x DIY Science Zone | GeekGirlCon

It’s Not too Late to Support the DIY Science Zone!

I wish that GeekGirlCon had been around when I was a kid for lots of different reasons: the inspiring panels, the awesome exhibitor hall, the general sense of geeky camaraderie and joy. But the number one reason is that I would have been all over the DIY Science Zone.

Packed with experiments, experts, and opportunities to get your hands dirty, the DIY Science Zone is an absolute treasure trove for science-minded geeks. Spend any amount of time in the zone during the con, and you’re guaranteed to walk away with the sense of wonder and possibility that only comes with watching science enthusiasts of all ages revel in the joy of making a cool connection, experiencing something for the very first time, and learning from scientists who are passionate about what they do.

In a time when youth-led movements are changing the conversation around climate change and young people are making incredible leaps in scientific discovery, supporting empowering, informative, and joyful spaces like a DIY Science Zone is more important than ever.

If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late to donate to the DIY Science Zone, both to ensure that we can bring in scientists, educators, and experts, and that we can keep the zone stocked with plentiful supplies.

Let’s make this year’s DIY Science Zone the best one yet! You can make your donation here, and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact diyscience@geekgirlcon.com.

Image Description: A kid holds an animal in their hands, while another kid looks on and an adult holds out their hands. All three people are smiling. Photo by James McDaniel.

Hanna Hupp
“Rock On!”

Support Hands-On Geekery: Back the DIY Science Zone

Although November may still feel far off, GeekGirlCon ’19 is fast approaching. Help us get ready by supporting one of the coolest and most unique pieces of GGC programming: the DIY Science Zone!

For those who haven’t experienced it, the DIY Science Zone is a place were geeks of all ages can get hands-on and do experiments one-on-one or in small groups under the guidance of top scientists. Your donations will help us stock enough supplies and bring in enough field experts to ensure that everyone who wants to participate is able to join in the geeky fun.

We want to make this year our greatest yet, and we need your help. So, strap on your safety goggles, pull up your neoprene gloves, and let’s make some science happen!

Bill Nye, wearing safety goggles, throws his hands out dramatically while a light flashes off-screen and a caption appears that reads “Science!!!” Source: Giphy.

Caitlin Foskey
“Rock On!”

The DIY Science Zone Needs Your Support!

One of the many aspects of GeekGirlCon that sets it apart from other conventions is its commitment to welcoming geeks of all ages. We don’t just tolerate our kid attendees, we design the weekend with their interests in mind. Whether that means keeping our 18+ programming scheduled in the evenings or setting up a kids-only cosplay contest, we’re serious about keeping our evolution reactive to the needs of even the littlest con-goers.

In terms of kids programming, the now-classic GeekGirlCon event we’re proudest of is our DIY Science Zone. This year will mark the Zone’s eighth iteration, with each con bringing bigger and better additions. Part of the reason we’re able to keeping growing and changing when it comes to this special-ist of events is because we’ve got a community that shares our values and knows that accessible science education needs funding.

Teal Christensen
“Rock On!”

A Huge Thank You from All of Us

Image source: @Trickstresscosplay

One of the hardest things about GeekGirlCon is that point on Sunday night when you realize that the con is coming to its inevitable conclusion. It’s such a bittersweet moment, but it’s also a good time to reflect on the cultural phenomenon that is GeekGirlCon.

JC Lau
“Rock On!”

Celebrating Five Years of DIY Science

At GeekGirlCon, accessibility is everything. Putting together a packed weekend of accessible and inclusive geeky programming is fundamental to GeekGirlCon’s mission. One event that reflects this commitment is our DIY Science Zone. The DIY Science Zone is one of GeekGirlCon’s most unique bits of programming, and this year we’re celebrating its fifth anniversary. Equally as exciting for both kids and adults, the DIY Science Zone brings together scientists, science educators, and science enthusiasts alike to participate in hands-on activities and experiments, chat about various scientific fields, and celebrate accessible learning.

Teal Christensen
“Rock On!”

The 2016 DIY Science Zone Fundraiser

It’s that time of the year again. We’re less than two months away from October, which means that we’re less than two months away from GeekGirlCon 2016. But do you know what that also means? We’re ready to launch our Fundraiser for the DIY Science Zone!

Indigo Boock
“Rock On!”

August Geek About Town!

As we say goodbye to summer, make sure you check out these great events before the season changes! GAT will now also feature events that are going on throughout the month, so you can plan ahead!

 

Throughout August:

Free Gates Foundation Family Tours and Activities

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center, 440 5th Ave North, Seattle

Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am to 5pm (until 6pm from June 3-August 30). Closed Sunday, Monday, and all U.S. holidays

Free admission!

It’s interactive, kid friendly, and full of teachable and inspirational moments. Bring your family to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center for a free visit to learn about the work being done to improve lives from Seattle to South Africa.

The Visitor Center, through engaging and thought-provoking exhibits, allows parents and children to dive into some of the world’s toughest challenges and learn how to act on their own ideas and solutions. Families can expect hands-on exhibits and spaces to create, explore, and discuss.

It’s an experience unlike any other in Seattle. Visit us across the street from the Seattle Center and the iconic Space Needle for an experience that will leave your family hopeful. Arrive curious. Leave inspired.

 

Monday, August 1: GeekGirlCon Agent Applications Close!

Today’s the last day to get your Agent Applications in! Applications are due at 10:00pm tonight.

GGC games

Tuesday, August 2: All Geeks, All Games at Mox Boarding House!

6:00pm-10:00pm, Mox Boarding House, 13310 BelRed Rd, Bellevue, WA

Our All Geeks, All Games events are growing in popularity! Join GeekGirlCon and Mox Boarding House in Bellevue and help us continue to expand our community of diverse and inclusive gamers to the East Side!

Help us fill that beautiful Tournament Room with folks enjoying our favorite games in a safe and accepting atmosphere. Why mess with the headache of traffic when you can come and play games with us instead.

Staff from both organizations will be on hand to help facilitate gameplay for the shy to the extroverted, from the expert strategist to the board game neophyte. With a huge lending library of games on hand, there will be something for everyone!

As an added bonus, if you play a board game from their library and love it, you can buy a fresh copy for 20% off! How cool is that?!

 

Saturday, August 6: Seattle Center Movies at the Mural: Mad Max, Fury Road

Dusk, Seattle Center

Free admission!

Experience FREE movies outdoors at Seattle Center this summer. Picnic on the gently sloping Mural Amphitheatre lawn, in front of a state-of-the-art 40-foot screen, with the Space Needle looming above. The series features popular movies, both classic and contemporary, appropriate for all-ages.  Movies at the Mural is an outdoor cinema experience like no other!

The desert wastelands inhabited by the Road Warrior are still rife with motorized gangs in this fourth chapter of the Mad Max legend. When Max encounters a group of refugees fleeing for their lives, he joins them and their fiery leader, Furiosa in this apocalyptic story set in a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, and everyone is fighting for the necessities of life.

 

Monday, August 8-Friday, August 12: Creativity Camps for Kids: Rock n Science

8:30am-4:15pm, EMP Museum and Pacific Science Center

Registration: $445 ($415 for EMP members)

Open to students in grade 1-2.

Discover the science behind sound in this amped up week!

At EMP, artists will take you on a tour to explore rock ‘n’ roll and hip-hop. Join a group and form a band, perform in front of virtual screaming fans, and collaboratively compose a song recorded for family and friends. Experiment with electric guitars, keyboards, and tuning forks.

At Pacific Science Center, explore vibration, pitch, and volume as you investigate your vocal cords and create your own instruments. Find out how tubes, wind, and string combine to make the sounds of science.

 

Friday, August 12: DIY Science Zone Board Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse!

7:00pm-10:45pm, Wayward Coffeehouse, 6417 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA

For this GeekGirlCon game night, there’ll be a special host and theme!

Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon game nights with our friends at Wayward? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

Our group is inclusive and totally newbie-friendly. We play a wide range of modern board and card games as well as some classics. You might find CodenamesLove LetterSplendorKing of TokyoVöluspáslashAlien FrontiersLocke & KeyCoup,TokaidoSuperfightThe ResistanceColt ExpressSkull and RosesSettlers of Catan7 WondersToc Toc WoodmanFLUXX, and many more!

Bring a game with you or just bring yourself. Join GeekGirlCon staffers, make some new friends, play some games, and enjoy some delicious organic, fair trade, and shade-grown coffee.

 

Saturday, August 13: Seattle Center Movies at the Mural: Galaxy Quest

Dusk, Seattle Center

Free admission!

Experience FREE movies outdoors at Seattle Center this summer. Picnic on the gently sloping Mural Amphitheatre lawn, in front of a state-of-the-art 40-foot screen, with the Space Needle looming above. The series features popular movies, both classic and contemporary, appropriate for all-ages.  Movies at the Mural is an outdoor cinema experience like no other!

Decades after the success of the sci-fi series “Galaxy Quest,” the show’s washed-up stars — Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen), Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver) and Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman) — are recruited by actual aliens to pull off an intergalactic rescue mission. At first, the actors assume the so-called Thermians are just another group of die-hard fans. But as the plot thickens, they realize they’re working with real-life extraterrestrials.

 

Saturday, August 13-Sunday, August 14: Felt-A-Con

10am-6pm, Seattle Children’s Theater,  201 Thomas Street Seattle, WA 98109

Registration: $40 Kids Mini-track, $100

FELT-A-CON 2016 is a time for networking, education, fun, and outreach. The event will welcome both professionals and enthusiasts, and puppeteers of all skill levels, from beginners to legends. The weekend registration fee will grant attendees access to at least 5 workshops, lunch, a FELT-A-CON 2016 t-shirt, and a group dinner at a Queen Anne restaurant.

Puppet professionals from Seattle, Everett, Portland, Phoenix and Los Angeles will lead workshops on a wide variety of topics, including sketch writing, tabletop puppetry, and stop motion animation.

 

Tuesday, August 16: All Geeks, All Games at Mox Boarding House!

6:00pm-10:00pm, Mox Boarding House, 13310 BelRed Rd, Bellevue, WA

Our All Geeks, All Games events are growing in popularity! Join GeekGirlCon and Mox Boarding House in Bellevue and help us continue to expand our community of diverse and inclusive gamers to the East Side!

Help us fill that beautiful Tournament Room with folks enjoying our favorite games in a safe and accepting atmosphere. Why mess with the headache of traffic when you can come and play games with us instead.

Staff from both organizations will be on hand to help facilitate gameplay for the shy to the extroverted, from the expert strategist to the board game neophyte. With a huge lending library of games on hand, there will be something for everyone!

As an added bonus, if you play a board game from their library and love it, you can buy a fresh copy for 20% off! How cool is that?!

 

Saturday, August 20: Seattle Center Movies at the Mural: West Side Story

Dusk, Seattle Center

Free admission!

Experience FREE movies outdoors at Seattle Center this summer. Picnic on the gently sloping Mural Amphitheatre lawn, in front of a state-of-the-art 40-foot screen, with the Space Needle looming above. The series features popular movies, both classic and contemporary, appropriate for all-ages.  Movies at the Mural is an outdoor cinema experience like no other!

Winner of 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture, this classic musical set among the tenements of New York City finds star-crossed lovers Maria and Tony caught in the midst of a turf war between rival street gangs.  Featuring music and lyrics by Leonard Bernstein and Steven Sondheim, and directed by Jerome Robbins.

 

Saturday, August 21: Seattle Brasilfest

Seattle Center

Free admission!

Seattle’s BrasilFest celebrates the unique diversity of this South American cultural melting pot. Brazil’s African, Portuguese and indigenous roots are celebrated with classical guitar, samba rhythms and the percussive beats of traditional folk music.

BrasilFest (Brazil spelled with an “S” in Portuguese): The lively world of Brazilian arts and culture will fill Seattle Center with a sultry display of South American soul, Brazilian style.

This one-day extravaganza will offer continuous music, dance, workshops and performance that represent a broad repertoire of traditional and contemporary Brazilian expressions as well as traditional folkloric performers. Experience all that this exuberant and vivid culture has to offer, from Capoeira demonstrations and workshops for all ages (Brazilian martial arts), Samba workshops, children’s activities (mask-making, painting), Brazilian instruments, arts and crafts, photo exhibits and films. BrasilFest is the first annual celebration of Brazilian culture in Washington State, drawing a significant audience.

 

Saturday, August 20-Sunday, August 21: Rat City Rollergirls presents Rust Riot

10:00am onwards, The Rat’s Nest, Shoreline

Passes $45 (2 day) or $25 (1 day)

Menacing clouds are rolling in to Seattle, and the forecast calls for a Rain of Terror as they host this year’s Rust Riot, a tournament featuring some of the best B teams in the world. Mark your calendars for August 20th and 21st and get ready to embrace the gray.

For just $45, you can purchase a weekend pass, which includes admission to 9 full hard-hitting derby bouts. Only available on Saturday or Sunday? Not a problem. We also have one-day passes available for just $25.

This tournament features Rat City All Stars, Rat City’s Rain of Terror, Terminal City All Stars, Terminal City B-Side, Rose City Axles of Annihilation, Montreal Sexpos and Rocky Mountain Contenders.

 

Friday, August 26: Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Skyway Outdoor Cinema

8:00pm – 11:00pm, Skyway Outdoor Cinema, 12610 76th Ave S, Seattle, Washington 98178

We end yet another epic season of SOC with a movie that truly needs no introduction, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. You may want to start grooming your trusty old Chewie costume now.

FOOD: Taco Time NW‘s Taco Time Traveler & Full Tilt Ice Cream
“Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance.”
JOIN this event to get all the breaking news on food trucks, raffle prizes, entertainment and more as they’re announced!
The preshow gets started at 8pm behind the Skyway 7-Eleven in the US Bank parking lot. Don’t forget to bring a comfy chair or blanket (or picnic table, or beanbag) and some cash for the concession stand (there is a US Bank ATM on premises, if you prefer). Movie starts at 9pm with a raffle to follow.

GeekGirlCon will be tabling at this event! Come by and say hi!

 

Friday, August 26: GeekGirlCon Board Game Night at Wayward Coffeehouse!

7:00pm-10:45pm, Wayward Coffeehouse, 6417 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA

For this GeekGirlCon game night, there’ll be a special host and theme!

Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon game nights with our friends at Wayward? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!

Our group is inclusive and totally newbie-friendly. We play a wide range of modern board and card games as well as some classics. You might find CodenamesLove LetterSplendorKing of TokyoVöluspáslashAlien FrontiersLocke & KeyCoup,TokaidoSuperfightThe ResistanceColt ExpressSkull and RosesSettlers of Catan7 WondersToc Toc WoodmanFLUXX, and many more!

Bring a game with you or just bring yourself. Join GeekGirlCon staffers, make some new friends, play some games, and enjoy some delicious organic, fair trade, and shade-grown coffee.

 

Saturday, August 27: Seattle Center Movies at the Mural: Life of Pi

Dusk, Seattle Center

Free admission!

Experience FREE movies outdoors at Seattle Center this summer. Picnic on the gently sloping Mural Amphitheatre lawn, in front of a state-of-the-art 40-foot screen, with the Space Needle looming above. The series features popular movies, both classic and contemporary, appropriate for all-ages.  Movies at the Mural is an outdoor cinema experience like no other!

Based on Yann Martel’s best-selling novel, this coming-of-age tale recounts the adventures of Pi, an Indian boy who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. While cast away, Pi is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery as he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.

 

August 27: Kitsap County 1st Annual Pacific Islander Festival

1:00pm-6:00pm, Evergreen Park, 1400 Park Avenue, Bremerton

Free admission!

The one event you don’t wanna miss… KITSAP COUNTY’s 1st ANNUAL PACIFIC ISLANDER FESTIVAL…FREE & ALL AGES WELCOME!! There will be a couple Halau’s, Live Island Reggae Bands jamming out through the event, Ono Grindz and various Vendors… We will also have Dj seattlesfynest spinning all the island rhythms… Island people come together as one, for future generations under the sun!

 

JC Lau
“Rock On!”

#DIYSciFilm returns with The Avengers!

Written by DIY Science Zone’s Event Coodinator Torrey Stenmark

 

The movie-watching scientists of the DIY Science Zone are back! In advance of the release of Captain America: Civil War, we’re bringing you our breakdown of Marvel’s The Avengers.

Curious about the science behind Tony Stark’s arc reactor (somewhat plausible), the Tesseract (less so), or the helicarrier (um, no)? Please join us on Twitter at #DIYSciFilm next week! We’ll start the film at 6:00 PDT and share comments, criticism, and general merriment.

Previous #DIYSciFilm events have included Real Genius and The Mysterious Affair at Styles, now storified for all propserity!

Specifics:
  • Marvel’s The Avengers (available for digital rental from Amazon, or purchase wherever DVDs and Blu-rays are sold.)
  • Start time: April 28, at 6:00 PDT/8:00 CDT/ 9:00 EDT
  • Follow and use hashtag #DIYSciFilm on Twitter
See you there! Excelsior!

Guest Contributor
“Rock On!”

DIY Science ’15: Return of the Zone!

Do you go gaga for close-ups of Pluto?

Do you quibble over the lack of dino feathers on Jurassic World?

Have you bemused your parents trying to explain that Spock is “the hunky one” in Star Trek? OK, maybe that’s just me.

In short, do you love science?

Well, strap on your lab goggles and pull up a laser because the DIY Science Zone is back for GeekGirlCon ‘15!

Winter Downs
“Rock On!”

The Riddle of Randomness

Written by guest-blogger and GeekGirlCon participant Jason Thibeault of Free Thought Blogs, @lousycanuck

 

Last year at GeekGirlCon, I had the privilege of participating in the Do-It-Yourself Science Zone teaching kids about probability and randomness.

However, being The Riddler, I had a secret agenda in mind while doing my demonstrations–I have a trio of ten-sided dice that I use to gamble with my fellow super-villains, and I wanted to figure out which of them, if any, had a bias for or against any particular number. What better way to find out than to offload the boring task of rolling those dice over and over again onto unsuspecting passers-by?

Guest Contributor
“Rock On!”

Join The Discussion #GeekGirlCon

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