By JGurley 06 Mar, 2024
NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces its 10th annual Nantucket Science Festival (AckSciFest) to be held March 16, 2024, in collaboration with over fifteen Nantucket community partner organizations. The MMA will host its FREE STEAM-inspired day of hands-on learning and exploration on Saturday, March 16 from 10:30am – 2pm, with the addition of a designated sensory friendly hour, for diverse families, starting at 9:30am. Since its inception in 2015, the MMA and its community partners have collaborated to inspire the next generation of inventors, innovators, and dreamers. This year’s theme focuses on “Cultivating Curiosity” and a mission to expose the Nantucket community to intersectional STEAM experiences. This event exemplifies the MMA’s mission of creating opportunities for all to develop a life-long passion for science through education, research, and first-hand exploration of the land, sea, and sky of Nantucket Island. This festival has become the largest late winter/pre-spring event and over fifteen organizations are joining to host tables and share unique hands-on activities again this year! In 2024, one way the Festival will reinforce the cultivation of curiosity is by collaborating with a diverse portfolio of community partners to demonstrate the diversity of STEAM. “We are thrilled to return for yet another year with a robust festival offering,” said Jónelle Gurley, coordinator of AckSciFest and Director of Science and Programs at the MMA. “The number of community collaborators this year exceeds what we had in the last few years, and we are excited to partner with new collaborators like S.T.A.R. Nantucket, the Nantucket Fire department, the Artists Association of Nantucket, and Nantucket Lights.” This year’s community partner organizations include: the Artists Association of Nantucket, Egan Maritime Institute, Girl Scouts - Nantucket, Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Mass Audubon, Nantucket Chamber of Commerce, Nantucket Community School, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket Land and Water Council, Nantucket Lights, Nantucket New School, Nantucket Shellfish Association, Oika, UMASS Boston Field Station, The Trustees of Reservations Nantucket, Nantucket S.T.A.R, and Sustainable Nantucket. All will be highlighting the incredible opportunities to get, and stay, curious about STEAM on Nantucket. This event is completely FREE of charge and takes place at the Nantucket High School Gymnasium. Attendees will be able to participate in a range of hands-on activities and experiences. There will be a marine mobile touch tank and oyster filtration activity, a climate and weather monitoring station a marine mysteries activity, an owl pellet identification, sensory crafts, general chemistry and astronomy related activities, and engineering and space exploration fun. The Nantucket Science Festival is made possible thanks to the generosity of its volunteers, partner organizations, and generous sponsors. ABOUT THE NANTUCKET SCIENCE FESTIVAL Founded in 2015, the Nantucket Science Festival is a mid-March collaborative community event, featuring hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics activities. It is an initiative of the Maria Mitchell Association in partnership with various Nantucket non-profit organizations, schools, and businesses. For more information, please visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/nantucket-science-festival ABOUT MARIA MITCHELL ASSOCIATION The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
By Tess McCarthy 22 Feb, 2024
NANTUCKET, MA — The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it has entered into a five-year lease agreement with Rick Kotalac and the Nantucket Anglers Club for the property located at 32 Washington Street. The MMA will use the waterfront property to relocate its 28 Washington Street Aquarium, enhance its unique educational programming, and expand the MMA’s retail store, which will include basic marine supplies. For more than forty years, the MMA Aquarium has inspired explorers of all ages to learn about Nantucket Sound’s natural ecosystems. It will continue its living exhibits, marine science programming, and environmental education in its new temporary location at 32 Washington Street. “We are grateful to have found this transitional home through Rick Kotalac and the Anglers Club. It is critical to have secured this location for our Aquarium, as we continue to develop plans for the expansion of our property located across the street at 33 Washington Street.” says Joanna Roche, Executive Director. The MMA will open its expanded retail store in May, with the MMA Aquarium opening on June 10, 2024, along with the MMA’s other sites. In November 2023, the MMA announced the permanent closure of the 28 Washington Street Aquarium and its future planning efforts to reimagine the 33 Washington Street property. The MMA will be taking down the existing buildings, preserving the front building, part of the old Nantucket Railroad to be utilized in the MMA’s new aquarium and science center at 33 Washington Street, and returning the site at 28 Washington Street to the Nantucket Islands Land Bank. The MMA entered into a land swap with the Land Bank in 2012 and has been leasing the property since then. The MMA will formally begin its related capital campaign in the summer of 2024 to fund the design and construction of the new center. The 33 Washington Street property will be a leader in coastal resiliency adaptation, and the most visible, public-facing center for discovery and science focused on STEAM education on Nantucket. The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
30 Jan, 2024
Last month, the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) astronomers travelled to the site of the world’s largest ground-based optical telescopes, the Keck Observatory, located on the Big Island of Hawai’i. The MMA’s National Science Foundation (NSF) astronomy post-baccalaureate research fellows, Emmy Wisz and August Muller, travelled to Keck to obtain observations of distant galaxies for their research projects focused on unraveling the mysteries of the universe. Located at nearly 14,000 feet elevation near the summit of Mauna Kea, Keck is accessed remotely by astronomers around the world who operate the telescopes’ scientific instruments and collect astronomical data. The 10-meter telescopes are essential tools for many research projects, so groups must participate in a competitive process of proposal submission to secure observing time. Because of the effects of potentially severe altitude sickness, astronomers observe from the base of the mountain ̶ at Keck Headquarters in Waimea.
16 Jan, 2024
NANTUCKET, MA — The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA), your portal to Nantucket’s natural world, announces the schedule for its After-School Winter Series Program and Winter Break Discovery Week Program. The MMA is extremely excited for the 2024 Winter Series After-School offerings, January 16 - February 22. This is a multi-week series of programming and is day specific with option for multiple days per week that explores Nantucket Island after school. Tuesdays are a six-week series running January 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13, and 20. Wednesdays are a four-week series running January 17, 31 February 7, and 21 (Wednesday January 24 and February 14 are early release days). Thursdays are a six-week series running January 18, 25, February 1, 8, 15, and 22. Participants will be picked up (with parent permission) from the Nantucket Elementary School and Nantucket Intermediary School at 2:20pm, the Nantucket Lighthouse School at 2:30pm, and the Nantucket New School at 2:40pm and depart for the MMA's Hinchman House Natural Science Museum or an outbound location. Pick up will be at 5pm at the Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk Street. Each afternoon holds different activities, crafts, and adventures. School might be out, but the curiosity never stops! MMA Members receive a 20% discount.. Registration can be found at the link below: https://www.mariamitchell.org/afterschoolandearlyreleaseday MMA members receive a 20% discount when signed into their account. The MMA Winter Break Discovery program will take place the week of February 26 – March 1. This program explores Nantucket Island in a fun and curious way. Registration is per day, and the cost is $50 or the entire week can be purchased for $250.00. Participants will be dropped off at the MMA's Hinchman House Natural Science Museum at 8:50am and a MMA naturalist educator will guide participants on an outbound adventure, lead science activities, and crafts each day. Pick up will be at 2pm at the Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk Street. Thanks to the generosity of Susan and Howard Bloom, their family, friends, and others who have contributed funds to honor the memory of Adam Bloom, the MMA is able to offer at least two full scholarships for our Winter Break Discovery Week. More information on scholarships can be found here: https://www.mariamitchell.org/scholarships-discounts Registration can be found at the link below: https://112458a.blackbaudhosting.com/112458a/Winter-2024-Break-Vacation-Programs MMA members receive a 20% discount when signed into their account.  The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
12 Jan, 2024
NANTUCKET, MA — The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it will host Dr. Darby Dyar as a featured presenter for its Science Speaker Series. Her presentation “Looking for Life in Our Solar System: A Mars-Earth-Venus Comparison” will take place on Wednesday, January 24 at 7pm EST. It will be presented via Zoom. This event is free to all. Since the dawn of civilization, humankind has wondered if human life on Earth is alone in the universe. Modern science refines this question to be about the search for water – where life began on Earth – on planets in our solar system and beyond. Recent NASA missions have focused on this issue through studies of subsurface ice on Mars, water cycles on the Earth, and the enigmatic clues of oceans and water left behind on Venus. This talk traces recent and emerging evidence about the presence of water on these three terrestrial planets. Darby Dyar is the Kennedy-Schelkunoff Professor of Astronomy at Mount Holyoke College and Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute. Dyar is a mineralogist and spectroscopist interested in a wide range of problems relating to the evolution of the solar system. She studies the redox state of iron and the abundance of hydrogen in solar system materials using Mössbauer, x-ray absorption, and FTIR spectroscopy. Dyar has pioneered the use of machine learning tools to interpret spectroscopic data. She is the Deputy Principal Investigator on the VERITAS mission to Venus and was a participating scientist on the Mars Science Laboratory science team. Her honors and awards include the G.K. Gilbert Award for outstanding contributions to planetary science from the Geological Society of America (GSA), the Hawley Medal from the Mineralogical Association of Canada, and the Eugene Shoemaker Distinguished Scientist Medal from NASA. She is a Fellow of: GSA, the Mineralogical Society of America, and the Geochemical Society. She earned her B.A. from Wellesley College and her Ph.D. in geochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Pre-registration is required. To register for this event, please follow the link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1TP8z_TzRhqcWaDoopaJZg#/registration This series is generously sponsored by our lead sponsor, Bank of America. The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
08 Jan, 2024
NANTUCKET, MA – The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA), your portal to Nantucket’s natural world, announces its 2024 Discovery Camp schedule and registration is now open to children ages five through sixteen. The MMA will offer age specific weekly sessions this summer full of science education, research, and exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island. The MMA’s award-winning Discovery Camps kick off on June 17 and continues for ten weeks of curiosity, wonder, and exploration. The popular camps featured include, “Animal Signs & The Five Senses,” “Aware in the Wild,” “Underwater Explorations,” “Exploring Art in the Ecosystems,” “Marine Biology Boot Camp,” “Cosmic & Climate Connections,” “Green Guardians,” “Junior Historians - A Walk Through Nantucket,” and “Junior Astronomers – Reaches of the Universe.” Visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/camp-programs to check enrollment availability and to register. Island Families Registration began January 8, and open registration for All Members begins January 15 at 6am. Camp registration is open to MMA Members only. Membership can be activated or renewed at https://www.mariamitchell.org/membership. Membership gives you many benefits including unlimited free admission to the Aquarium, Natural Science Museum, Loines Observatory, and the Historic Mitchell House, discounts on programs and merchandise, and much more. Thanks to a generous gift from EGCF, a non-profit foundation, the MMA offers scholarship opportunities for eligible Nantucket Island residents and visitors. This financial aid program provides an 80% discount off the price of camp sessions. Any family who can demonstrate a need is encouraged to apply. To learn more, visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/scholarships-discounts. Please review the camp programs webpage at https://www.mariamitchell.org/camp-program to learn about the variety of camps offered for each age level and come explore with us! The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ####
29 Nov, 2023
NANTUCKET, MA — The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it will host Nancy Ryan Gray, Ph.D., as a featured presenter for its December Science Speaker Series. Her presentation will take place on Wednesday, December 13 at 7pm. It will be presented via Zoom. This event is free to all. “The Keys to Success. . . Are Somewhere at the Bottom of My Purse” The title of this presentation would suggest that she is clearly not an expert on the keys to success. Nevertheless, the presentation highlights Nancy Ryan Gray’s circuitous career path, a few of the “lessons” she has learned over the past thirty years, and the “things she knows now” but “wish she'd known then.” Nancy Ryan Gray is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of the Gordon Research Conferences. Nancy received her B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame and her Ph.D. in Fuel Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining GRC, Nancy served as the Director of Membership at the American Chemical Society and as a Research Specialist in Organic Chemistry at Exxon Production Research Company. Nancy has served on the Board of Directors of Ligand Pharmaceuticals since August 2017. Ligand is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing or acquiring technologies that help pharmaceutical companies in drug discovery, early-stage drug development, and product reformulation. Nancy has also served on the Board of Directors of Slater Technology Fund since March 2021. Slater is a not-for-profit seed fund dedicated to supporting new technology ventures founded by entrepreneurs to build companies that aim to achieve transformational impact in the industries or markets they serve. Nancy is recognized for her efforts in establishing and growing the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) initiative to enable graduate students and postdocs to share in the GRC experience. The GRS is a two-day meeting designed specifically for early career scientists to present and discuss research and build collaborative relationships with colleagues. She is also recognized for founding the GRC Power Hour initiative as a forum for conversations to promote inclusion and addressing the challenges women and all underrepresented groups face in achieving equity in science. The 2013 recipient of the Providence Business News Industry Leader Award for Non-Profit Organizations, Nancy is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a member of the American Chemical Society. She received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Colby-Sawyer College in 2019 for her leadership and the commitment she has offered to Gordon Research Conferences and the scientific community. Join Nancy Ryan Gray for this Science Speaker Series Talk on Zoom. Pre-registration is required. To register for this event, please follow the link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AIplF_CMTD6j1uzAjsgmsQ#/registration  This series is generously sponsored by our lead sponsor, Bank of America. The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
16 Nov, 2023
NANTUCKET, MA — The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it will host the MMA’s National Science Foundation Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellows, Emmy Wisz and August Muller, for a pop-up science talk concerning their research. People may know them from Open Nights at Loines Observatory and their weekly Star Reports. Their pop-up science talk, “In a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Spectral Analyses of Distant Galaxies,” will take place on Monday, December 4 at 4:30pm EST. It will be presented in person at the MMA’s Research Center, 4 Vestal Street, or online via Zoom. This presentation is free to all. How do we learn about galaxies a billion light years away? How do we learn about the history of our own home galaxy, the Milky Way? By using spectral analysis, as well as other techniques, we can gain insight into the chemical composition of faraway galaxies and their environments, creating a roadmap to understand how galaxies form and evolve over time. Emission from galaxies reveals properties of the local galactic environment, such as the star formation rate and age. Absorption features provide a peek into regions of the galactic environment that are rich in gas and home to the elements necessary for star formation. Focused on a type of galaxy called a damped Lyman-alpha system, or DLA for short, Emmy Wisz will explain how we use bright background sources as lighthouses to learn about galaxies that are too distant to be seen directly. By investigating the home galaxies of the still-mysterious fast radio bursts, August Muller will discuss how these strange bursts may come to be and how we are using them to probe the distant Universe. Emmy Wisz obtained her B.A. in Astronomy and Physics from Bryn Mawr College. Her undergraduate research focused on galaxy formation and evolution, studying the impacts of morphology on radial metallicity gradients. She is excited to continue to be involved in the field of galaxy evolution, researching damped Lyman-ɑ (DLA) systems to expand on her understanding of the formation of galaxies over time. August Muller holds a B.S. in Physics from Haverford College. Her undergraduate thesis investigated techniques for detecting extreme mass-ratio inspiral gravitational wave signals for the upcoming LISA gravitational wave detector. During her year on Nantucket, August is excited to learn more about observational astronomy as she investigates the host galaxies of fast radio bursts.  Join Emmy Wisz and August Muller for this Pop-Up Talk in person or on Zoom. Pre-registration is required for Zoom. To register for this event, please follow the link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I9eFc4PrTCW-H_E-WiEcug This series is generously sponsored by our lead sponsor, Bank of America. The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
Show More
Share by: