The Arkansas Discovery Network has been proud to bring high-quality world-class exhibits and events to the people of Arkansas since our launch in 2006. Thanks to a $7.3 million dollar grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, we have been able to provide exhibits such as Grossology and The Mystery of the Mayan Medallion; events such as Bubble Magic; The Race for Planet 'X', a first-of-its-kind mobile museum that brings fun and engaging science and engineering activities to 6th grade students at schools across the state; and professional development opportunities for our partner museums as well as the teachers of Arkansas.

In 2008, the Network received more than $70,000 in sponsorships, donations, grants and in-kind donations. These include Arkansas Children's Hospital and the Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation, sponsors of our mobile museum, the Race for Planet 'X', in addition to Market Strategies International, the Ross Foundation, Fleming Controls and Power Specialties, and Aristotle Interactive.

We offer numerous marketing benefits for our sponsors and we would be happy to show you ways that you can help us share our world-class museum experiences and informal learning activities with kids of all ages. If you are interested in sponsoring The Race for Planet 'X' or any other network event or exhibit, please email Diane LaFollette at dlafollette@amod.org or call 501-396-7050 ext. 119.

The Arkansas Discovery Network celebrated it's launch in the Fall of 2006 by bringing the world-famous Grossology exhibit to Arkansas. It started the Arkansas tour in September of 2006 and has been to every museum partner. It will leave Arkansas on January 4.

Grossology brought nearly 150,000 visitors to our Network partners, including school groups and families.

"Grossology has been great for our network partners. People have come from all around to see this well-known exhibit. The kids have loved all the sticky, slimy fun, and the parents and teachers have loved seeing them get so excited about science," said Diane LaFollette, Coordinator for the Arkansas Discovery Network.

You only have a few days to see this sticky and slimy exhibit at a network partner museum at Arkansas State University Museum in Jonesboro. Don't miss out on learning stinky, smelly, disgusting facts about your body at this wildly grossly popular exhibit!

Sharp is presenting sponsor of Grossology at ASU Museum; the exhibit is also sponsored by Niche, KAIT8, Chick-fil-A, and Occasions Publishing Group, along with statewide sponsor, Arkansas Children's Hospital. The Grossology exhibit is created & produced by Advanced Animations L.LC. in collaboration with Science World British Columbia.

Do you remember having “the talk” with your parents? Learning about the birds and the bees can be difficult. To make the conversation easier for both kids and parents, The Museum of Discovery has teamed up with the Blue & You Foundation to offer programs to 8-14 year olds and their same-sex adult caregivers. 

Specially trained Museum educators first presented Girl Talk in the summer of 2008. Girl Talk was very well received. Girls and adults alike had fun during the frank and sensitive discussion about the changes that puberty brings for girls. Some of the comments included “This program is good for starting dialogue…” and “Very helpful in what girls need to know”. 

Following the success of Girl Talk, The Museum of Discovery is proud to announce that Boy Talk will debut January 24, 2009.  This program will again provide a frank and sensitive discussion, this time about the changes that puberty brings for boys.  Dr. Gene Lu, noted Little Rock pediatrician, will be present to answer questions. 

The 2-hour Boy Talk program includes snacks and a take-home bag for each boy. The cost of the program is $20 per boy/adult caregiver couple. Boy Talk programs will be presented January 24, 2009 at 10:00 and 1:30. For reservations, contact Beth Nelsen at 501-396-7061.

Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff
January activities at Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas:

• Anne Morand, a prominent national expert in the art of western artists Frederic Remington and Charles Russell, will be the speaker at the second Frederic Remington Gallery Talk 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. The Remington exhibit will close Jan. 24.
• Amy Hill-Imler, a water-media and collage artist and dedicated art teacher, will be on display in the Arts & Science Center galleries in January.
• The Arts & Science Center will present “One Ninth,” a dynamic new play about the Little Rock Nine, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Center.  

Museum of Discovery, Little Rock
Boy Talk  $20
Jan. 24, 2009
Programs at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
A Museum educator facilitates a frank and sensitive discussion with boys and their male caregivers about the changes that puberty brings.  Dr. Gene Lu, pediatrician, will be present to answer questions.
Seating is limited.  Call 369-7061 for registration.
Good Vibrations
Jan. 17-April 5
Vibrations affect weather, sound, light, geology, and motion.  
Cold Blooded Creatures
Jan. 21-24
Meet snakes, lizards and more.
Wiggle Worm Discoveries
Moving to Tuesdays 10a.m. in January
Science literacy through experiments, crafts, and live animals.
Paws, Claws, and Tails
Jan. 3 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Meet unusual animals: crocodiles, chinchillas and more.
Saturday Discoveries – Dinomites!
Jan. 10 1:00-4:00 p.m.
All things dinosaur.

To see what else is going on at our partner sites across the state, see our Events page.

The mission of the Network is to bring world-class educational experiences to the children and families of Arkansas. A generous grant of $7.3 million from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation initiated the Network and made the programs possible.

Find out more about the network of museums across the state of Arkansas. To keep up on the latest events and a behind-the-scenes look every now and then, check out our flickr photostream or flickr group page, our blog, our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.