California Science Center: Acclaimed “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” Exhibit Arrives at the California Science Center February 11, 2007 - April 29, 2007
Acclaimed “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” Exhibit Arrives at the California Science Center February 11, 2007 - April 29, 2007
LOS ANGELES, CA — (MARKET WIRE) — January 17, 2007 — Continuing
the “Star Wars” saga’s year-long30th-anniversary celebration, the phenomenally popular “Star Wars: WhereScience Meets Imagination” debuts February 11, 2007 at the CaliforniaScience Center, where it runs through April 29. Since its October 2005debut, the exhibition has attracted nearly 700,000 visitors at museums inBoston, Massachusetts; Columbus, Ohio; and Portland, Oregon.
Could humanoid robots and vehicles that hover above ground, once limitedonly to the fantasy worlds of “Star Wars,” become a reality? “Star Wars:Where Science Meets Imagination” explores the boundaries of fantasy andreality, revealing intriguing similarities between how scientists andfilmmakers think. Developed by the Museum of Science, Boston incollaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd., the 10,000-square-foot exhibit exploresthe fantasy technologies depicted in the “Star Wars” films and comparesthem to real-world technologies that are shaping our future today. Visitorswill discover how ideas become technologies in real life through hands-onexhibits, immersive experiences, and cutting edge innovations.
This exhibition is the first to display costumes and props from all six”Star Wars” films with real-world technologies. Also included are extensivevideo interviews with filmmakers, scientists and engineers; and hands-oncomponents, including two large Engineering Design Labs, where visitors canbuild and test their own speeders and robots. “Star Wars: Where ScienceMeets Imagination” is presented by Bose Corporation with support from theNational Science Foundation and sponsored regionally by Northrop Grumman.
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Visitors explore The ‘Robots and People’ section which looks
at the relationship between robots and humans on screen and
in the real world. Exhibit image (C) 2006 Museum of Science,
Boston and Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM
“We are especially pleased to present ‘Star Wars: Where Science MeetsImagination,’” notes Ken Phillips, California Science Center Curator ofAerospace Science, “because it gives visitors first-hand exposure to theincredible innovations of the ‘Star Wars’ movies while inviting them todesign technologies of the future.” Phillips also notes that, “Visitorswill be able to explore how current science research may one day lead toreal-world versions of many ‘Star Wars’ fantasy technologies.”
California Science Center
“Star Wars” creator George Lucas said, “I’m happy that ‘Star Wars’ can helpeducate people about technology in an entertaining way. Technologicalinnovation and filmmaking have a lot in common: They both begin withimagination and creativity.”
There are two major thematic areas within the exhibit:
“Getting Around” focuses on transportation in the films as well as new andfuture modes of travel. Visitors will be able to view Luke Skywalker’sLandspeeder from Episode IV, climb into a real world hovercraft andlevitate, and explore how one would build a maglev car in the Design Lab.
“Robots and People” looks at the relationship between robots and humans onscreen and in the real world. After seeing displays of “Star Wars” robotslike C-3PO and R2-D2, visitors can try to build a droid, exploring areassuch as robot mobility, perception and cognition. Robot-enthusiasts can tryto make a robot walk, test a robot that balances on two wheels, and designfacial expressions for an emotional robot.
In total, the exhibit features over 100 “Star Wars” artifacts andreal-world technologies, 17 videos, and 21 interactive exhibits. Originalfilm artifact highlights include models of the Millennium Falcon, Luke’slandspeeder, a sandcrawler, a Naboo Starfighter, an AT-TE walker, and QueenAmidala’s Nubian Starship. Costumes from each of the “Star Wars” worldsdemonstrate how the environment shaped the look of the “Star Wars”characters. Some of the colorful costumes on display include Wookiees fromKashyyyk, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin and Yoda from Coruscant, a snowtrooperfrom Hoth, and a Jawa, from Tatooine.
Admission Information
Admission to the Science Center and “Star Wars” exhibit is free; however astrong demand is anticipated. Priority admission will be extended to IMAXticket purchasers and California Science Center Members. All others willbe admitted based on availability and capacity. Admission to the exhibitcannot be guaranteed particularly during peak hours. For more detailedinformation and helpful tips for planning a visit, please go towww.californiasciencecenter.org
The Millennium Falcon “Jump to Lightspeed Experience” is an additionalattraction which features a multimedia presentation from the Hubble spacetelescope’s breathtaking journey to the “edge” of the Universe. Featuring aproprietary sound system from Bose Corporation, the recreated cockpitdebuts the technologies of 3Space™ audio systems, providing visitorswith a realistic three-dimensional audio experience. The Falcon experienceis separate from the exhibit with an admission charge of $2 per person.
**Note to Editors — Exhibit Admission for Working Media
Due to the strong interest in the “Star Wars: Where Science MeetsImagination” exhibit, we can only accommodate scheduled media visits andadmission is by appointment only. Please contact the CommunicationsDepartment at (213) 744-7446 to make arrangements.
About the California Science Center
The California Science Center’s mission is as follows: “We aspire tostimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone by creatingfun, memorable experiences, because we value science as an indispensabletool for understanding our world, accessibility and inclusiveness, andenriching people’s lives.”
The Science Center and IMAX Theater are located in historic ExpositionPark, Los Angeles. Open daily from 10am to 5pm except Thanksgiving,Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission to Science Center exhibits is free.IMAX tickets vary from $8.00 for adults to $4.75 for children 4-12. Forrecorded information on show times, phone (213) 744-7400. Tickets areavailable at the Box Office or online at www.californiasciencecenter.org.For advance IMAX ticket purchases, group rates, or to make reservations forany visiting group of 15+ (required), call (213) 744-2019. Parking isavailable in the guest lot at Figueroa and 39th/Coliseum Street at $6 percar. Both the Science Center and IMAX Theater are wheelchair accessible.Proceeds from the IMAX Theater support California Science Center exhibitsand education programs.
About Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm is one of the leading film and entertainment companies in theworld. Lucasfilm’s businesses include George Lucas’ film and televisionproduction and distribution. Lucasfilm’s feature films have won 19 Oscarsand received 52 Academy Award nominations, and its television projects havewon 12 Emmy Awards. For more information, visit www.lucasfilm.com orcontact the Lucasfilm Communications Department at (415) 623-1962.
About Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technologycompany whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, andsolutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace andshipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.
“STAR WARS: WHERE SCIENCE MEETS IMAGINATION” was developed by the Museum ofScience, Boston and Lucasfilm Ltd. The exhibition has been made possiblethrough the generous support of Bose Corporation. “Star Wars” objects inthis exhibition are on loan from the Archives of Lucasfilm Ltd.
The Museum of Science, Boston is a participant in the Science MuseumExhibit Collaborative with the California Science Center, COSI Columbus,Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History, The Franklin Institute ScienceMuseum and The Science Museum of Minnesota.
This material is based upon work supported by the National ScienceFoundation under Grant No. 0307875. Any opinions, findings, andconclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of theauthor(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National ScienceFoundation.
Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, “STAR WARS,” droid, Jedi, lightsaber andrelated properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United Statesand other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & ©Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade namesare properties of their respective owners.
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