“Carl was like our Edison lightbulb: irreplaceable.” We all miss Carl. Our hearts are broken, and proud to carry on, in a place he loved and called home.
A Proper Christmas Tradition
Of all the venerable Christmas traditions, none are more popular and relevant than the Royal Institute’s annual Christmas Lectures, a series soon to celebrate 200 years of science created especially for young adults.
Franklin’s Fowl Experiment
No turkeys were harmed in the writing of this blog post…. the same can not be said for Benjamin Franklin’s ego….
A Method to the Madness
“I am attacked by two very opposite sects: The scientists and the know-nothings. Both laugh at me, calling me the frog’s dancing master. But I know that I have discovered one of the greatest forces in nature.”
The Higginson Telephone
A tribute to that magical day when east met west, when the peal of an historic old bell in Philadelphia was heard all the way to San Francisco – the opening of the transcontinental telephone line.
Remembering Dr. Arlie Norman
Arlie was a tireless advocate for science education not just in the classroom, but in the community as well. “Arlie wanted SPARK to play an important role in support of science education,” remembers Jenkins. “He saw us not just as a museum, but a vehicle to engage young people in the wonders of science and invention.”
A Vision of the Future
The Chappe telegraph system played a key role in Napoleon’s conquest of Europe and provided the first demonstration of the power of instantaneous communication. One of the surprising pleasures of studying history is learning about the many amenities people have always wanted. Advances like high-speed travel, recorded music, and machines that wash our clothing for us are just some of …
Now Hear This
A clear display case stands by itself in the SPARK Museum in downtown Bellingham. Inside is something distinctly untechnical- a plain megaphone of crude construction. The megaphone was built and used by the musician Rudy Vallee, whose music career stretched from 1921 to 1973. Rudy Vallee was an unusual singer at the time of his debut. The popular music of …
Teachers We’ll Never Forget
Here’s a favorite question we like to ask when getting to know new friends— “Can you recall a significant teacher in your life? Someone who helped you along the way?” A common response is usually something simple like “My 3rd grade teacher–Mrs. Miller,” or “Professor Benson, from freshman chemistry,” or “Mrs. Peterson, the school counselor”—often delivered with a warm smile, …
Doing Good – A Tribute to SPARK’s Volunteers
We feel fortunate to live in a community with so many charitable, public-spirited organizations whose mission is to help make our world a better place. It’s humbling when looking over the list of the major challenges many of our fellow not-for-profit organizations choose to tackle: Food banks, homelessness, mental health, protecting our environment, literacy & education, violence prevention, job training–the …