May 04, 2006

Scoping out the city's best science offerings

Every amateur (or professional) stargazer, spelunker or other science nut should know about the resources at Science & The City, the online guide to New York run by the New York Academy of Sciences.

Outfitted with articles, interviews, pictures, podcasts and RSS feeds, the site also has a free weekly e-mail newsletter with the staff's five favorite upcoming events.

Adelle Caravanos, an assistant editor at the site, answered a few questions for NewYorkology and offered up some of her favorite science scenes for natives and tourists alike. Caravanos, who has a journalism degree, is pursuing a Masters in physics. Here's an edited transcript of the Q&A:

What are your favorite science-related things to do or see in New York City?

One of my favorite events to attend is "Readers & Writers," hosted by the New York Academy of Sciences. At these evenings, authors of science books discuss their works -- in the past, the Academy has hosted Alan Lightman, Brian Greene, and others -- and it is fascinating to be able to ask these scientists questions about their books, and about their often cutting-edge research.

I also attend monthly meetings of dorkbot-nyc, an informal collection of artists, scientists, engineers, student … and any other "people doing strange things with electricity" (that's the dorkbot slogan.) I think that it's important to recognize that science and technology spills over naturally to art – the creative spirit is often the same in an artist as in a scientist – and dorkbot is a place where all sorts of people get together to get inspired.

Best free science events?

I think people would be surprised to learn just how many science-related events are free. A great resource for free lectures on science is the New York Public Library – in particular, the Science, Industry, and Business Library. They host many lectures and exhibits on science and the history of science in New York. Currently, they are hosting an exhibit "Places and Spaces: Mapping Science," – S&C's editor Adrienne Burke will be interviewing one of the curators for an "exhibitcast" – a podcast listeners can download, for free, and use to walk them through the "Mapping Science" exhibit.

The Science & the Arts program at the Graduate Center, CUNY also hosts a great set of events that are free to the public – they've had science musicals, readings of plays, lectures – everything from the "physics chanteuse" singing on Valentines Day, to a robot dance competition.

Another great area of free science events are the science-related art shows that we list on S&C. With the exception of the larger museums, most art galleries are free and open to the public – science and technology often work their way into the art world.

In addition to the American Museum of Natural History and the NY Hall of Science, what are some good things for kids to do?

There are some great nature preserves like Alley Pond Environmental Center in Queens and the Blue Heron Nature Center in Staten Island that hold outdoor events for kids and families. In addition, the New York City Parks Department sponsors great activities for kids every weekend at parks throughout the five boroughs. Almost all of the events are free, and most revolve around nature and environmental science – so kids learn while having a fun time and getting some fresh air.

How far out of New York City do you have to go to see plenty of stars at night?

I could take this as a trick question, and say 'not far at all …' The Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History screens star shows as well as holds classes for adults and children on all aspects of astronomy. Outside of the city, there is the Hudson River Museum's Andrus Planetarium, in Yonkers, and the Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport, Long Island.

If real stars are what you're looking for, you don't have to go much farther than the outer boroughs of the city to get a fairly good glimpse. Queensborough Community College in Bayside, Queens, houses a 16-inch Cassegrain telescope atop its library building, which is open to the community through continuing education courses. Another great resource for star-gazing information is the Amateur Astronomer Association of New York; besides from providing information about the stars and planets that are visible each night, they also sponsor stargazing events throughout New York.

Do you have a favorite obscure science fact about New York City you use to impress your friends?

My friends are usually surprised that there is so much science going on in New York. Our city has the largest concentration of hospitals in the US, more life scientists working in the metro area than in Boston and the San Francisco Bay area combined, and has been home to over 134 Nobel Laureates. New York isn't only a cultural center; it's also a hub of science.

Since you help put together the calendar of upcoming events for Science & the City, what's on the top of your own list of upcoming don't-miss events?

I'm a big fan of robots, so first on my list is a restaging of "Rossum's Universal Robots," a futuristic folk opera based on Karel Capek's 1921 play "R.U.R." Capek was the first to coin the word 'robot.'

I'm also looking forward to NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program's Spring Show. It's an exhibit of the work of the students in this program who use electronics, engineering, and computer science techniques to create interactive art installations. It's another free one, too.

And then I'm going to make a trip uptown for a two-for-one shot of Sigmund Freud. First, the New York Academy of Medicine has an exhibit of medical drawings by the famous psychoanalyst, including diagrams of the brain and nerves as seen through a microscope. Then, across the street at the Museum of the City of New York, I'll stop in to see another set of drawings – "On the Couch," an exhibit of psychoanalytic cartoons from The New Yorker magazine.

Earlier: Brookhaven heavy ion collider tour set for August
Planetarium debuts NASA co-produced space show
Explorers Club for the aspiring Indiana Joneses
Hall of Science debuts $89 million expansion
Illuminating science in the city
World's Fair Rocket Park reopens in Queens

May 4, 2006 04:09 PM in Kids, Museums, Out of Manhattan, Sightsology, Techology, Upper East Side

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