Events & Activities May - Aug 2010

Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG

Thinktank Trust Registered Charity Number 1061898.IMAX is a registered trademark of IMAX corporation.

All information correct at time of going to print April 2010.Subject to change.

Visit us by train or bus and getsome money off your entryfee! Save up to 30% off atThinktank and up to 30%off IMAX films! For detailsplease ask your local station.

Events & Activities May - Aug 2010

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featuring

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Travel toThinktank by

public transportand enjoy hugediscounts!

Survival ofthe WeirdestScience ShowJoin us for a look at someof the weirdest and mostwonderful animals in theworld. Discover how theStalk Eyed Fly attracts amate, how the WolverineFrog gets its name andexplore the amazing life ofthe Bone Eating Snot Flower!

• Suitable for all• Weekends andschool holidays

• 2.15pm, ThinktankTheatre, Level 2

Animal HandlingJoin our guest animalhandlers and meet yourfavourite animals orconfront your worstnightmares in our phobiasession.

• Suitable for all• Selected Wednesdaysin July and August

• For further details visitwww.thinktank.ac/whats_on

Meerkat MadnessStorytellingJoin Max the Meerkat on hisepic quest to survive in thedangerous and deadly Kalaharidesert! In this immersiveexperience, little ones can helpMax look out for danger, findsomething to eat, a place tosleep and get back to his dad.

• Suitable for under 8s• Weekends andschool holidays

• 12 noon, Story Space,Level 3, Events Area

Creative CornerEnter the Creative Cornerand let your imagination runwild, with plenty of spaceand resources to help youcapture your favouriteanimals on paper. Take partin our fun-packed arts andcrafts workshops from makinganimal masks to origamianimals and much more!

• Suitable for all• Selected times/dates• For further details visitwww.thinktank.ac/whats_on

Come andsee stunning

images of theworld’s most beautiful

creatures in their naturalhabitats, from orang-utans in Borneo,to leopards in Russia. This is a uniqueopportunity for you to see some ofthe greatest wildlife photographs of2009, brought together in one place.

Unleash your wildside and explore theliving world in the newseason Thinktankgoes WILD!

This summer, Thinktank willhost an awe-inspiringshowcase of some of theworld’s most amazinganimals, and the stunningWildlife Photographer of theYear 2009 exhibition.

There are lots of animal-themed activities foreveryone to enjoy, includingworkshops, science shows,animal handling sessions,storytelling and muchmore. So come along anddiscover the science of thecreatures that walk on land,swim in the sea and flythrough the air, as well as

the little critterscrawling aroundin your own back

garden!

Busking, Lab ActivitiesInvestigate the world around you in our laboratory or take onone of our science busks in our drop-in science session.

• Locations vary depending on activity; please see aGallery Enabler for more details

• Selected times/dates

Handling HubGet up close and personalwith the animals in ourHandling Hub. Here you willfind a variety of skulls, skinsand skeletons for you toexplore and examine andsee in finer details whatmother nature hasproduced. Little ones canjoin in the fun too, at theirvery own lower level station.

• Suitable for all

Gen(ie) in a BottleCome and join us in thelab for a workshop with adifference. Make your veryown DNA, CSI style, fromcheek swabs. You caneven take your DNA samplehome with you!

• Suitable for over 10s• Weekends andschool holidays

• 12.45pm, The Lab,Level 1

• £1.95 to Thinktankvisitors, tickets mustbe purchased inadvance from theTicket Desk on Level 2

Meet the ScientistJoin local scientists anddiscover what happensat the cutting edge ofscience and talk tothe people who aremaking it happen.

• Selected daysfrom Mon 31May - Fri 4Jun andthroughthe Summerholidays

• Talking Point,Level 3

Live SilversmithDemonstrationsOur resident Silversmithuses traditional Birminghamcraftsmanship to createdecorative items out of silverbullion. Join him for a livelychat and demonstration.

• Most Saturdays• 10am - 4pm, Level 0

Full Steam AheadEvery day our heritage teampowers up one of thecountry's largest workingcollections of steam drivenengines! Watch thesemagnificent machinessnorting steam andpounding with power.

Unless otherwise stated, events andactivities are free to Thinktank ticketholders and are subject to availability.

HandlingCollection SessionsGet to grips withamazing objects in ourhandling sessions. One

of the following sessions takesplace every weekend and schoolholiday:

• Science from theproduction lineCome and look at the sciencebehind some of Birmingham'sgreatest industries.

• Amazing Animal ExplorersJoin us for a sensoryexploration of our world’sdiverse and exciting animalspecies. Travel across oceansand continents discoveringthe animals that live there.From peacock feathers to wildboar skins, we have it all foryou to touch and see.

• Monsters from the pastFrom the ferocious sabretoothed cat to the largestshark that ever lived, wehave the evidence for you tohandle and investigate.

• Please ask a GalleryEnabler for more handlingcollection session details

• 3pm, weekends andschool holidays

Cafe ScientifiqueThinktank has partnered with the internationally known CaféScientifique to form the Birmingham Café Sci. Café Sci is aseries of informal and lively discussion events aroundcontemporary science issues that take place in bars andcafes in and around Birmingham.• For more details, visit www.thinktank.ac/cafe_sci

Prof Nick Lee,Aston UniversityBrain ButtonsJoin us for a discussion aboutthe implications of recentadvances in neuroscienceresearch as applied to theworld of business andconsumption: Can marketerscontrol your responses? Canemployers profile and predictyour future success? Will theyever be able to? And if so,should we be worried?

• Tues 4 May, 7pm• For location and furtherinformation visitwww.thinktank.ac/cafe_sci

Prof Rex Harris,University of BirminghamHydrogen, a fuel forthe future?Our reliance on fossil fuelsis constantly in the mediaand renewable energysources are an area of fiercescientific research. But howlikely is it that fuels such ashydrogen may provide forour needs in the future andat what cost?

• Tues 3 Aug, 7pm• For location and furtherinformation visitwww.thinktank.ac/cafe_sci

’StorytellingSee What’s new section.

ThinkTots EarlyYears ClubCome along on Wednesdaymornings for storytelling,Make and Take activitiesand creative play designedwith you and your little onesin mind.

• Suitable for under 5s• Wednesday mornings(during Birminghamterm time) and Mon 24- Fri 28 May

• 11.15am - 12 noon,Talking Point, Level 3

• All children must beaccompanied by an adult

FacepaintingFrom delicate cheek art togruesome injuries andeverything in between, ourfacepainters can transformyou into beauty or the beast!

• Mon 31 May - Fri 4 Jun• 11am to 3.30pm, Level 1• 50p per child

AnnamationStorytellingJoin Annamation, theprofessional storyteller forsome amazing tales.

• 12 noon, 1.30pm,2.30pm, 3.30pm

• Mon 31 May - Fri 4 Jun• Classroom Banneker,Level 1

Parent PacksThese packs are designedfor children aged 3 - 7 andtheir parents/carers. Theycontain activities related tothe story within the pack,which help you talk to andplay with your child andinteract with certain areasof the museum.

• Please ask a GalleryEnabler for furtherinformation

• Available at selectedtimes only

• Suitable for 3 - 7year olds

Suitable for children under 8

To check film times and book tickets, visit www.imax.ac

For excitement, scale andsheer sensory overloadnothing comes close to theIMAX Experience. You’ll neverlook at a trip to the cinemain the same way again!Explore the IMAX Experienceat www.imax.ac

Dinosaurs Alive! 3D(45 min, PG)Dinosaurs Alive! 3D is adocumentary style short filmfeaturing the entire age ofdinosaurs - reawakened onthe giant screen in the eye-popping 3D format.

Bugs! 3D(40 min, U)Narrated by Dame JudiDench, Bugs! 3D invitesus to explore a hidden worldof tiny creatures that shareour planet.

Shrek Forever After:An IMAX 3D Experience(opens July 2010)The further adventuresof the giant green ogre,Shrek, living in the landof Far, Far Away.

Toy Story 3: An IMAX 3DExperience (opens July 2010)Woody, Buzz, and the rest of theirtoy-box friends are dumped in aday-care centre after their owner,Andy, departs for college.

Prince of Persia:The Sands of Time(opens 21 May 2010)Epic action-adventure abouta rogue prince (Jake

Gyllenhaal) and a mysterious princess (Gemma Anderton)who team up to stop an angry ruler from unleashing asandstorm that could destroy the world.

To be confirmed...

The LittleStar that Could(25 min, all ages)Fulldome (360-degree) showJoin the adventure of a littlestar looking for planets to warmand protect as he meets othertypes of stars, learns whatmakes each star special, andeventually finds his planet.

Data Plex (economy)While visiting the planetarium,enjoy a striking fly-throughof a real-time digital cityrepresenting the world'scurrent stock markets.

The UK’s first purpose-built digital Planetarium has avibrant daily programme of entertaining shows andactivities that will take you on an inspiring explorationof the night sky, our galaxy and beyond.

The Future is Wild(25 min, all ages)Fulldome (360-degree) showEver wondered what life onEarth may look like in fivemillion years? Examine theendless possible adaptationsof future plants and animalsattempting to survive Earth'sever-changing environments.

Stars & Stories ofSpring and Summer(25 min, all ages)Presenter-led showDiscover easy-to-see objectsand fascinating creatures inthe night sky, while singingalong to our constellationsongs. Locate alien worlds,and see satellites fly aboveyour home!

II

Planetarium Group BookingsWe have a wide variety of presenter-led and fulldome (360-degree) shows, available for group bookings, coveringa range of topics, including Islamic Astronomy, ClimateChange, Black Holes, Ancient Chinese Astronomy, Alien Life,Ancient Egypt, Scientific Research Satellites, Telescopes, the Human Body, and much more. For a full catalogue visit www.thinktank.ac/dome_shows

Planetarium

FREE*

Shows and times vary, for detailscall 0121 202 2222 or visitwww.thinktank.ac/planetarium.* Free Planetarium show withevery visit, subject to availability.Thinktank ticket holders only.

For further information on any event, show or activity, and to make a booking, call

0121 202 2222 (9am-5pm daily)

or visit: www.thinktank.ac

Thinktank Thinktank andany IMAX film

Adult

Child (3-15 years)

Concession

Family of 4 (Max 2 adults)

Thinktank Prices:

£11.75

£7.95

£7.95

£36.80

£18.85

£13.60

£13.60

£59.40

IMAX 3D Films All IMAX 3D film prices include a glasses hire charge.

IMAX 3D IMAX 3D IMAX 2DShort Films Feature Films Feature Films

Adult

Child (3-15 years)

Concession

Family of 4(Max 2 adults)

IMAXPrices:

£8.60

£6.75

£6.75

£27.80

£9.60

£7.75

£7.75

£31.80

£9.00

£7.15

£7.15

£29.40

Adult

Child (3-15 years)

Concession

Family of 5 (Max 2 adults)

Season Tickets:

£42.50

£30.00

£30.00

£75.00

A season ticket gives you unlimited entry into Thinktankfor a whole year including on site savings at theThinktank shop, IMAX Cinema and all our café facilities.

Opening Times:Thinktank is open 7 days a week, except 24, 25,26 and 27 December 2010, from 10am - 5pmwith last admission at 4pm.

Printed on paper produced only from sustainable forests.

Refreshments• Thinktank CaféLight meals, hot and coldsnacks and drinks available in holiday periods only.

School Visits & Teacher PreviewsThinktank’s Education teamoffers a great programme ofinteractive shows, workshops and gallery trails to excite and inspire pupils. We also encourage teachers to visit Thinktank and IMAXCinema FREE OF CHARGE to help plan a school trip. For more information call 0121 202 2244 or visitwww.thinktank.ac/education

Thinktank ShopThinktank shop offers historical,educational and scientificbooks, pens, games, gifts, playkits, toys and novelty items.

Visitor ServicesOn-site parking available.Cloakroom available duringopening hours.

AccessibilityThinktank has a variety of tools and services to support your visit. For more information please call 0121 202 2222 or visitwww.thinktank.ac

Corporate EventsThinktank is a world-classcorporate venue, offering aunique environment for anyevent. For more information on the corporate facilities atThinktank, call0121 202 2333

A large print copy of this guide is available on request.

The British Science Festival comes toBirmingham from 14 - 19 September. A series of fun and fascinating events andactivities across the city, including workshops,

seminars, famous faces, dramas and debates.

For further information visit www.britishsciencefestival.org

Coming soon...

Birthday partiesLooking for a birthday party with a difference?Try a Thinktank birthday party and set a newstandard amongst your friends!

For more information or to make abooking, please call 0121 202 2244 or visit www.thinktank.ac/birthday