Northern Maine Museum of Science seeks “planetheads”
The Northern Maine Museum of Science at the University of Maine at Presque Isle is preparing for its second annual Planet Head Day. The event is held on the weekend closest to the anniversary of Pluto's discovery [Feb. 18, 1930], which this year will be Saturday, Feb. 16.
According to Dr. Kevin McCartney, museum director, the event serves two purposes: it's both a celebration of Pluto and a unique activity meant to increase cancer awareness. The museum has special interest in both subjects. The Northern Maine Museum of Science is an educational outreach participant in New Horizons, a NASA program that has launched a spacecraft scheduled to reach Pluto in 2015. The museum's Coordinator of Museum Outreach and Curator of Collections, Jeanie McGowan, is also a cancer survivor.
During the event, participants either have their heads shaved, or don elastic swimming caps, which are then painted to look like one of the planets in our solar system. A barber and an assemblage of planethead-painters will be available for the occasion. Astronomy and cancer organizations also will have displays up during the event.
Last year's Planet Head Day saw participation from about 30 planetheads, including the university President, two other university administrators, community members, university students and children. The children in particular wanted to have their heads painted as either Earth or Pluto. All planets and several moons were represented. A four-minute video of the event's premiere can be viewed on youtube at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=shZP7A6Y9yY .
McCartney says that this year's goal is at least 50 planetheads. He is working to find a sponsor that will contribute $10 for each planethead - $20 for shaved heads - to a local cancer support organization. He also hopes to have local businesses and organizations challenge one another in contributing heads for the event.
Tours of the museum can be arranged by calling Museum Curator Dr. Kevin McCartney at (207) 768-9482 or Outreach Coordinator Jeannie McGowan at (207)768-9747
