Operations in Aspen
In education, our goal is to bridge the gap between research, education, and passion for sound science. This understanding will enhance every aspect of our lives.
In Outreach, our goal is to provide innovative, immersive experiences that enhance the community's understanding of, and appreciation for, good science.
Our goal is to develop programs that provide real solutions to challenges based on sound science (i.e., the need for science literacy for the US) by convening, organizing and committing key leaders to pursuing plans that will produce real on-the-ground results to better humankind.
The Aspen Science Center is a 501 (c)(3) organization founded to bring science into our lives in a compelling way and use the power of good science to create a better future for all of us.
The Aspen Science Center will enter partnerships with universities, government and other educational agencies, NGOs, and industry, collaborating with them to pursue our goals throughout the United States and beyond.
A New Home
The Aspen Science Center is announcing its interest in leasing the building that is currently the Aspen Art Museum for an Aspen Science Center and Museum.
The Aspen Science Center would use the facility :
• As a center for informal education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
• As a center to gather collaborating non-profit science and educational organizations in the Aspen Valley for joint projects and events.
• As a center to hold a variety of educational events for the public, especially children.
• As a Museum of Science with hands-on displays for children of all ages.
Aspen Science Festival 2013
The Aspen Science Festival is a summer long celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) comprised of programs for kids up and down the valley in cooperation with various Valley institutions. The programs are deeply rooted in the Aspen Science Center’s mission to improve the public understanding of STEAM subjects and centered around our belief that STEAM education follows most effectively when kids have had the opportunity to experience the wonder of science first hand.
Currently our program is comprised of a Science Street Fair, a Stargazer Ice Cream Social, the Physics BBQ, Cool Jobs and the Down Valley Science BBQ.
The Science Street Fair a daylong event that will be held this year on August 11, 2013 in Paepcke Park. It will include hands on exhibits from the top universities and science establishments, local organizations and local educators and students.
The Stargazer Ice Cream Social evening starts with ice cream made with liquid Nitrogen followed by stories of the stars and ending with star gazing of the Colorado night sky. June 28 on top of Aspen Mountain, part of The Ideas Festival.
Physics BBQs are held on the campus of the Aspen Center for Physics and start with a yummy BBQ followed by hands on experiments and a talk about science.
Cool Jobs give kids the opportunity to hear first hand from people who are working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. They will hear about the wonders of science that these people experience everyday on the job. July 10
The Down Valley Science BBQ is similar to the Physics BBQs but will be held down valley on a variety of STEAM subjects and will be multilingual in nature. Jule 24 at CRMS
Latest News and Events
Aspen Science Center sponsors a car at NREL Model Car Competitions
Posted on April 24, 2013
NREL Model Car Competitions
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) hosts car competitions that race solar- and battery-powered model vehicles. Middle School teams from all around Colorado participate in this fun, educational, and exciting event every May. Teams work together building cars with guidance from a parent, teacher, or coach to compete in race and design categories. A "Spirit Award" is also presented to one team recognizing good sportsmanship.
Solar Roller RC cars bring out the eco-techno-maker-learner kid in all of us - and especially so for high schoolers. These custom-built creations are based on parts from 1/10 scale radio-controlled cars but use hand-soldered solar arrays to generate power. The result is a flat, wide, mercilessly efficient craft that can keep going nonstop until the sun sets. Envision your oven door traveling faster than you can sprint - throughout an hourlong race. Check it out.
2013 Science Café
Posted on April 13, 2013
Another Successful Winter Cafe Session is Complete
Every winter, elite teams of the most accomplished physicists in the world head to the Winter Conferences of the Aspen Center for Physics to wrestle with the most cutting-edge questions in their fields. This always means something special for students, teachers, and science enthusiasts! Why? Because the world's pre-eminent physicists share their insights with the public at the Science Cafes and Winter Lectures.
The Cal Tech LIGO gravitation wave experiment confirms 2013 exhibit
Posted on January 20, 2013
The Cal Tech LIGO experiment was one of the most popular exhibits at the 2012 Aspen Science Festival - Science Street Fair and they are the first to confirm that they will exhibit again at the 2013 Science Street Fair on August 11, 2013. Since then a number of other institutions have confrimed that they will present again including The University of Colorado, Colorado State University and others. The 2013 Science Street Fair is expected to have more exhibits and cover a wider variety of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM ) subjects.
Aspen Science Festival - Science Street Fair 2013
Posted on January 18, 2013
Date for 2013 Science Street Fair is August 11
A free, all-day Science Festival Street Fair from 9AM to 4PM in Paepcke Park. The Festival will feature a non-stop program of stage presentations, interactive exhibits, experiments, and games for kids of all ages, designed to inform, entertain, and inspire.
Many of the presenters from 2012 have already committed to come again including CalTech, University of Colorado, Colorado State University, Solar Energy International, and more.The Festival is presented by the Aspen Science Center as part of it's summer long Aspen Science Festival.
July 5 John Grunsfeld Public Lecture Big Science Questions
Posted on July 2, 2012
Kids! Meet the Astronaut and Hubble Space Telescope Repairman
Lobby of Paepcke Auditorium – 5:15 pm
Aspen Center for Physics Public Lecture – Paepcke Auditorium 6:00 pm
Speaker – John Grunsfeld, NASA
Born in Chicago, Grunsfeld received his Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980 and his Master of Science and PhD in physics from the University of Chicago in 1984 and 1988, respectively. He is presently NASA's Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate.
Physicist Sets Up New ASC Telescope
Posted on June 7, 2012
Matthew Benacquista an astrophysicist visiting the Aspen Center for Physics helps set up the telescope recently purchased by the Aspen Science Center. The telescope was then used by the physicists to observe the transit of Venus across the disk of the Sun.