September 2005

Pizza and prose with author Julie Wakefield

WASHINGTON -- The Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences will hold a lunchtime discussion with Julie Wakefield, author of Halley's Quest: A Selfless Genius and His Troubled Paramore from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Halley's Quest takes readers on a trilogy of sea voyages. But more than a yarn of risk and adventure, the story at its core is a deeply personal and intellectual tale that captures the science and spirit of an almost forgotten episode in the history of navigation. The event is co-sponsored by the museum and the Joseph Henry Press, an imprint of the National Academies Press. Admission is free and includes pizza, but members of the public should make reservations by calling 202-334-1201 or e-mailing [email protected]. Reporters who wish to cover this event must register in advance.

Featuring interactive exhibits targeted to students and adults, the museum helps translate the studies conducted by the National Academies into accessible, engaging exhibits. The museum's inaugural exhibits allow visitors to glimpse the frontiers of today's scientific research; witness the potential effects of global warming; and explore how DNA analysis can help catch criminals and stop epidemics.

The museum is located at the corner of 6th and E streets, N.W., in Washington, D.C. -- one block from the MCI Center and the National Building Museum, three blocks from the National Mall, and one block from the Gallery Place and Judiciary Square Metrorail stations, serviced by the red, yellow, and green lines. For more information, visit www.koshland-science-museum.org.