Museum of Science Fiction

The Museum of Science Fiction (MOSF) is a 501c(3) nonprofit museum to be based in Washington, D.C. It was founded in the spring of 2013 by Greg Viggiano and a team of 22 volunteer professionals with a goal of becoming the world's first comprehensive science fiction museum.[1][2][3]

Museum of Science Fiction
EstablishedApril 2013 (2013-04)
LocationWashington, D.C.
TypeScience Fiction Museum
DirectorGreg Viggiano
CuratorRachel Frederick
Websitewww.museumofsciencefiction.org

Since 2016, the museum has published the triannual MOSF Journal of Science Fiction, and in November 2017, it released its first "take-home exhibit", an anthology entitled Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction.

Establishment

The Museum of Science Fiction was planning to open a preview museum in late 2015 as a step toward opening the full museum in 2018. The preview museum is envisioned to be a 4,000 square foot multi-purpose location, open for 48 months near a DC Metro station before redeployment as a satellite location that travels to other global cities to promote the Museum and its mission. This first physical iteration of the preview museum was to feature four gallery change-outs to encourage higher revisit-rates and provide a way for curators to capture early visitor feedback. The interior was expected to also function as a venue for special events including dinners, presentations, film screenings, and lectures with seating for up to 150 attendees.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

Despite an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign not reaching its goal,[12] in July 2014 the museum hosted an architecture design contest[13] for the museum's first home, with locations in D.C. and northern Virginia under consideration.[14][15] The site selection process was expected to be completed by the end of 2014, with the Preview Museum opening in 2015 and the full-scale 50,000 square-foot facility in 2018.[16][17]

The Museum is intended to encompass seven permanent galleries that celebrate and encourage the human tendency to always ask, "What if?" The permanent galleries include: The Creators; Other Worlds; Vehicles; Time Travels; Aliens, Creatures, and Altered Life; Computers and Robots; and Technology.[18] Science fiction is to be presented as a form of rational speculation that has influenced and been influenced by scientific and technological progress for centuries.[19]

From August 2014, the museum was hosting an exhibit design competition seeking exhibits that will be used in the four-year life of the preview museum.[20]

Activities

MOSF Journal of Science Fiction
MOSF Journal of Science Fiction
DisciplineScience fiction studies
LanguageEnglish
Edited byAisha Matthews
Publication details
History2016-present
Publisher
Museum of Science Fiction (United States)
FrequencyTriannual
Yes
LicenseCreative Commons Attribution 3.0
Standard abbreviations
ISO 4MOSF J. Sci. Fict.
Indexing
ISSN2474-0837
OCLC no.957987943
Links

The MOSF Journal of Science Fiction is a triannual peer-reviewed open access academic journal covering science fiction studies published by the Museum of Science Fiction since January 2016.[21] The editor-in-chief is Aisha Matthews of Southern Methodist University.[22]

According to its editorial policy, the journal "seeks to uphold the spirit of educated inquiry and speculation through the publication of peer-reviewed, academic articles, essays and book reviews exploring the myriad facets of science fiction". It plans to publish three issues a year (including some themed issues) with 3 to 4 academic articles per issue.[23]

Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction

In October 2016, the Museum of Science Fiction launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund its first "take-home exhibit", an anthology entitled Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction. The campaign was fully funded by November 2016.[24]

The Kindle eBook edition of the anthology was released for general purchase on 14 November 2017, and hardback and paperback editions are scheduled for release in late December 2017.[25]

Julie Dillon created the cover art for Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers.[26]

Monica Louzon was the lead on the anthology's editorial team, which also included Jake Weisfeld, Heather McHale, Barbara Jasny, and Rachel Frederick. The anthology includes three new poems by 2017 SFWA Grand Master Jane Yolen and new short stories from Floris M. Kleijne, AJ Lee, Seanan McGuire, Pat Murphy, Sarah Pinsker, and Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam. Reprinted works included in the anthology were written by Eleanor Arnason, Catherine Asaro, Monica Byrne, Betsy Curtis, Kiini Ibura Salaam, N. K. Jemisin, Nancy Kress, Naomi Kritzer, Karen Lord, Anthea Sharp, Carrie Vaughn, and Sarah Zettel.[27][28]

Partnerships

The museum has partnered with the John Eaton Elementary School (Washington DC) to bring a range of STEAM programs to local school children using science fiction as an educational tool. The museum will work with educators to develop enrichment experiences and classroom workshops for students. Planned activities include the art of storytelling, writing, illustration techniques, and numerous project-based learning science activities.[29] Additional notable partnerships which have been reported in the Washington Post include the Science Channel and AwesomeCon.[30]

In July, 2016, the museum partnered with the Maryland Science Center to display its Orion III spacecraft model.[31] The model was originally part of the museum's "Future of Travel" exhibit held in 2015 in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.[32]

Events

The Museum of Science Fiction hosts or partners on a number of events, most notably its monthly science fiction movie screening in conjunction with the District of Columbia Public Library system.[33] They also have a growing number of traveling design exhibitions, including an Architectural Design Competition Exhibition.[34][35]

Escape Velocity

From July 1 through 3, 2016, the Museum of Science Fiction hosted its first convention called Escape Velocity.[36] Described as a micro futuristic world's fair to promote STEAM education within the context of science fiction using the fun of comic cons and fascination of science and engineering festivals, the convention featured guests with backgrounds in both science and science fiction.[37] A gallery showcasing original replicas of props, models, and costumes from notable works of science fiction offered a preview of the kinds of exhibits which will be on display in the permanent museum.[38]

The second annual Escape Velocity was held September 1 through 3, 2017. The theme of the show was Robotics, Computers, AI, and Drones, and guest speakers included Thomas Dolby, Joe Haldeman, and Cas Anvar.[39]

The third annual event took place May 25 through 27, 2018, and the fourth was held May 24 through 26, 2019. Among other attractions, these two years both featured the Cosmic Encounter Experience, which included panels and demonstrations of the board game Cosmic Encounter. Escape Velocity 2019 hosted the first ever Cosmic Encounter Galactic Championship Tournament as well as the first public reunion of the original three primary Cosmic Encounter designers Peter Olotka, Jack Kittredge and Bill Eberle in many years.

CubeSat Competition

In October 2015, the Museum of Science Fiction announced a CubeSat Competition in partnership with NASA and Cornell University.[40] High school students from around the world competed to submit mission design proposals, with the winning teams' proposals to be built and put into orbit on a future NASA mission.[41] The competition was recognized during the White House Astronomy Night on October 19, 2015.[42] The winning teams from the following schools were announced on May 12, 2016:[43][44][45]

Deep Ocean Robotics Competition

In October 2016, the Museum of Science Fiction announced a Deep Ocean Research and Robotics Competition in partnership with Cornell University.[46] The winning team, 1st Junior High School of Papagou, Greece, was announced on May 30, 2017.[47]

Costume Design Competition

In September 2017, the Museum of Science Fiction announced a Costume Design Competition and Fashion Show.[48] The competition will run through April 15, 2018, with finalist judging scheduled to take place on May 25, 2018 at Escape Velocity 2018.

References
  1. "Help Build The Museum of Science Fiction in Washington, D.C.!". Tor.com. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  2. Snider, Mike (November 4, 2013). "Funds sought for science fiction museum lift-off". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  3. Parker, Loanne (28 March 2014). "Which Museums Show Real Promise?". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. "Museum of Science Fiction To Open in Washington DC".
  5. "Museum of Science Fiction Preview Museum".
  6. "Museum of Science Fiction Selects Design for Preview Museum".
  7. "Frankenstein to Star Trek: Sci-Fi Museum Coming to DC".
  8. "Museum of Science Fiction Planned for DC".
  9. "New Museum of Science Fiction Planning Washington, DC Preview Site".
  10. "Photos: Museum Of Science Fiction Gears Up To Enter Next Phase". Archived from the original on 2014-07-20.
  11. "Sci-fi museum eyes preview sites in Crystal City, DC waterfront".
  12. Sadon, Rachel (2014-03-10). "What is happening with D.C.'s Museum of Science Fiction?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  13. "Museum of Science Fiction Architecture Design Competition Winners". MuseumofScienceFiction.org/. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  14. "Design Competition". Museum of Science Fiction.
  15. "Photos: Museum Of Science Fiction Gears Up To Enter Next Phase". dcist. 2014-07-18. Archived from the original on 2014-07-20. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  16. Kelly, John (2013-11-04). "Sci-fi fans plan museum for Washington — and want your help". The Washington Post.
  17. Paschall, Valerie (November 5, 2013). "More Details Revealed About Museum of Science Fiction - Coming Attractions - Curbed DC". Dc.curbed.com. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  18. "MOSF – Galleries — Museum of Science Fiction". Museumofsciencefiction.org. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  19. "The Museum of Science Fiction Kickstarts A Front in Washington, D.C". ScienceFiction.com. 2013-11-10. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  20. "D.C.'s Museum of Science Fiction Wants To Pay For Your Design". TheMarySue.com. 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  21. Liptak, Andrew (30 January 2016). "The Museum of Science Fiction Debuts Their Scholarly Journal's First Issue". io9. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  22. "Editorial Team". MOSF Journal of Science Fiction. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  23. "Editorial Policies". MOSF Journal of Science Fiction. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  24. "Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of SF". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  25. Eddy, Cheryl. "A New Take-Home Exhibit From the Museum of Science Fiction Celebrates the Women of Scifi". io9. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  26. Dillon, Julie (10 Nov 2017). "Cover art I did a while back for "Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction" for the Museum of Science Fiction: www.amazon.com/dp/B077B9WHWV/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1510338448&sr=1-1 … #illustrationpic.twitter.com/th2x6KiQrD". @i. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  27. Louzon, Monica; Yolen, Jane; Pinsker, Sarah; McGuire, Seanan; Stufflebeam, Bonnie Jo; Murphy, Pat; Arnason, Eleanor; Asaro, Catherine; Byrne, Monica (2017-11-14). Weisfeld, Jake; McHale, Heather; Jasny, Barbara; Frederick, Rachel (eds.). Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction. Museum of Science Fiction. ASIN B077B9WHWV.
  28. Eddy, Cheryl. "A New Take-Home Exhibit From the Museum of Science Fiction Celebrates the Women of Scifi". io9. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  29. "Museum of Science Fiction Announces Pilot Program with DC Public Elementary School".
  30. "What is happening with D.C.'s Museum of Science Fiction".
  31. Kaltenbach, Chris. "Plane from '2001: A Space Odyssey' lands at Maryland Science Center".
  32. "Take a Planetary Vacation at Museum's 'Future of Travel' Exhibit".
  33. "Museum of Science Fiction Seeks Designers, Finds Partnership".
  34. "Museum of Science Fiction Events". Archived from the original on 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2014-10-16.
  35. "Here's Your First Look at the Much-Anticipated Museum of Science Fiction".
  36. "The Museum of Science Fiction Launches Escape Velocity, Promotes STEAM Education - GeekDad". 29 June 2016.
  37. "Escape Velocity Brings Sci-Fi, Science Fact Together".
  38. "Escape Velocity: Taking Real Science to the Final Frontiers". 8 July 2016.
  39. "Escape Velocity convention hits D.C. this weekend". 31 August 2017.
  40. "CubeSat Competition". Museum of Science Fiction.
  41. "Ithaca High CubeSat team's concept to get a shot at space - Cornell Chronicle". www.news.cornell.edu.
  42. "FACT SHEET: At White House Astronomy Night, President Obama Announces New Private-Sector Commitments to Get Students Excited about Science and Space". 19 October 2015.
  43. Pandi, Nico (2016-05-12). "CubeSat Design Competition Winners Announced" (PDF). press release. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  44. "Team with UTEP, Bowie Faculty and Students wins International CubeSat Competition - El Paso Herald-Post". elpasoheraldpost.com.
  45. "Ithaca High Schooler Leading Satellite Building Team".
  46. "Deep Ocean Research and Robotics Competition 2017". Museum of Science Fiction.
  47. "Deep Ocean Robotics Competition Winner Announced" (PDF). press release. 2017-05-30. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  48. "Costume Competition and Fashion Show 2018". Museum of Science Fiction.

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