Looking to the Future

Escape Velocity

Join the Museum of Science Fiction for Escape Velocity, an upcoming event that the Museum will host at the Gaylord Resort and Conference Center in National Harbor, Maryland from 1-3 July 2016. Escape Velocity is a micro-world’s fair promoting science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) education within the context of science fiction by combining the fun of fan conventions with the fascination of science and engineering festivals. Escape Velocity seeks to make a measurable, positive impact in the community by boosting informal learning opportunities about complex academic areas. Its goal is to invigorate young people with an interest in STEAM learning by creating a world-class showcase of science and technology.

Highlights at Escape Velocity will include an exclusive Museum of Science Fiction exhibit; engaging discussion panels; virtual reality demonstrations; a starship bridge simulator; indoor drone racing; book signings; a programming track for kids; a science fiction film festival; comic book art workshops; a vendor and exhibitor hall; a VIP gala awards dinner; and an opening concert featuring Shaun Canon and headliner Megan Rüger.

Celebrity guests include keynote speaker Rod Roddenberry (Star Trek, 2017 series), Jamie Anderson (Firestorm), Gigi Edgley (Farscape), Morgan Gendel (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Dan Curry (Star Trek), John Morton (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), Adam Nimoy (For the Love of Spock), and Mark Okrand (creator of the Klingon language). Literary guests include authors Greg Bear (Eon), David Brin (The Postman), and James Suriano (Inbiotic).

Science guests include Kellie Gerardi (Masten Space Systems), David Grinspoon (astrobiologist), Pam Melroy (retired Air Force test pilot, former NASA astronaut), Mason Peck (Cornell University), Michelle Thaller (NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center), C. Alex Young (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center).

To learn more about Escape Velocity and to purchase tickets, please visit http://escapevelocity.events/

Museum of Science Fiction

Based in Washington, DC, the Museum of Science Fiction is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a narrative on the science fiction genre across all media and its relationship to the real world. The Museum’s mission is to create a center of gravity where art and science are powered by imagination. Science fiction is the story of humanity: who we were, who we are, and who we dream to be. The Museum will present this story through displays, interactivity, and programs in ways that excite, educate, entertain, and create a new generation of dreamers.

In the first step to fulfilling the Museum’s mission, our team will construct a Preview Museum in the Washington, DC metro region where we can test exhibit concepts, programs, and interactive technologies. This will give visitors a place to provide feedback that will help shape the development process for our full-scale facility. The Preview Museum will also allow us to share how interactive exhibits can be used as educational tools in conjunction with classroom materials that teachers can integrate into their daily lesson plans.

To learn more about the Museum of Science Fiction and its current projects, please visit http://www.museumofsciencefiction.org