Space for Her

Saturday, March 16
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
$12 Adults, $10 for Kids, Free for Members

In November of 2024, NASA’s Artemis 2 is set to launch their first crewed mission of the Orion Spacecraft, which will land the first woman on the moon. Meanwhile, women have been making monumental advancements in space science for decades. This Women’s History Month, come hear from some phenomenal women and gender minorities working in space science today!

Event Schedule:

Humans in Space: How Astronauts Live and Sleep Without Gravity
Theater
10:30 a.m.

What would it be like to live in space? Join NASA scientist Dr. Rachel Jansen to discover the challenges that astronauts residing on the International Space Station face every day and explore the effect that life without gravity has on the human body. 

Dr. Rachel Jansen is a cognitive scientist in the Fatigue Countermeasures Lab at NASA Ames Research Center where she researches the sleep and circadian rhythms of astronauts and pilots. 

Lunaverse
Planetarium
11 a.m.

(17 min) “Lunaverse” explores the nature of Earth’s moon: its motion and phases, lunar and solar eclipses, tides, and the Moon’s origin. The story unfolds as a conversation between a curious young child and the Moon—Luna—over the course of a night, from moonrise to moonset.

Storytime: The Girl Who Named Pluto By Alice B. McGinty
Touch the Sun
11:30 a.m.

An empowering, inspiring–and accessible!–nonfiction picture book about the eleven-year-old girl who actually named the newly discovered Pluto in 1930. 

(Large) Maps of the Observable Universe as a Pathway to Understand Dark Energy
Planetarium
12 p.m.

Come learn about state-of-the-art methods to explore the universe with Dr. Satya Gontcho A Gontcho! 

Dr. Satya Gontcho A Gontcho is a Berkeley Lab Cosmologist and a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. She works at the interface of physics and astronomy, and pieces together the history of our universe. 

5000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI
Planetarium
1 p.m.

(30 min) The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is creating the most detailed map of our nearby universe. Installed on the Mayall telescope on Kitt Peak in Southern Arizona, DESI’s 5000 independently operated robots can measure the light from thousands of galaxies at once. Join us as we explore the science, instrument, and people behind this global endeavor. 

Storytime: Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
Touch the Sun
1:30 p.m.

In this beautifully illustrated picture book edition, we explore the story of four female African American mathematicians at NASA and how they overcame gender and racial barriers to succeed in a highly challenging STEM-based career. 

Big Astronomy
Planetarium
2 p.m.

(26 min) People, Places, Discoveries explores three observatories located in Chile, at extreme and remote places. It gives examples of the multitude of STEM careers needed to keep the great observatories working. The show is narrated by Barbara Rojas-Ayala, a Chilean astronomer. 

Lessons from a Lifelong Pursuit of Extraterrestrials
Theater
2:30 p.m.

After seeing the movie Contact as a child, Julia had dreamed of becoming a SETI (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) scientist but thought that it was the stuff of science fiction. However, during her pursuit of astronomy in college, she learned about the subject of astrobiology and discovered that one can dedicate their life to searching for life in the Universe. Join Julia as she discusses the trials and tribulations, lessons and advice, of a career dedicated to searching for life out there.   

Julia DeMarines is an Astrobiologist, a National Geographic Explorer, and researcher with UC Berkeley’s Earth and Planetary Science Department and with Blue Marble Space. She holds a master’s degree in Space Studies from the International Space University and a Bachelor’s in Astronomy from the University of Colorado. In 2013, she created Space in Your Face! which aims to communicate complex space concepts in fun and engaging ways because everyone deserves to understand the Universe we belong to. 

Forward to the Moon
Planetarium
3 p.m.

(28 min) Kari Byron from Crash Test World and MythBusters launches us on a journey beyond the Earth towards a sustainable future in space. NASA’s 21st century Artemis program, named after the Greek moon Goddess and twin of Apollo, is the next step in our mission to explore the universe and land the first woman and person of color on the surface of the Moon. 

Women’s History Month Live Science
Theater
4 p.m.

Are you ready for launch? Help us analyze the different types of fuel that can be used to power rockets. In a series of demonstrations, we will evaluate the efficiency of these fuels and how to select the right kind for a mission to space. Along the way, we’ll introduce you to some stellar women and the impact they’ve had, and are still making, on the past and future of space exploration!

East Bay Regional Parks 
Rotunda
10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Discover how you can have a career in science and parks! Learn more about the women who have played an important role in the East Bay Regional Park District’s history of protecting open space and connecting people with nature in the East Bay. 

Resource Table 
Front Entrance
10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Help yourself to free resources courtesy of our community partners! 

Bonita the Bumblebee
Courtyard
10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Learn about Astronaut Mae Jemison through Arts and Crafts! Unlock your creativity! Color pictures of Mae Jemison and make rocket ships come to life through colors and sticker art. Creative fun that you can take with you!