7th Annual Nantucket Science Festival

Website Editor • March 5, 2021

Nantucket, MA – The Nantucket Science Festival is back for another exciting year. From March 13 – March 20, join the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) and the Nantucket Community School (NCS) for a week-long celebration of all things STEAM. The Nantucket Science Festival aims to connect people with their inner scientist by providing fun, interactive activities designed to engage people of all ages, opportunities to learn about science-based organizations on the island, and by giving participants ideas and materials to continue science activities at home. This event is completely free-of-charge and has grown to be the largest mid-winter event for the community. Like 2020, we are planning a COVID-safe version of this event, complete with take-home activity kits, online science demonstrations, video contests, and more!


Kim Botelho, the MMA’s Director of Education, states, “This is one of our favorite events of the year! It is so rewarding to see families excited to learn science together. It also feels wonderful to be part of an event that has so much community support and impact.”


For the full schedule of events, please continue checking our website for updates and follow us on Facebook (Maria Mitchell Association, Nantucket Community School, Nantucket Community School Early Childhood) or Instagram (@maria_mitchell_association, @nantucketcommunityschool @ncsearlychildhood). Use the hashtag #ACKSciFest or tag us to be featured in our stories and on our website!


Pauline Cronin, the Early Childhood Education Coordinator at the NCS, said, “Each year Nantucket Community School looks forward to this opportunity to bring all ages together to strengthen, connect, and engage our community and to participate in science together in collaboration with the Maria Mitchell Association.” Beginning on March 8, the NCS is launching a Scavenger Hunt activity to lead up to the Nantucket Science Festival. Visit the Nantucket Community School Early Childhood Facebook page for more information and to participate.


The Nantucket Science Festival is made possible with thanks to the generosity of our partners, volunteers, and sponsors. We would like to give a huge thank you to the Cape Cod 5 Foundation, Nantucket Land Council, the National Informal STEM Education Network, Dr. & Mrs. David and Beverly Barlow, the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, the Nantucket Atheneum, and UMass Boston's Nantucket Field Station.

 

The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.

 

Nantucket Community School is a community organization that provides a diverse level of high-quality, affordable programs, encourages life-long personal growth and reaches out to all members of the community; spanning every age and stage. For more information on the Nantucket Community School’s offerings, please visit http://www.nantucketcommunityschool.org/ 

For Immediate Release

March 5, 2021

Contact: Kelly Bernatzky, MMA Development Associate

kbernatzky@mariamitchell.org

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By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 30, 2025
As we are now complete with the conservation of the historic Maria Mitchell Vestal Street Observatory (MMO), I thought it would be good to post a series of blogs concerning it history and activities, as well as some of the amazing people who have made it what it is over the last 100 plus years. Therefore, over the next few weeks, the focus will be on the MMO. And it is now open for tours – Monday through Saturday 11-1PM. Founded in 1902, the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) had its beginnings in the Mitchell House where Maria Mitchell was born. Over the first few years, the preservation of the Mitchell House, family artifacts, and the collection and display of Nantucket’s native flora and fauna, as well as a small library, were the key components of the MMA. Special “Moon Evenings” were held on the lawn and people observed Nantucket’s night skies using several small telescopes, including William and Maria Mitchell’s two-and-three-quarter-inch Dollond telescope. The popular evenings led to the inevitable – a desire and need to expand based on the demands of the visitors to, and members of, the MMA. In 1906, Lydia Hinchman, a founder of the MMA and a family member, purchased the house and lot adjacent to the Mitchell House. The house – once the home of William Mitchell’s father and mother – was taken down. The MMA began a dialogue with the Harvard College Observatory and its director, Edward Pickering, Ph.D. The connection to Harvard was to become essential to the success of the beginning years of the Maria Mitchell Observatory and continued a legacy of friendship and work – Maria Mitchell and her father worked with the Bonds who once ran the observatory at Harvard and the families were close friends. Besides his assistance, Pickering asked a member of his staff, Annie Jump Cannon, to assist the MMA. This “provided an indispensable collaboration for Nantucket astronomy,” with Cannon spending two weeks on the island in 1906 and 1907 lecturing and teaching. While back at Harvard, she continued to teach the students on Nantucket by mail. Cannon would go on to be recognized as the leading woman astronomer of her generation and as the founder of the MMA’s Astronomy Department. JNLF

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By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 16, 2025
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