Sci-Fi Universe Exhibited

Lauren BonneyTHE SANTA CLARANovember 7, 2013This weekend, take advantage of what’s left of the quarter and stop by the San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation. The museum is currently hosting one of its most exciting exhibits yet with its display of “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.”This awesome exhibit, in collaboration with the Lucas Museum, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute, truly brings classic movie magic to life and explains the science behind the Star Wars franchise.The museum’s newest addition is a highly interactive exhibit that has already attracted almost three million visitors on its journey across the globe. The 10,000 square feet of fascinating displays and activities will transport you into the movies before you know it.It’s the ultimate Star Wars pop-culture extravaganza that not only excites fans of all ages, but also enlightens visitors to the actual math and science used to help create this galaxy far, far away.The museum houses a life-sized replica of the Millennium Falcon cockpit, a Boba Fett blaster, a Chewbacca costume, R2-D2 robot, a naked C-3PO, lightsabers, droids — the list of nerdy fun goes on and on.There are also cool, high-tech gadgets like robotic prosthetic limbs, hovercrafts and much more.Fans of the movies are sure to be excited over the extremely large collection of film memorabilia, but the exhibit archivist, Laela French, has strived to make the program academic as well.The exhibit demonstrates the engineering behind building robots, and the physics of space travel. Visitors will engage in hands-on design labs where you can defy gravity, engineer Droids and manipulate robots. Or you can explore space travel, robotics and levitation. You will also get a glimpse of current scientific research that may one day make futuristic advancements a reality.Travel to the San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation at warp speed for the ultimate Star Wars experience, and may the force be with you. Contact Lauren Bonney at lbonney@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.