This Sunday, November 9, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center partners with the National Human Genome Research Institute and the San Diego Military Family Collaborative to host Military Family Day.

Active duty military and their family members who have registered for this event are invited to enjoy complimentary admission to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, hands-on activities and an information fair featuring dozens of local organizations that support the military.

The Fleet is open to the public on Military Family Day, and all Fleet visitors are welcome to learn more about local military resources and enjoy free hands-on activities amongst the Fleet's 100+ interactive exhibits.

Military Family Day is being held in celebration of the new exhibition, Genome: Unlocking Life's Code. The day will also include many fun genome-related activities geared especially toward kids and young adults.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., join representatives from the Salk Institute to extract DNA from a cell and get up close and personal with the polymers that are the blueprint of life. Recommended for ages 7 and up.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., find out what origami and remote control cars can teach us about how scientist study genomes. Volunteer scientists and UCSD graduate students will be there to share these exciting, hands-on exercises.

Also from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., representatives from the J. Craig Venter Institute will be on hand to present a special activity called, The Zoo in You: The Human Microbiome Exhibit.

The event promises to be an exciting day of learning and giving back to our military service members. More than one thousand active duty military service members and their families have registered to attend. The media is welcome to come and cover the event. Representatives from the Fleet, the National Human Genome Research Institute and the San Diego Military Family Collaborative will be available for interview.

Visuals will include families and children interacting with hands-on exhibits and activities. Vendors will also be presenting their services for military families.

To schedule an interview or media appearance, please contact Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Public Relations Manager Nathan Young at 619-685-5743 or nyoung@rhfleet.org.

WHEN:     Sunday, November 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.   

WHERE:   Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
                   1875 El Prado in Balboa Park
                   www.rhfleet.org

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Link to the event on the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center website:

http://www.rhfleet.org/events/military-family-day

Link to the event on the San Diego Military Family Collaborative website: 

http://sdmilitaryfamily.org/military-family-day-fleet-science-center/  

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About the San Diego Military Family Collaborative

The San Diego Military Family Collaborative's mission provides an inclusive forum to maximize the collective impact of community resources to enhance military family life. More than anywhere else in the nation, active duty military, returning veterans and their families call San Diego home. The San Diego Military Family Collaborative aims to provide one coordinated place where military families can find resources and stay strong, healthy and connected. SDMFC program and staffing support provided by Social Advocates for Youth, San Diego. More information is available on their website, sdmilitaryfamily.org.

About the National Human Genome Research Institute

The NHGRI mission continues to be the study of the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of genome research. NHGRI also supports the training of investigators and the dissemination of genome information to the public and to health professionals. Additional information about NHGRI can be found at its website, www.genome.gov.