How To Make An IMAX Movie In Space

Have you ever wondered how you make a movie in space? Especially an IMAX movie?

Thanks to our friends at IMAX, you can view this special Hubble: IMAX Filmmaker Q&A recorded on Zoom and edited with memorable film scenes and bonus content.

Discover how IMAX filmmakers captured NASA astronauts in space.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hubble, we invite you to meet the technical experts who overcame the unique challenges of filming NASA astronauts making critical repairs to the Hubble space telescope 350 miles above Earth. See how astronauts trained in water to simulate working on the space telescope. Learn how a new IMAX 3D camera and custom camera housing, required for the mission, was developed. Discover how the 700-pound camera housing was packed into the Shuttle Atlantis’ cargo bay in order to capture the spectacular footage. Recorded and edited with memorable film scenes and bonus content, this Q&A provides a fun look at how science, technology and engineering skills combine with moviemaking.

Hubble, the breathtaking IMAX space documentary, offered a unique look into the Hubble space telescope’s legacy and highlighted its profound impact on the way we view the universe. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, produced and directed by Toni Myers and executive produced by IMAX co-founder Graeme Ferguson, Hubble is an IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures production in cooperation with NASA.

See the universe at home: IMAX and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment invite you to re-live the iconic space documentary, now available on amazon.com: https://www.imax.com/hubble10

Enhance your child’s understanding of the Hubble Space Telescope’s mission. Download engaging educational activities with curriculum tie-ins to science, technology, communication, critical thinking and more.

Downloads:

Educator’s Resource Guide (Grades 3-5)

Educator’s Resource Guide (Grades 6 - 8)

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SSC Interview: Outlaw Trail Spirits and Hooligan's Hand Wash Sanitizer

Ryan from the Science Centre talks with John Styles from Outlaw Trail Spirits about the science of distilling, pivoting a business, and how they're giving back to the community.

Learn more about the Saskatchewan Science Centre Fundraising Auction at: https://www.32auctions.com/sksc

ABOUT JOHN STYLES, P.Eng, FEC

John Styles is founder and president of Outlaw Trail Spirits Inc., a craft distillery based in Regina, and is President and CEO of Pilgrim Energy Inc., a private company engaged in business and finance consulting to the resource industry. He also serves as chair of the board and a director with Edge Liability and Resources Management., an oilfield abandonment and reclamation specialty contractor, and as a founding shareholder and former director of Horizon West Infrastructure Fund, a Saskatchewan-based infrastructure bank. He was also a director of Saskatchewan Band Association Inc., Auburn Energy Inc., and previously served as a sessional engineering instructor at the University of Regina from 2001 through 2016. John has over 35 years of experience in the resource industry. He founded and/or has served on the boards of a number of public companies, including Reece Energy from 2007 through to its acquisition by Penn West in 2009. John was CEO of Invictus Minerals Corporation, staking the 97,000 acre KP-289 "Legacy" potash exploration permit in 2005, and ultimately selling Invictus to Potash One (now K+S Canada) in 2008. Previously, he served in various engineering and business development roles with a number of domestic and international resource companies, having started his career with Gulf Canada in Edmonton in 1981.

John holds a Diploma of Technology from NAIT (now NAIT Polytechnic University) in 1981, and a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree in Petroleum Engineering from Montana Tech (1987), and is licensed as a Professional Engineer in the Province of Saskatchewan, and has received the Fellow of Engineers Canada designation. John has been an active volunteer with APEGS, having served as Councillor for Group IV (2010-2013), currently serving as vice-chair of the Professional Edge Committee and as a member of the Licensee Admissions Committee, and previously as member, vice-chair and then chair of the Academic Review Committee, and as a member of the Experience Review and Nominations committees. He serves as presenter and/or case study leader for the APEGS Law & Ethics seminar and at professional development courses, focusing on resource industry issues. John previously served on the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board accreditation team as a General Visitor for the 2008 engineering program review at University of Saskatchewan. He has served as an industry adjudicator for the fourth-year capstone engineering project presentations by students at the University of Regina, and as a member of the PSE Industry Advisory Board. John currently serves as vice-president and director of the Prairie Craft Spirits Association, and previously served as secretary of the South Saskatchewan chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and previously served as chair and director of the South Saskatchewan section and director of the Petroleum Society of CIM.

John is the ultimate science geek, and this includes the intense study of wave propogation theory as expressed in brass tubulars....another way of saying that he plays trombone for fun, and has played with Queen City Brass Band and the Regina Winds.

ABOUT OUTLAW TRAIL SPIRITS DISTILLERY

Find more about Outlaw Trail Spirits at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/OutlawTrailSpirits

Instagram: @OutlawTrailSpirits

Twitter: @OutlawTrailSP

Outlaw Trail Spirits disitllery is located at 1360 Scarth Street, in the heart of the historic Regina Warehouse District, and is a small-batch producer of tasty beverage alcohol including whisky style grain spirits, rum style molasses spirits, vodkas and liqueurs. The business opened its doors in December 2016, and very quickly caught the attention of enthusiasts with a Best In Category for International Spirits medal for its Olde Foggy Bottom Single Malt in the 2018 American Distilling Institute craft spirits judging held in Portland, Oregon. As well, Outlaw Trail Spirits and its founders, John and Charmaine Styles, has been featured in Spirit expert Davin DeKergommeaux's new book, "The Definitive Guide To Canadian Distilleries", published in March 2020. In response to the overwhelming needs of the greater Regina community after the Covid-19 crisis, the business converted its manufacturing facility to produce ethanol-based hand sanitizer, and along with Mark Heise and the crew at Rebellion Brewing Co., and Leasa Gibbons and staff at the Regina Warehouse Business Improvement District, arranged for the donation of over $10,000 of hand sanitizer to first responders and vulnerable members of our community as a way of helping out and giving back to the community in a time of great need.

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SSC Interview: Dr Mark Brigham - Bats in Saskatchewan

We have teamed up with our very good friend Dr. Brigham (aka “the bat man”) to talk about bats in Saskatchewan. The Science Centre and Dr. Brigham have been working for over 10 years on the Bat Rescue program in a joint effort to help bats through the wintering months.  

Who is Dr. Mark Brigham? 

Dr. Brigham is a Professor at the University of Regina where he and his students focuses their research on behavior in thermoregulation and hibernation, specifically on insect eating bats and birds called nightjars.  

What is the Bat Rescue Program? 

The Bat Rescue Program is a joint project between the Saskatchewan Science Centre and the University of Regina in which we house and care for bats who have woken from hibernation too early. They are kept in a safe warm place where they are fed and given water daily. The bats are often found in places they shouldn’t be such as attics, chimney’s and other places that may be warm for them to roost however, these places are not meant for them. When people find bats they can contact the SSC or the U of R Bat Lab. The bats usually stay at the Science Centre from October until May when they are released into the park where they can hunt for food and join the thousands of other bats within Regina.  

Donate to the Saskatchewan Science Centre and help support the Bat Rescue Program here:

Cloud In A Jar Activity

Cloud in a Jar

Have you ever wanted to see a cloud close-up? Don’t want to wait for a foggy day? Try out this experiment to make a cloud in a jar.

Activity Type:

Experiment, Citizen Science

Suggested Age:

6 to 9-years old

What you will need:

• Warm water

• Jar with a lid

• Ice cubes

• Aerosol hairspray (dry shampoo also works)

• Kettle or measuring cup (to heat water in the microwave)

What you do:

• Pour warm water (not boiling) into jar and swirl water around to warm up the inside of the entire jar.

• Turn the lid upside down and place several ice cubes on top of it. Rest the lid on top of the jar with the ice cubes facing up towards you (not inside the jar).

• Quickly remove the lid and give a quick spray of aerosol hairspray into the jar. Replace the lid as before.

• Remove the lid and watch the cloud escape!

Explanation:

Clouds are formed when there are three things present: moist and warm air, a cooling process, and small dust particle or nuclei for the cloud to condense around.

By pouring warm water into a jar and trapping it, you create the first ingredient: warm, moist air. This warm air rises and meets with the cool air at the top of the jar which is made by the ice cubes. The aerosol hairspray provides the cloud condensation nuclei, simulating a dust particle.

As the water vapor inside the jar cools, it begins to form around the hairspray nuclei into many droplets.

When you remove the lid, the swirling cloud is released!

Taking it further:

Try different types of dust particles in this experiment. Does air freshener make a different cloud than hairspray? What other ways can you make dust in the jar?

Discover different types of clouds! Look out your window each day and draw the shapes and colours of clouds you see. Observe the differences between clouds, and notice the clouds that result in precipitation.

Gather data for GLOBE Observer and become a citizen scientist. By observing clouds and using simple photography, compare your observations with NASA satellite images to provide a different perspective of clouds.

Create A Nature Journal

Journaling is a great way to deal with anxiety, develop your creativity, and bring moments of joy into your day. Combine that with a walk in your neighbourhood, bird-watching, and enjoying all that nature brings us is a perfect inspiration for starting a nature journal.

In her book, Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness (Buy Online), author Ingrid Fetell Lee explored questions like “Have you ever wondered why we stop to watch the glow that arrives before sunset or why we flock to see cherry blossoms in spring? Through research and interviews she found strong evidence of the connection between access to nature and positive health benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety.”

“Natural settings literally make us more carefree.”

— Ingrid Fetell Lee

Creating a nature journal provides the benefits of journaling and exploring nature all in one.

What You’ll Need

A notebook and pen or pencil. Add art supplies as you need them.

What To Include In Your Journal

Start with a journey outside and experience nature in your own backyard or neighbourhood. Think about what you see, hear, and feel, and write about it in your journal. List the birds, insects, and trees you discover. You might choose to add a drawing, include poetry, or insert photos of a favourite place you like to visit. The possibilities are endless. Be creative!

Handy Resources

Download this bird identification card to discover some of interesting birds commonly found in Wascana Marsh. There are plenty of apps available to download that will assist you in identify species of wildlife you are likely going to see. We suggest iNaturalist. Not only does it provide photos and information about wildlife in your community it also allows you to record your observations directly into the app.

Inspiration For Your Nature Journal

Not sure how to add some innovative elements to your journal? Here’s some ideas the SSC Online team contributed.

Sandy was inspired by this poem:

there is

nothing left

to worry about

the sun and flowers are here

-rupi kaur

Lisa created this watercolour print of a Magpie.

Lisa Watercolor Painting

Carolyn shared these beautiful journal entries.

Carolyn Journal Page 1

Carolyn Journal 2

Vandana’s son wanted to be a part of the journal. Here’s one of his pieces.

Vandana’s Son Journal Entry

We hope this inspires your to enjoy the natural world and start your own nature journal. Share your thoughts, comments, and creative responses below!