GRAVITY FREE: 2008 “THE YEAR OF DANGEROUS MINDS”
Conference Venue: Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry
The largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most
popular cultural attractions in Chicago, the Museum of Science and
Industry is housed in the only surviving building from the 1893 World's
Columbian Exposition, formerly known as the Palace of Fine Arts. The
Museum has inspired more than 175 million guests in 75 years through
bold, transformative exhibits, engaging education programs and
extraordinary experiences.
Museum Favorites
The Coal Mine, a reproduction of an Illinois coal mine, takes guests 50
feet in a real hoist to the bottom of a mine shaft. The tour of this
iconic exhibit highlights the history of coal mining during the early
20th century, the evolution of technology used to mine coal and the work
environment of U.S. miners.
Earth Revealed offers an up-close and near "real-time" view of our
planet Earth. This 6-foot in diameter solid carbon fiber globe is
dramatically suspended among computers and video projectors, loaded with
data sets from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The
technology transforms the sphere into dynamic, revolving globe that
demonstrates the Earth as a living system. Guests can see the flow of
ocean currents, storm development and the human impact on our world in
several daily shows.
Farm Tech invites guests to explore the innovative technology that
farmers use to be more efficient, effective and eco-friendly as they
deliver food from crops to market. Highlights of the exhibit challenge
guests to: plant, grow and harvest crops using GPS technology; put their
milking skills to the test against a timer; gain insights into
Hydroponics and other advanced crop-growing techniques; and learn about
the unique occupations in the agriculture field today.
Henry Crown Space Center. This gallery offers an interactive exploration
of the space program from the early years of the Space Race to what our
future in space may hold. Guests are invited to "dock" at the
International Space Station, "remote control" a Mars Rover, explore an
inflatable moon base and discover the upcoming technologies of human
space exploration. A dynamic multimedia presentation depicts the
historic journey of the Apollo 11 lunar lander to the surface of the
moon.
ToyMaker 3000 invites guests to witness an actual, automated toy-making
assembly line in motion. Guests can even order a toy top and watch it
being made!
The U-505 Submarine is the only German sub captured by the U.S. Navy during
World War II. It is part of an immersive and inspiring 35,000-square foot
exhibit that includes a variety of artifacts, dramatic representations
of key events, challenging interactives, special effects and an optional
on-board tour.
Exclusive Access to New Exhibits:
GRAVITY FREE: 2007 participants were the first to tour the CSI: The
Experience exhibit, before it opened to the public.
GRAVITY FREE: 2008 attendees will be the first group to tour the Museum
of Science and Industry's exciting upcoming exhibitions:
Fast Forward: We Will Invent the Future - The Fast Forward
gallery will awaken the inner inventor in us all by showcasing
cutting-edge scientists, engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs that are
transforming the world in which we live. You'll have the opportunity to
explore the science and engineering behind tomorrow's innovations and
follow a spark of imagination ... from crazy idea to life-enhancing
device or global enterprise. Guests will also be invited to test
products and explore topics including artificial intelligence, smart
interfaces, sustenance and food science, life and the human experience,
exploration, transportation and alternative energy.
Smart Home: Green + Wired - The Museum of Science and Industry is
featuring a functioning, three-story modular and sustainable "green"
home in its own backyard to showcase the ways, big and small, that
people can make eco-friendly living a part of their lives-and to
highlight unique home technologies for the 21st century. Celebrating
exciting new directions in sustainable living and spectacular,
environmentally-friendly technology, Smart Home: Green + Wired will
offer guests guided tours of the 2,500 square-foot mkSolaire home and
grounds, located in a park on the east side of the Museum. Guests will
be able to view the latest innovations in reusable resources; smart
energy consumption; sustainable gardens and green roofs; and clean,
healthy-living environments in a contemporary setting.
SMART HOME: Green + Wired, powered by ComEd and warmed by Peoples Gas,
is also sponsored by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Dominick's and the
Motorola Foundation as part of the Museum's 75th Anniversary. The
mkSolaire home was designed by Michelle Kaufmann Designs and built for
the Museum by All-American Homes. Additional partners include WIRED
Magazine and University of Illinois Extension.