HGS Celebrates Earth Science Week 2010 with Exploring Energy - 19-Sep-10: Earth Science article: contact Martha McRae

The Houston Geological Society celebrates

Earth Science Week 2010

“Exploring Energy”

October 9-16, 2010

Please visit www.hgs.org and click on the Science Education/ Earth Science Week tab for updates or changes to the events listed below:

Annual Family Energy Festival

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Saturday, October 9, 10:00am-3:00pm

We kick off the week with our annual Family Energy Festival at the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Paleontology Hall and Wiess Energy Hall.

This year’s festival will feature the same great passport program as in previous years and will coincide with the launch of HMNS’s new Energy Conservation Club (ECC). In addition to our great demonstrations by area geosciences organizations, the museum has a special celebration sponsored by Marathon Oil Corporation and the Wiess Energy Hall Partners that will include the “Billy B” show (www. billybproductions.com) and numerous interactive demonstrations about renewable energy. As in past years, Houston area Cub Scouts and Webelos are encouraged to come and work on their Geology Belt Loops and Activity Pins. This year is the first ever “energy” themed Earth Science Week. This is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and love of science with family and friends.

HMNS and HGS need you to make this event a success. If you have interest in volunteering, please contact the ESW committee: Martha McRae at mcrae_1125@comcast.net or Jennifer Burton at jlbgeo@comcast.net. Please visit the museum’s website at www.hmns.org for additional information on ECC.

Classroom Connections- Art, Essay, and Photography Contest

Help us take geology to the classroom! Encourage your kids and their schools to participate with us in our second annual Art, Essay, and Photography contests. Each contest has a topic related to the national Earth Science Week theme “Exploring Energy”. The art contest is open to grades K-5 and the essay contest is open to grades 6-9. Persons of any age can participate in the Photography Contest. Please check the HGS website for details or contact Jennifer Burton at jlbgeo@comcast.net. We will have a special on-stage ceremony and award presentation to honor winners in all categories during the Family Energy Festival on October 9th.

Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum Public Fieldtrip

Ocean Star Museum, Galveston, TX

Saturday, October 16, 12:00pm- 4:00pm

Visitors board the retired jackup drilling rig and view a video about the offshore energy industry. The museum features three floors of models and interactive displays illustrating the story of offshore oil and gas from seismic technology to exploration and production. Scale models of production platforms, actual drill bits and remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) as well as videos and exhibits explain drilling, geology, seismic, well servicing and production.

Entrance fees will be covered by the HGS for the first 300 participants. Please register using the link provided on the HGS website. Direct questions to Jennifer Burton at jlbgeo@comcast.net