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Field Trip Programs at The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego

Field Trip Programs at The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego

Source: Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

A few years ago, my family and I were invited by The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego to check out a new traveling exhibition called ILLUSION: Nothing Is As It Seems, created by the Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin.

The Science Gallery is a world-renowned science venue located on the campus of Trinity College Dublin in Ireland.  Since 2012, The Science Gallery has produced numerous exhibits for their own gallery in Ireland and for other science centers around the world.  The purpose of The Science Gallery is to take today’s hot scientific issues and allow observers to develop their own opinions about them.  This is exactly what ILLUSION: Nothing As It Seems does.

Field Trips to the Reuben H. Fleet Center in San Diego

ILLUSION was curated by psychologist, author and magician Richard Wiseman, and researched by deception artist Paul Gleeson.  Wiseman and Gleeson asks you three challenging questions as you travel amongst ILLUSION’s 20 intriguing exhibits.

  1. Do you believe your eyes?
  2. Can you trust your senses?
  3. Is anything really at it seems?

I thought my mind was playing tricks on me the entire time I was in ILLUSION.  Later on, I discovered that this was the designer’s intent.  ILLUSION playfully combines techniques used by magicians and explored by neuroscientists to uncover the many ways our minds are fooled by sensory deception.  ILLUSION joins magic with psychology, optical illusions with scientific reasoning and confusion with clarity.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Exhibits

Field Trip Boy especially enjoyed our day trip to The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.  He was fascinated with how the exhibits worked and wanted to expose the secret behind each illusion.

Field Trips to the Reuben H. Fleet Center in San Diego

At the Here. You. Now. exhibit, tiny pictures of strangers we had never seen before, formed an outline of Field Trip Boy’s body on the screen.  It was strange to watch.

Reuben H. Fleet Center Field Trips

During the Columba exhibit, we saw a three-dimensional figure appear amidst thin strands of fiber.  It was beautiful to the eye.

Field Trips to the Reuben H. Fleet Center in San Diego

Field Trip Boy and I were also intrigued by how Wiseman and Gleeson got a pair of large red sneakers into a glass bottle.  There were no holes, cracks or lines in the glass.  The duo also put a baseball, deck of cards and a toy into other bottles.  Do you know the secret behind this illusion?  If so, please share with us.  We want to solve this mystery!

Field Trips to the Reuben H. Fleet Center in San Diego

We also saw a few other exhibits that challenged our long-held beliefs about light, sound, movement and magic.

Reuben H. Fleet Center Field Trips

During the Typographic Organism exhibit, Field Trip Boy put his finger on the screen and the letters moved around with him.

Reuben H. Fleet Center Field Trips

The ILLUSION: Nothing Is As It Seems Exhibition is open through Sunday, Jan 11, 2015.

After visiting ILLUSION, we took in a magic show called Perception: See Beyond The Illusion presented by Jason Latimer Latimer is best known as the World Champion of Magic.  Perception: See Beyond the Illusion takes place in the science center’s Heikoff Giant Dome Theater which has spectacular videography, lighting and sound.  Our favorite part of the show was when Latimer did an impressionable magic trip with a green laser.  He bent the laser in all sorts of directions with only the use of his hands.  All in all, Perception is a great magic show full of wonder and awe.

The Reuben H. Fleet Center is home to many other permanent exhibits such as the Block Busters, Cellular Journey, Kid City, Look! Touch! Listen!, Nano, Origins in Space, Power Play San Diego, San Diego’s Water, So Wait! and Tinkering Studio.  And don’t forget to take in an IMAX movie in the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center IMAX theater too!

Field Trips to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

Field Trips to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center are offered for adults and schools groups.  Bookings are accepted year around and supporting curriculum is also available on their website.

Home School Classes at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center require advance registration.   The fee is $14 per person and includes the workshop and gallery admission for students only.  There is a minimum of 10 students per class and one adult chaperone per 10 students.

Happy Field Tripping!

Jilleen

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cris hayes

Saturday 16th of August 2014

We love illusions! Great giveaway!

Debnmike moretti

Saturday 16th of August 2014

Haven't been here in years. I think my boys would love this!

Kristen McLane (@mclanek)

Wednesday 13th of August 2014

We've been to the science center on several occasions. My kids love the optical illusions and building blocks. As they get older it becomes harder to "wow" them but I think this show would do the trick!