A night at the museum

Abstract

At midnight I survey the scene. On the far end of the room, a levitating train makes circles by a whale exhibit, demonstrating exciting applications of superconductors. As it passes, nearby spectators in dinosaur pajamas learn about water bears. To my right, several adults giggle as they practice using hula hoops to demonstrate hypothesis-driven science. To my left, on the other end of the room, a woman in jeans holds a knife over a human brain, preparing to make a slice through the hippocampus. Throughout the room, speakers in red shirts are enthusiastically demonstrating science. ![Figure][1] Stefano Bonetti pours liquid nitrogen to cool a superconductor for a levitating train experiment. PHOTO: LUQIA HOU Science often requires lab work long after sunset, but tonight we've left the lab and our ivory tower behind and brought our most exciting research with us. Since 2011, the California Academy of Sciences has held Penguins and Pajamas Sleepover for grown-ups, an annual event in which the regular museum exhibits are open to the public overnight. This year, it became a public venue for science after sunset as I, along with Mary Cavanagh, invited 40 Stanford postdocs to don red shirts and bring interactive demonstrations of their current research to share ([ 1 ][2], [ 2 ][3]). Our visitors seemed tentative at first, looking at the myriad exhibits but reluctant to approach us. We broke the ice by starting conversations, and suddenly everyone was visibly engaged in the cutting-edge science taking place right around the corner. Some people were interested in brain function and peppered Viola Caretti with questions. Others wanted to know more about magnetism and superconductivity from Stefano Bonetti. A bar provided guests with drinks under the projection of artistic science images curated by Ermelinda Porpiglia, and late at night guests could find a unique place to sleep next to live penguins or by the light of glowing jellyfish. At first light, the crowd dispersed and the postdocs packed up their materials and went home. In the months since that night, Stanford postdocs have continued to perform their science at museum events, satisfied in knowing they can make science come alive. 1. [↵][4]1. M. Cavanagh , Penguins, pyjamas and postdocs ([www.neuwritewest.org/blog/4931][5]). 2. [↵][6]1. E. Seigneur , NeuroTalk S2E3 Penguins & Pajamas ([www.neuwritewest.org/blog/4791][7]). [1]: pending:yes [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [5]: http://www.neuwritewest.org/blog/4931 [6]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [7]: http://www.neuwritewest.org/blog/4791