that lived in Illinois 425 million years ago—many of which are in evidence in this treasure trove of fossils. Cost: $65, members $55 Fantastic Fossils Saturday, May 6, from 7am–7pm Identify and collect fossils near Brookville, Indiana with help from our experts at a world-famous Ordovician outcrop, which has produced a number of very well-preserved fossils. Cost: $105, members $95 <<Back to the Evolving Planet Press Kit page