November 2008 | Science Chicago

Chicago hosts the largest film festival for children in North America, and is now in its 25th year! This year's festival boasts over 200 animated and live action films from 40 countries, and includes feature films with environmental and scientific themes. Come sample some of the best in culturally diverse, non-violent new cinema, designed for the younger film-going audience, and attend one of several interactive workshops with celebrities and filmmakers. This eleven day long festival has a great variety of shows in several locations. Please visit www.cicff.org for details, show times, tickets and locations.

In Illinois, fewer than one-tenth of one percent of native prairies remain intact. Fermilab contains one of the largest of these native prairies. The native grasses' deep roots help prevent erosion, trap rainwater and preserve the area's groundwater aquifers. Every year volunteers, users and Fermilab employees of all ages keep the prairie healthy by combing through the Robert Betz Prairie and collecting several species of flowering plants.

Bring this collection of intricately designed mechanical sculptures called automata to life at the Museum of Science and Industry. Watch as tiny cranks, pulleys and gears allow the sculptures to move in whimsical ways.

Jill Metcoff and Diane Farris are photographers and friends who recently reconnected and discovered that their homes in Wisconsin and Florida have an unexpected and powerful connection - they dwell at the opposite ends of a sandhill crane migration route. The cranes have become an important presence in each of their lives and photographic work. The collaboration began in 2003 with photographic migrations, visiting and studying the connections between home and away for both the cranes and photographers. *Please note: Event occurs every weekday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and every weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through January 18, 2009

See cutting-edge concepts, breakthroughs and emerging technologies with the potential to change our world in this new permanent exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. Fast Forward showcases contemporary scientists, engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs who are shaping our future. You can test products and explore topics like artificial intelligence, smart interfaces, life and the human experience, exploration, transportation and alternative energy.

Surround yourself with the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of nature's night shift. Explore the intriguing and often unseen elements of a cave, the ocean, and a forest and even beneath the soil of your own back yard. Combining sophisticated computer games, mechanical displays, and interactive elements, In the Dark proves there is more than meets the eye! Please note: Event runs every weekday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and every weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through January 11, 2009.

Investigate the remnants of an owl's midnight snack, just like real scientists do.

Journey on the famous 1926 Abyssinian Expedition as you explore exquisite paintings by legendary bird artist and scientist Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Fuertes' vivid portraits of fierce African eagles, graceful water birds, and peculiar hornbills captured the dynamic power of his subjects. Through historic silent film footage and photographs taken during the expedition, join Fuertes and other researchers as you travel 2,000 miles through early 20th century Ethiopia. This exhibition was organized by The Field Museum. The Painted Bird: Louis Agassiz Fuertes is generously supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art.

The Museum of Science and Industry offers a host of hair-raising activities, events and exhibits that will help our guests ring in the Halloween season in style. Take a special Haunted Coal Mine tour, check out pumpkin smashing and the bed of nails, make spooky slime, and trick or treat with our mad scientists.

Put on your Halloween costume and join us for some tricks and treats at the scariest supper ever! Enjoy a scrumptious meal at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum while our reptile specialists introduce you to their slithery friends. Get up close and personal with more than eight species of snakes and learn fun facts about these creepy crawlers. Complete with fun games and prizes, this is one spooky event you won't want to miss. Parents- don't forget your cameras! Cost: . Space is limited and registration is required.

Secrets of Circles, Chicago Children's Museum new traveling exhibit, invites visitors to explore the basic properties of circles, and uncover how they are used in art, nature, technology, and cultures throughout the world. In this exhibit specially created for kids ages 3-10, families can investigate the puzzle of circles in many ways-and in three different languages (English, Spanish and Vietnamese)

Each month, we introduce two new CyberQuiz D4 mathematics or science brain teasers or word problems that are designed to be stimulating and thought provoking. One CyberQuiz challenge is for Illinois students in grades 6 and 7 and another is for Illinois students in grades 8 and 9. Each student who submits a correct answer to one of the monthly, online CyberQuiz challenges receives an IMSA - ComEd certificate of achievement and an invitation to attend a special recognition event at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.

The looming global energy crisis is real and likely to affect everyone. But the prudent response - widespread adoption of renewable energy practices - is impeded by a lack of access by most people to the required technologies. Shlian, an ingenious designer, artist, and paper engineer currently serving as a visiting research scholar in collaboration with Shtein, a University of Michigan materials scientist working on renewable energy technology at the molecular level, will present the elegant, inspiring constructions they use to teach students about the science of energy conversion and the central role design can play in inspiring more effective, accessible solutions.

So what kind of ocean fish really was the orange-and-white star of Finding Nemo? Learn the answer to this and more at the Shedd Aquarium's exciting program in animal identification. Learn how marine biologists identify fishes, reef corals and sharks by many characteristics, not just their colors. Then, using the Shedd as your laboratory, test out your new knowledge and try to classify the animals you observe! http://www.sheddaquarium.org/adult_programlistings.html

Chicago hosts the largest film festival for children in North America, and is now in its 25th year! This year's festival boasts over 200 animated and live action films from 40 countries, and includes feature films with environmental and scientific themes. Come sample some of the best in culturally diverse, non-violent new cinema, designed for the younger film-going audience, and attend one of several interactive workshops with celebrities and filmmakers. This eleven day long festival has a great variety of shows in several locations. Please visit www.cicff.org for details, show times, tickets and locations.

The Italian renaissance of the 15th century represented a vibrant convergence of the arts and the sciences that has shaped the modern era. Today, observes Bly, editor in chief of Seed ("Science is Culture") magazine, we are on the cusp of a 21st century scientific renaissance marked by accelerated advancement in neuroscience, theoretical physics, and genetics; a culture war between science and religion; and the application of science as a tool for social change and economic development. He will consider what is catalyzing this cultural shift, who is leading it, and where we are going from here.

Have you ever wondered what the sky is made of? Or dreamed of traveling backwards in time? Get answers right at the source from the science experts at Fermilab! You'll go behind-the-scenes of the amazing equipment and research at this high-energy physics laboratory, and learn about the fundamental nature of matter and energy. Then find out what it's really like to be a scientists over coffee and cookies with some of the world's best researchers! Join us November 2nd for Ask-A-Scientist - Magnets at Fermilab with David Harding, Technical Division/Fermilab. To register, please contact Nancy Lanning at 630-840-5588 or edreg@fnal.gov.

Bring this collection of intricately designed mechanical sculptures called automata to life at the Museum of Science and Industry. Watch as tiny cranks, pulleys and gears allow the sculptures to move in whimsical ways.

Jill Metcoff and Diane Farris are photographers and friends who recently reconnected and discovered that their homes in Wisconsin and Florida have an unexpected and powerful connection - they dwell at the opposite ends of a sandhill crane migration route. The cranes have become an important presence in each of their lives and photographic work. The collaboration began in 2003 with photographic migrations, visiting and studying the connections between home and away for both the cranes and photographers. *Please note: Event occurs every weekday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and every weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through January 18, 2009

See cutting-edge concepts, breakthroughs and emerging technologies with the potential to change our world in this new permanent exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. Fast Forward showcases contemporary scientists, engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs who are shaping our future. You can test products and explore topics like artificial intelligence, smart interfaces, life and the human experience, exploration, transportation and alternative energy.

Surround yourself with the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of nature's night shift. Explore the intriguing and often unseen elements of a cave, the ocean, and a forest and even beneath the soil of your own back yard. Combining sophisticated computer games, mechanical displays, and interactive elements, In the Dark proves there is more than meets the eye! Please note: Event runs every weekday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and every weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through January 11, 2009.

Journey on the famous 1926 Abyssinian Expedition as you explore exquisite paintings by legendary bird artist and scientist Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Fuertes' vivid portraits of fierce African eagles, graceful water birds, and peculiar hornbills captured the dynamic power of his subjects. Through historic silent film footage and photographs taken during the expedition, join Fuertes and other researchers as you travel 2,000 miles through early 20th century Ethiopia. This exhibition was organized by The Field Museum. The Painted Bird: Louis Agassiz Fuertes is generously supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art.

The Museum of Science and Industry offers a host of hair-raising activities, events and exhibits that will help our guests ring in the Halloween season in style. Take a special Haunted Coal Mine tour, check out pumpkin smashing and the bed of nails, make spooky slime, and trick or treat with our mad scientists.

Secrets of Circles, Chicago Children's Museum new traveling exhibit, invites visitors to explore the basic properties of circles, and uncover how they are used in art, nature, technology, and cultures throughout the world. In this exhibit specially created for kids ages 3-10, families can investigate the puzzle of circles in many ways-and in three different languages (English, Spanish and Vietnamese)

Enjoy an insider's view of Regenstein Center for African Apes! Exploring Ape Behavior begins by highlighting the animal behavior research conducted at the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes. Participants then embark on their own study, using an iPod Touch to record the activities of the zoo's amazing chimpanzees and gorillas. See firsthand how zoo research helps us better understand these extraordinary animals

Each month, we introduce two new CyberQuiz D4 mathematics or science brain teasers or word problems that are designed to be stimulating and thought provoking. One CyberQuiz challenge is for Illinois students in grades 6 and 7 and another is for Illinois students in grades 8 and 9. Each student who submits a correct answer to one of the monthly, online CyberQuiz challenges receives an IMSA - ComEd certificate of achievement and an invitation to attend a special recognition event at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.

Bertolt Brecht's 1943 "bio-play," traces Galileo's groundbreaking struggles against bureaucracy, stupidity, religiosity, and his own blindness. Accompanied by his long-suffering daughter and faithful scientific disciples, Galileo becomes a spark for the humanistic revolution placing mankind at the center of a new universe. Presented as a staged reading and in shortened form by one of Chicago's premier theater companies, this performance draws from playwright David Hare's recent adaptation.

Global climate disruption has inspired ingenious technology solutions that, nevertheless, sound just this side of Buck Rogers: deflective space mirrors, cloud seeding, ocean fertilization, even artificial trees. Are these so-called geoengineering projects essential to the planet's survival - or distractions from a more fundamental need to reduce greenhouse gas output? Discussing this dazzling new frontier are Klaus Lackner of Columbia University's Earth Engineering Center and Earth Institute; Ray Pierrehumbert, University of Chicago professor of Geophysical Sciences; and Jeff Goodell, an author currently writing a book on the topic. Author Mark Hertsgaard, who covers climate change for Vanity Fair and The Nation, moderates.

There is unequivocal evidence that the earth's climate is warming at an unprecedented rate. If climates change more rapidly than species can adapt or migrate, mass extinctions will occur. Get more information about this crucial issue from the Chicago Botanic Garden's Director of Plant Science and Conservation, Karyri Havens, Ph.D. She will review the effects of climate change on plants and eco-systems as well as give recommendations on how to manage these conservation challenges. Dr. Havens has extensive experience in world-wide plant conservation science and is the author of numerous publications. This is one of her rare public lectures that should not be missed. This program is a great opportunity for high school students (ages 14 -18)--especially young women who might be interested in pursuing a career in science, teachers and adults. Reservations recommended. To register call: 847.835.8261.

After an extended era of stable energy supplies, from a variety of fossil fuels that began with the industrial revolution change is in the wind. New costs of fossil energy are coming to the forefront that includes: future carbon constraints, the need to pursue more non-conventional sources, and re-distribution of wealth. Diversifying our energy sources is a possible solution that could bring about more stability and a brighter future. Agriculture can play a significant role in this diversification. Mark Matlock, will discuss the need to globalize advanced agricultural practices and as a result recognize how sustainably will be important in making this a permanent part of the solution.

Bring this collection of intricately designed mechanical sculptures called automata to life at the Museum of Science and Industry. Watch as tiny cranks, pulleys and gears allow the sculptures to move in whimsical ways.

Jill Metcoff and Diane Farris are photographers and friends who recently reconnected and discovered that their homes in Wisconsin and Florida have an unexpected and powerful connection - they dwell at the opposite ends of a sandhill crane migration route. The cranes have become an important presence in each of their lives and photographic work. The collaboration began in 2003 with photographic migrations, visiting and studying the connections between home and away for both the cranes and photographers. *Please note: Event occurs every weekday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and every weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through January 18, 2009

See cutting-edge concepts, breakthroughs and emerging technologies with the potential to change our world in this new permanent exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. Fast Forward showcases contemporary scientists, engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs who are shaping our future. You can test products and explore topics like artificial intelligence, smart interfaces, life and the human experience, exploration, transportation and alternative energy.

Surround yourself with the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of nature's night shift. Explore the intriguing and often unseen elements of a cave, the ocean, and a forest and even beneath the soil of your own back yard. Combining sophisticated computer games, mechanical displays, and interactive elements, In the Dark proves there is more than meets the eye! Please note: Event runs every weekday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and every weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through January 11, 2009.

Journey on the famous 1926 Abyssinian Expedition as you explore exquisite paintings by legendary bird artist and scientist Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Fuertes' vivid portraits of fierce African eagles, graceful water birds, and peculiar hornbills captured the dynamic power of his subjects. Through historic silent film footage and photographs taken during the expedition, join Fuertes and other researchers as you travel 2,000 miles through early 20th century Ethiopia. This exhibition was organized by The Field Museum. The Painted Bird: Louis Agassiz Fuertes is generously supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art.

Secrets of Circles, Chicago Children's Museum new traveling exhibit, invites visitors to explore the basic properties of circles, and uncover how they are used in art, nature, technology, and cultures throughout the world. In this exhibit specially created for kids ages 3-10, families can investigate the puzzle of circles in many ways-and in three different languages (English, Spanish and Vietnamese)

Join us for a fast-paced, funny and engaging science demonstration program with our Science Chicago Scientist in Residence, Steve Belliveau! All summer, Chicago kids "Read Green and Lived Green" and now we'll all learn how a science fair project can be fun and good for the environment!

Enjoy an insider's view of Regenstein Center for African Apes! Exploring Ape Behavior begins by highlighting the animal behavior research conducted at the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes. Participants then embark on their own study, using an iPod Touch to record the activities of the zoo's amazing chimpanzees and gorillas. See firsthand how zoo research helps us better understand these extraordinary animals

Each month, we introduce two new CyberQuiz D4 mathematics or science brain teasers or word problems that are designed to be stimulating and thought provoking. One CyberQuiz challenge is for Illinois students in grades 6 and 7 and another is for Illinois students in grades 8 and 9. Each student who submits a correct answer to one of the monthly, online CyberQuiz challenges receives an IMSA - ComEd certificate of achievement and an invitation to attend a special recognition event at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.

Part of the Series: The Epic of Creation: Scientific Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Our Origins. Is it possible to reconcile the divergent views of the origins of the universe? In the unique lecture series, prominent scientists and religious scholars present interpretations on the creation or our world from cosmological, evolutionary and biblical perspectives. Theologians further discuss the often divergent scientific and religious creation stories and reflect on how they affect our sense of meaning today.

Part of the Series: The Epic of Creation: Scientific Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Our Origins. Is it possible to reconcile the divergent views of the origins of the universe? In the unique lecture series, prominent scientists and religious scholars present interpretations on the creation or our world from cosmological, evolutionary and biblical perspectives. Theologians further discuss the often divergent scientific and religious creation stories and reflect on how they affect our sense of meaning today. Creation and Salvation will follow at 8:30 pm