PORTLAND, OR (April 28, 2008) − The American Association of Museums (AAM) has announced the election of Nancy Stueber and six other members to its Board of Directors. Stueber will assume her role as a board member at the conclusion of the AAM annual meeting on May 1, 2008. The AAM board is comprised of a chair, vice chair, immediate past chair, and 18 members-at-large. All appointees are museum professionals from institutions diverse in type, size, and geographic location.

The Micro-Enterprise Inventor's Program of Oregon (MIPO) invites the public to meet 25 local inventors as they showcase their work at the 2008 Oregon Inventors Showcase on Saturday, May 3 at OMSI. The event, scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., will also include the “Oregon Best Invention Contest” with prizes including financial support and resources to help develop the winner's invention. The public can help judge the contest, voting on the day of the showcase for the inventor who will receive the People's Choice award and prize.

PORTLAND, OR (April 9, 2008) — The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) will honor its more than 400 volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 27- May 3. OMSI is hosting a number of special activities leading up to the week, beginning with a volunteer appreciation celebration and awards presentation Sunday, April 13 in OMSI’s historic Turbine Hall. This year OMSI will recognize more than 100 volunteers who have contributed at least five years or 2,000 hours of service, with 13 of those having contributed more than 20 years or 5,000 hours of service.

Portland, OR (April 1, 2008) The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) will host a new community event, Seeds of Science, April 19-20. Seeds of Science will feature over 20 exhibitors sharing their knowledge about sustainability in the food we eat and grow. Featured activities include local nurseries and community gardeners discussing landscaping and backyard farming and a special farmer’s market featuring vendors who provide food for OMSI’s Market Café.

Portland, OR (April 8, 2008) The Port of Portland has partnered with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) to sponsor the cargo crane that is part of OMSI’s Engineer It! exhibit found in the historic Turbine Hall. The cargo crane directly connects the physics of movement with the day-to-day operations of the Port of Portland, one of our region’s key economic drivers.

Bank of America and The Boeing Company have collaborated to present $2 Days at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Beginning April 6, OMSI visitors will pay only $2 per person for general admission on the first Sunday of each month.

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) will be taking part in a nationwide event called NanoDays (March 29–April 6) during which more than 100 museums, universities, and researchers across the country will be educating people about nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. OMSI will be offering events and activities throughout the week to raise public awareness of nanoscale science and engineering.

PORTLAND, Ore. (March 4, 2008) Exhilarating river-rafting action, family fun and the grandeur of the Colorado River come to the giant-screen when Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk opens at OMSI’s OMNIMAX® Dome Theater Friday, March 14, 2008. Grand Canyon Adventure tells an engaging story of how ordinary people can make a difference for our parched planet. Grand Canyon Adventure comes to OMSI through the generous support of presenting sponsor Pepsi Bottling Group and sponsor Kiewit-Bilfinger Berger.

PORTLAND, Ore. (Feb. 14, 2008) — Vanishing glaciers are the most visually dramatic signs of climate change, an event of epochal geological significance happening in our own time. Using 26 time-lapse camera units placed near 15 sites across the northern hemisphere, internationally acclaimed nature photojournalist, James Balog is producing 300,000 images over the course of three years, capturing glacial melt as never before. Balog will be presenting his photography and speaking about the Extreme Ice project in the OMSI auditorium Tuesday, Feb. 19. at 7:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the general public.

Why did OMSI ask the state for financial help?
Part of the cost of OMSI’s current building was related to energy-efficiency components included in its construction. These cutting-edge features were expensive and the state agreed to loan OMSI $15.5 million through the Department of Energy. The rationale was that these features increased OMSI’s energy efficiency and made it a demonstration site for energy education to schools and the general public.