San Diego—The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center has planned a packed week of engaging science events for adults to coincide with the annual San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering, taking place Saturday, March 5, through Sunday, March 13, 2016.  

The Fleet has created a special lineup of 21 and up events throughout the week, including presentations on groundbreaking science on the verge of becoming a reality, discussions of art and science while sipping wine, a symposium of seven of the most distinguished scientists in San Diego meeting at a brewery and a fun party at the Fleet with demonstrations of the science behind our favorite superheroes.

This is all in addition to the regular collection of hands-on interactive exhibitions at the Fleet and our current collection of traveling exhibitions, including Taping Shape, Zoo in You, Super Cells and the Art of Science Learning.

Here is a more detailed rundown of the events the Fleet has planned:

First, on Monday, March 7, the Fleet partners with Pint of Science to host a special edition of Suds & Science on the theme of Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs. Come and hear from four of San Diego’s brightest minds about the science and technology breakthroughs to expect over the next couple of years. Featured speakers include Dr. Larry Goldstein, UCSD and Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine; Ms. Navrina Singh, Qualcomm; and Dr. Alison Coil, UCSD. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Turquoise Cellars, 5026 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109. $5 Tickets and more information are available here. 

On Tuesday, March 8, science enthusiasts are invited to watch the Total Solar Eclipse: Live From Micronesia, a live broadcast of a total solar eclipse from the Federated States of Micronesia. The Exploratorium in San Francisco is collaborating with NASA and the National Science Foundation to produce this special live-streaming broadcast, available for viewing in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater at the Fleet Science Center. On that day, the fully eclipsed sun will be visible from only a few Pacific islands, but the live broadcast will make this amazing phenomenon available to San Diegans. The event is 5–6:15 p.m. at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. $16.95 General Admission. $12.95 Fleet Members. Tickets and more information available here.

Wednesday, March 9, will feature Brushes & Beakers, a night of art and science on Prospect Street in La Jolla. Attendees will visit four art galleries, have a glass of wine at each and talk with local scientists about conservation, neuroscience, marine biology and cell biology. 7–9 p.m. $15. Check in will be at National Geographic Gallery, 7979 Ivanhoe Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037. Tickets and more information available here.

On Thursday, March 10, the Fleet’s popular community science program, Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar, comes to Green Flash Brewing. For this special edition of the event, seven members of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences will meet at the brewery and tasting room to enjoy a brew, talk about science and answer questions from anybody in attendance. The scientists will be easy to spot. Just look for the sign that reads: "We are scientists. Ask us anything!" 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Green Flash Brewing Co., 6550 Mira Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92121. More information available here.

Last, on Friday, March 11, the week will end with a bang with the Fleet Night of Science party, Superheroes Edition. Party-goers can hang out in Spiderman's web (also known as the Fleet’s latest exhibition, Taping Shape), chat with local scientists, enjoy an adult beverage and explore the science center with no kids for this special 21-and-up event. The party is 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. $19.95 General Admission. $15 Fleet Members and students. Tickets and more information available here.

In addition to these events, the Fleet will be open for regular gallery hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The Fleet galleries feature fun, interactive science exhibits and our current set of traveling exhibitions, including Taping Shape, Zoo in You, Super Cells and the Art of Science Learning. There are also IMAX films screening hourly in the Giant Dome Theater.

"We're excited to sponsor the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering," said Steve Snyder, CEO of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, which has supported the Festival since its inception and is a silver sponsor this year. "It's great to see a whole city energized by science and participating in science, whether it’s at an event in their community, at a school or at the Fleet."

(The Fleet will also be hosting science events for kids and families during the week of the festival. These events include fun computer programing workshops, STEM demonstrations at neighborhood libraries, workshops on up-cycling and sustainability and fun math tricks you can use to fool your friends. The events will take place at the Fleet as well as schools, libraries, community centers and other venues around San Diego. The full press release on the family and all-ages events is available here.)

The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering is a ten-day educational experience designed to engage and encourage kids in science and engineering and work with parents and teachers to inspire today's students to become tomorrow's science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) innovators. The events of the festival include interactive science demonstrations, hands-on activities and dynamic speakers to engage kids and families in all that encompasses STEM. The Festival kicks off with its largest event, Expo Day (March 5), at Petco Park. Expo Day is free and open to the public. Hundreds of community businesses and organizations will participate in Expo Day, in addition to over 60 Festival programs and events that will take place throughout the county of San Diego. More than 75,000 kids, parents, teachers, industry leaders and community members are anticipated to attend the Festival.

For more information about the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering, please visit https://www.lovestemsd.org/.

For more information about Fleet events during the week of Saturday, March 5, to Saturday, March 12, please visit http://www.rhfleet.org/events/san-diego-festival-science-and-engineering.

# # #

To schedule a media preview or interview for any of the listed events, please contact Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Public Relations Manager Nathan Young at 619-685-5743 or nyoung@rhfleet.org.

Interviews can be scheduled with the Fleet’s CEO, Dr. Steve Snyder, as well as many of the presenters, experts and organizers of the Fleet events and the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering.