Although the summer is the busiest time of year for the museum – and this summer even more so because of a tendency for folks to stay at home and explore attractions in their own backyards rather than fork out the money for travel – the fall is when things really kick into gear as regards programming.  The museum’s program team and education staff  have been working for the past several months to pull together a very full slate of programs for the fall semester. So full, in fact, that we may need to issue magnifying lenses along with our printed fall calendar.  As the schedule got fuller, the print got smaller and smaller.

So you can look forward to a ton of programs in the fall, beginning Aug. 27 with a lecture by Dr. Stephen Weldon from the OU History of Science department about the history of the evolution/creation debate.  Because this year is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, there are a lot of Darwin- and evolution-centered offerings, including a seminar series, a lecture series, an exhibition and even a family day and visit by two authors of children’s books about Darwin’s life and work.

Monthly astronomy lectures continue,  as do family nights, field trips and children’s workshops.  And now – following the success of our Movie Night at the Museum offered earlier this month – we are offering a monthly Movie Night in the museum’s Great Hall as well. Dinos and Desserts will be back on Nov. 7 for those of you looking for a grown-up, kid-free museum experience.

The upshot is that there’s plenty of excuses for visiting the museum this fall.  The printed calendar will be out in about a week.  Museum members receive it automatically, and you can sign up to receive it in the mail for a year if you like, just email me at lcoldwell@ou.edu and I will add you to the list.  There is also a monthly enewsletter that you can sign up for online.  Each month you’ll get an email with a listing of what’s coming up for the month ahead. You can sign up at http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/subscribe.htm.

The museum also has a facebook page and twitter account, if that’s not already enough ways to stay in touch.  You can follow us on twitter at samnoblemuseum, or become a fan on facebook.

So come check us out.  We promise you won’t be disappointed.