By EDEN STAPLES
Tiger Media Network
The Sternberg Museum of Natural History hosted an event on Saturday for science fiction-inspired activities. Visitors got to explore, walk, and learn about science at a variety of booths, crafts, and exhibits. The event featured trivia, stop-motion animation, shark tooth fossils, board games, a planetarium, a rattlesnake show, and more.
The event gave attendees an opportunity to connect science fiction with real-world science. Sternberg Manager of Visitor Services Brad Penka said the goal was to offer something different while keeping the activities connected to science and providing a public event for children and families.
“We like to do things that are a bit outside normal but still related to science, and show real science in comparison to Sci-Fri,” Penka said. “We want a chance for some more events out for the public and for the kids.”
Kid listens as booth worker speaks about different animal skeletons. 
Girls from the FHSU Biology department smile for a photo at their booth about viruses and bacteria. 
Kid drawing on a coloring page from the FHSU Comic Book Club. 
Alicia Gaede teaches growing crowd about different rattlesnakes in the museum. 
Scientist teaches family about shark teeth coming from fossils. 
GG Launchbaugh teaches about different constellations, their meanings, and locations. 
William Noble dresses as a Ghostbusters character for the event. 
Thomas Giebler teaches kids how to make stop motion animations with mini action figures. 
Kid smiles at person working the booth. 
Board Game group brings different SciFi themed games for attendees to play and learn. 
Alicia Gaede holds rattlesnake while kids reach to touch it. 
Kid looking through stickers at a booth. 
GG Launchbaugh speaks about the planetarium show before leading people inside. 
Girls come to table to build their own bacteria out of clay, beads, and pipe wires. 
Scientists showing off a million-year-old shark tooth. 
Family dresses as different Star Wars characters for the event. 
GG Launchbaugh’s planetarium teaches about different planets, galaxies, constellations, and black holes. 
Kid smiles when getting SciFi trivia question correct. 
Kids look at the Grand Canyon rattlesnake. 
Kid enjoying FHSU Chemistry Club’s “Make Your Own Goop” table. 
Genisis Wilson reading SciFi themed trivia questions to kid. 
Scientists showing how to separate shark teeth from fossils. 
Excited girl reaches out to touch the large rattlesnake. 
Booth provides materials, such as clay, pipe cleaners, and beads, to make your own bacteria. 
Thomas Giebler teaches kids how to make stop motion animations with mini action figures. 
Attendees look up in awe at the different constellations.
During the event, GG Launchbaugh, coordinator of MakerSpace and MakerVan at FHSU, shared why astronomy and learning about the night sky is important for visitors through a blown-up planetarium. On this tour, visitors learned about constellations, planets, galaxies, rotation, and black holes.
Launchbaugh said people today often know less about astronomy than generations before because of light pollution, which makes it harder to see the stars. He explained how stars can help people find directions and have a better understanding of the world around them. Through the planetarium, his goal is for visitors to learn and become more interested in astronomy.
“Astronomy is something that a lot of people today don’t know as much about as people in the past because we are not used to looking at the sky,” Launchbaugh said. “With astronomy, you can see and find your directions; you can see what time of the year it is. It’s just a nice, free thing to do.”
One of the highlights of the event was the last rattlesnake show presented by Sternberg Naturalist and Education Manager Alicia Gaede. This was the last show before the snakes are moved to Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary. Visitors had the chance to learn more about snakes and their importance, and to connect with them before they left for their new homes.
This presentation also focused on giving visitors a better understanding of these often misunderstood animals. Gaede said snakes play an important role in the ecosystem, and she hopes visitors leave with greater respect for them and an understanding of why they are important, while seeing and experiencing them for the last time.
“I just want you to realize that you have to respect the snakes because they are a part of the world, just like we are,” Gaede said. “So whatever the future holds is definitely going to be making sure my animals have the best possible life, whether it’s with me or not.”
Attendee William Noble, who dressed up as a Ghostbusters character, said his favorite part of the event was seeing the various displays and the creativity from all the booths.
“It’s been fun to see what booths have popped up and what people are up to,” Noble said.
With the variety of activities, opportunities, and experiences, the Sci-Fi event brought fiction and science together for the community to learn and explore at the Sternberg Museum.