Mike Cronin

mcronin@citizen-times.com

Science fans have a lot to look forward to in Asheville during the coming months.

Executives of the Asheville Museum of Science have announced a Nov. 11 ceremony in advance of the facility’s planned grand opening in January.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and check presentation by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority is scheduled to begin at noon at the museum at 43 Patton Ave., downtown.

From that day through the grand opening, the date of which has not been announced, museum guests will enjoy admission for $4 – half off the regular price.

New exhibits will include interactive opportunities in the Colburn Hall of Minerals, behind the steering wheel of a Mars Curiosity Rover replica, at the Mount Mitchell Blast and a trip throughout the solar system in a panorama visualization.

Visitors also will be able to see a Teratophoneus dinosaur skeleton and browse an expanded gift shop.

Museum executives also announced this fall’s lineup for the Beer City Science Pub. The series is a partnership between the museum and The Collider, a consortium of climate-science and climate-data organizations.

Events take place at The Collider, which is on the fourth floor of the downtown Wells Fargo building at 1 Haywood St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and talks begin at 6:30 p.m.

The events are free. So is the beer and food.

Schedule:

Oct. 28: “Climate Change and Human Health,” presented by Tom Maycock and Dr. Jennifer Runkle of the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites-North Carolina in Asheville. They will present findings from an assessment exploring the impacts climate change has on human health. Asheville Brewing Company will donate the beer.

Nov. 18: “Hop into Beer,” presented by Scott Jennings, head brewer at Sierra Nevada in Mills River. Mills will speak to the cultivation, use and impact of hops on the brewing process.

Dec. 16: “What is the Value of WNC’s Food System? Evidence from the Field,” presented by Leah Greden Mathews, Interdisciplinary Distinguished Professor of the Mountain South at UNC Asheville. Greden Matthews will share results from studies conducted in Western North Carolina on the economics of our local food system. Findings will include the benefits that residents and visitors receive from farmland, the value of social interactions at farmers markets and the veracity of the Appalachian Grown local food label. Burial Brewing Co. will provide a small-batch brew specifically for Greden Matthews’ talk.

For more information, contact Cory Van Auken at cvanauken@ashevillescience.org or 828-254-7162.