Learning made fun - California Academy of Science's Nightlife

It is becoming increasingly clear that we all need to take action against climate change. For those of us born in the last quarter century, an awareness of "sustainability" is hard to avoid. But I would contend that someone born in an earlier generation does not have luxury of ingrained climate consciousness that my generation has enjoyed. So how do you reach these adults? Here's one solution: Entice them to visit the local science museum and drive home messages about climate change.

How do you get adults to the science museum? Serve liquor, play music and create a trendy scene. At least, that's what the California Academy of Sciences is doing. Every Thursday from 6 to 10pm you can wander the cutting-edge museum with a drink in your hand, checking out the aquarium, tropical rainforest, and planetarium.

There are two things I like about this concept:

1) I always appreciate a good use of space - why confine the Academy to typical museum hours and functions? Why not bring in a new crowd after-hours?

2) Adults don't often have a reason to explore a science museum absent of kids. The event is 21 plus. What a great way to make learning fun!

Wandering around the aquarium, I was in absolute awe of how beautiful nature's creatures are. Truly fascinating. And in that same evening I explored an entire exhibit about climate change that made it very apparent that the way we are going, we will destroy the very creatures I had just discovered in the aquarium. The climate change exhibit is not all doom and gloom - in fact it is fun, hands on, with a 'we can do it' attitude that encourages we all make small changes in our daily lives. One of the exhibits allows you to measure your carbon footprint using an interactive scale, another is a virtual game wherein visitors can save polar bears from melting ice caps, and yet another invites all visitors to write down their own suggestions of solutions and simple changes we can all make.

What a great way to spread the message in an attention grabbing, honest, guilt-free, interactive, and even breath-taking setting. What more could I ask for from a Thursday night?