July 2009 | Science Chicago

Adam Reed Tucker gives us all something to look up to. His towering interpretations of famous city landmarks aim to bring accessibility to architecture. Instead of using traditional materials- steel, brick, glass- to build is skyscrapers, Tucker opts for a more modest construction medium: LEGOs. Piece by piece, LEGO by LEGO, this trained architect creates large-scale artistic models of some of the most famous structure in America including Chicago's Willis Tower, St. Louis' Gateway Arch and Seattle's Space Needle. The simplicity and nostalgic quality of the LEGO affords viewers a new, detailed look at familiar buildings, Guests can lean in close to see the complexity of a building's intricate design and engineering or take a step back to appreciate its stunning sculptural form in full. ART + Science = Architecture is a temporary exhibition that will be open from July 1, 2009 through March 15, 2010. This exhibit is free with Museum general admission. Visit brickstructures.com to learn more about Adam Reed Tucker's architectural models.

These hour-long sessions give Adler guests an opportunity to meet astronomers, scientists, and historians in an informal atmosphere, ask questions, and explore visualizations in the SVL, Space Visualization Lab, with an expert guide. Check http://www.adlerplanetarium.org for further scheduling information.

Children Reading Club: Blast Off to Reading! Join us for our Summer Reading Club. The theme this year is Space Exploration. There are three levels to this program plus our new Teen Reading Club.
Read to Me: For children ages 2 through 7 years who do not read independently. 20 books will be the goal for this level.
Middle Reader Level: For independent readers through grade 5. Children in this level will have 1000 pages as their reading goal. Second graders on this level can still submit titles that have been read to them.
Young Adult Level: For readers entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Participants in this club will have 1000 pages as their goal. All young adults participants who finish the program will receive a raffle ticket for a special drawing to be held at the close of the Summer Reading Club.
Children will receive a prize upon reporting to the children's desk when they have completed a book. Upon completion of the program, each child can choose a paperback book for their final prize. Visit the Children's Department for further details.

Get an up-close and near real-time view of planet Earth on an animated globe suspended from the ceiling. Images projected onto the sphere show data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, so you can see the Earth's atmosphere, ocean currents, storm formation and temperature changes. Live shows include:

CO2 and You
Come learn about carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and what it has to do with you, our environment, and global warming. Learn ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

Dealing With Disaster
See tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes and their impact on Earth from space and learn about how humans recover from and prevent natural disaster.

Earth Shakes, Rattles and Rolls
When is the last time an earthquake occurred in the US? In Illinois? Probably sooner than you think. Come learn about earthquakes.

Thereâs No Place Like Home?
Ever thought of being an astronaut? In this show you will explore our solar system and look for signs of life on other planets and moons.

Warning: Worldâs Strongest Storms
Learn about what conditions cause the most severe storms and where they are found using NOAA images and real time weather datasets. Does global warming have an impact on the severity of storms?

Bill Guyâs images capture the beauty and diversity of Chicagoâs various neighborhood parks. Finding Walden is the Nature Museumâs contribution to the Burnham Plan Centennial Celebration, a city-wide program that pays homage to Daniel Burnham and the bold plans and big dreams that shaped metropolitan Chicago for the past century.

Harry Potter fans will have a chance to get a first-hand look inside the famous wizardâs magical world through Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which will make its world premiere at the Museum of Science and Industry on April 30, 2009 and run through Sept. 27, 2009.

In the 10,000-square-foot exhibition, guests have the opportunity to see the craftsmanship of more than 200 authentic costumes and props from the Harry Potterâ¢ films displayed in settings inspired by the Hogwartsâ¢ film setsâ"including the Gryffindor common room and Hagrid's hut.

This exhibit is not included in Museum general admission and requires an additional timed-entry ticket. Extended exhibit hours, until 9 p.m. every night, are offered.

TM & Â© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights Â© JKR. (s09)

Take part in the Science Chicago Weekly Summer Challenges. Challenge yourself to discover your inner scientist and explore how Life's a Lab!

From Monday, June 29th, take the cantilever challenge at Science Chicago blog. You will have until Sunday July 5 at 6:00PM to send your answers via video, email, blog, and/or photos.

If you win, you'll get a shout-out on the Science Chicago website and a special prize.

Stay connected to Science Chicago online this summer and let's show Chicago and the world how Life's a Lab! Check frequently online to see what the Science Crew and others come up with!

The Lincoln Park Zoo Conservation Camp is now open for registration. This yearâs camp is themed Naturally, Urban! and gives campers exciting opportunities to meet small animals up close, get an inside glimpse at the zoo world and the fascinating wonders of wildlife, create arts and crafts, and play games.

Camps are divided into two distinct week-long sessions. One week will focus on local animals, the ecology in our own backyard and nature stewards here in Chicago. The second week focuses on global issues impacting wildlife and how we fit into a worldwide community. Through both sessions, campers will learn how they can make an ecological difference at home, in their community, and around the world.

Conservation Camp can be attended as a one-week, or full two-week experience. Offered June 15-Aug 14, 2009. (varies by weekly selection).Full day programs available for 3rd â" 8th grade, M-F, 9 a.m. â" 3 p.m.

The Adler Planetarium is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11, the first mission to land on the Moon, during One Small Step: Apollo 11 40th Anniversary.

Participate in daily moon-themed activities (1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.), enter a free drawing for a chance to win prizes and enjoy lunar lunch specials in Galileo's CafÃ© during the entire month of July.

In addition to daily activities, check out the new Moon Wall in the Shoot for the Moon exhibition. Located in the Mission: Moon gallery, the Moon Wall lets you interact with detailed images of the Moon taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a current mission orbiting and photographing the lunar surface.

On July 20, the anniversary of the first Moon walk, the Adler will celebrate with a lunar lander cake at 3:17 p.m., commemorating the time Apollo 11 touched down on the Moon, and a special nighttime observing event.

A group of artists, scientists and educators recently came together in Wisconsin to consider ways that art could increase public understanding about climate change. The result is a thought-provoking environmental art exhibition, featuring everything from paintings, quilts, puzzles and music, which explores the roots of climate change, encouraging everyone to take action to preserve the environment. Each piece of artwork on display reflects a unique perspective on the effects of climate change in Wisconsinâs North Woods.

The âGreenest Home in Chicagoâ is back at the Museum of Science and Industry, redesigned and updated for 2009. The home - built by Michelle Kaufmann Designs and built by All-American Homes -- showcases the ways you can make eco-friendly living a part of your life, and highlights what the future may bring for consumers.

Smart Home offers guided tours of the 2,500 square-foot home and grounds. Discover the new interior, reinterpreted with the help of Chicago Home + Garden magazine and featuring bold colors, fresh green stories, and new products and furniture. New and unique home technologies are also on display, courtesy of WIRED magazine. Explore the updated landscaping, which offers techniques for urban gardening such as vertical gardens and EarthBox planting.

In celebration of the 400th anniversary of the telescope, the Adler Planetarium will open a new exhibition "Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass" on May 22. The most comprehensive exhibition of its kind to date, "Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass" presents the technology used to gather information about our Universe. From the earliest telescopes used by Galileo 400 years ago to the Hubble Space Telescope and into the future with leading-edge technologies, see how these amazing instruments change our concepts of the Universe and our place in it. Featuring some of the worldâs most important telescopes and one-of-a-kind hands-on interactives, the exhibition will explore the extraordinary beauty and technology of these amazing instruments and the objects they discover. As science changes everyday and our Universe continues to evolve, telescopes continue to provide new views that improve our understanding of the marvelous cosmos in which we live.

Discover the importance of Earthâs most vital and fleeting resource. Examine how living things adapt to extremes of wet and dry environments, and learn how human behavior alters precious aquatic ecosystems. Become inspired by conservation efforts from around the world and discover what you and your family can do to protect and conserve our planetâs water.