The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center continues to present “Destiny Days,” a series that offers visitors an insight into its science education outreach initiative, the Destiny traveling science learning program.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday (July 11)
Morehead parking lot
250 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill
On certain Fridays this summer, visitors to the planetarium will be able to board one of the Destiny traveling science laboratories and watch the electrical waves of their own hearts, extract DNA from strawberries, make a colorful bracelet while investigating genetic traits and learn how to work with high-tech science equipment. Remaining Destiny Days are Aug. 1 and Aug. 8.
The activities are suitable for all age groups and free with the purchase of a planetarium ticket or $3 without a ticket.
“We are excited to offer this special science experience,” said Todd Boyette, planetarium director. “The Destiny program is often on the road, visiting North Carolina’s schools and communities from the mountains to the coast, so it’s a rare opportunity to open Destiny’s doors to planetarium visitors.”
The Destiny program travels across North Carolina delivering hands-on science learning opportunities to schools and communities with its two 40-foot buses, both custom-fitted as science laboratories. More than 6,000 students boarded the buses at 155 schools in North Carolina during the 2007–2008 academic year.
Since opening in 1949, the planetarium has welcomed more than 7 million people to learn more about science through school field trips, multimedia Star Theater shows, classes for adults and children, summer camps, guest speakers, digital films and special events.
The Destiny traveling science learning program is a science education outreach initiative of the planetarium that serves pre-college teachers and students across North Carolina. Destiny develops and delivers a standards-based, hands-on curriculum and teacher professional development with a team of educators and a fleet of vehicles that travel throughout the state. Created by Carolina in 2000, Destiny became a program of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in 2006.
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Web site: http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org
Destiny Web site: http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/go/destiny
Destiny contact: Karen Kornegay, (919) 843-7952, kck@unc.edu
News Services contact: Susan Houston, (919) 962-8415, susan_houston@unc.edu