Continuing the STAR WARS saga's year-long 30th-anniversary celebration, the phenomenally popular "STAR WARS: Where Science Meets Imagination" debuts Feb. 11, 2007, at the California Science Center, where it runs through April 29. Since its Oct. 2005 debut, the exhibition has attracted nearly 700,000 visitors at museums in Boston; Columbus, Ohio; and Portland.
"STAR WARS: Where Science Meets Imagination" explores the boundaries of fantasy and reality, revealing intriguing similarities between how scientists and filmmakers think. Developed by the Museum of Science, Boston in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd., the 10,000-square-foot exhibit explores the fantasy technologies depicted in the STAR WARS films and compares them to real-world technologies that are shaping our future today. Visitors will discover how ideas become technologies in real life through hands-on exhibits, 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 extensive video interviews with filmmakers, scientists and engineers; and hands-on components, including two large Engineering Design Labs, where visitors can build and test their own speeders and robots. "STAR WARS: Where Science Meets Imagination" is presented by Bose Corp. with support from the National Science Foundation and sponsored regionally by Northrop Grumman.
There are two major thematic areas within the exhibit:
"Getting Around" focuses on transportation in the films as well as new and future modes of travel. Visitors will be able to view Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder from EPISODE IV, climb into a real world hovercraft and levitate, and explore how one would build a maglev car in the Design Lab.
"Robots and People" looks at the relationship between robots and humans on screen and in the real world. After seeing displays of STAR WARS robots like C-3PO and R2-D2, visitors can try to build a droid, exploring areas such as robot mobility, perception and cognition. Robot-enthusiasts can try to make a robot walk, test a robot that balances on two wheels, and design facial expressions for an emotional robot.
In total, the exhibit features more than 100 STAR WARS artifacts and real-world technologies, 17 videos and 21 interactive exhibits. Original film artifact highlights include models of the Millennium Falcon, Luke's landspeeder, a sandcrawler, a Naboo Starfighter, an AT-TE walker and Queen Amidala's Nubian Starship. Costumes from each of the STAR WARS worlds demonstrate how the environment shaped the look of the STAR WARS characters. Some of the colorful costumes on display include Wookiees from Kashyyyk, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin and Yoda from Coruscant, a snowtrooper from Hoth, and a Jawa, from Tatooine.
Admission to the Science Center and STAR WARS exhibit is free; however a strong demand is anticipated. Priority admission will be extended to IMAX ticket purchasers and California Science Center Members. All others will be admitted based on availability and capacity. Admission to the exhibit cannot be guaranteed particularly during peak hours. For more detailed information and helpful tips for planning a visit, go to www.californiasciencecenter.org.
