Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Carolina Science Cafe: Balancing Act
2025-11-04 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Balancing Act: The Science of Pain, Fatigue, and Falls in Aging

Now is the time for innovation in our efforts to engineer solutions to help people age gracefully – from preserving independence and enhancing community accessibility to preventing falls. In this talk, Dr. Jason Franz, a professor of biomedical engineering, will summarize the latest in the UNC Applied Biomechanics Laboratory’s use of principles from neural control, biomechanics, wearable sensing, and rehabilitation robotics to solve one of our society’s grand challenges.

Designed for adults, Carolina Science Cafe is a free program that explores science topics making national and international headlines and offers the chance to meet the experts behind the work. This special program is hosted at Haw River Tap & Table in Carrboro on the first Tuesday of every month. Light appetizers are available for all attendees.

About the Speaker

Dr. Jason Franz (he/him) received his B.S. (2004) and M.S. (2006) degrees in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech and, after serving as a staff scientist in PM&R at the University of Virginia, received his Ph.D. (2012) in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He then completed an NIH Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2015, Dr. Franz joined the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University and is now a Full Professor and Director of the UNC Applied Biomechanics Laboratory.

Dr. Franz’s research takes a mechanisms-based approach in rehabilitation engineering to develop solutions to help people age gracefully. He is the author of over 150 publications and currently serves as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded research projects, all predominantly focused on rehabilitation engineering strategies to mitigate age- and disease-related mobility impairment and falls risk. He also serves as Faculty Director for Postdoctoral Success, where he supports the success, recruitment, and workforce development of postdoctoral trainees across the UNC School of Medicine.

View Dr. Franz’s Work

Carolina Science Cafe is produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and sponsored by the UNC Chapter of Sigma Xi.

You do not need to register…just show up!

Science for All: A Sensory-Friendly Science Night
2025-11-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Experience the wonders of science in a sensory-friendly environment!

On Sunday, November 2, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host a special event featuring interactive activities, an engaging fulldome theater show, captivating exhibits, and dynamic science performances. With changes made to fit various sensory sensitivities, this event is perfect for all ages and offers a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy science.

Learn More

Supermassive Black Holes
2025-11-02 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-26 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-19 15:00 - 16:00

We Are Stars
2025-11-02 13:30 - 14:30, 2025-10-26 13:30 - 14:30, 2025-10-19 13:30 - 14:30

Carolina Skies
2025-11-01 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-10-25 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-10-24 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-10-18 16:30 - 17:30

Messengers of Time & Space
2025-11-01 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-25 15:00 - 16:00

Mars: The Ultimate Voyage
2025-11-01 13:30 - 14:30, 2025-10-25 13:30 - 14:30

Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis
2025-11-01 12:00 - 13:00

Magic Tree House Space Mission
2025-11-01 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-10-25 10:30 - 11:30

Scare-olina Skies
2025-10-31 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-31 16:30 - 17:30

From Earth to the Universe
2025-10-31 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-24 15:00 - 16:00

One Sky, Many Eyes
2025-10-26 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-10-19 16:30 - 17:30

Star Families: Scare-olina Skies
2025-10-25 12:00 - 13:00

I AM: The Sound of Light Experience
2025-10-24 19:00 - 21:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Leave the kids at home. This event is for adults 21+!

Join us for a private, unforgettable evening under the stars at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. We are thrilled to welcome back GRAMMY®-nominated and award-winning artist, vocalist, pianist and composer Radhika Vekaria to Morehead’s fulldome theater. Radhika’s soul-stirring melodies and the raw power of her voice, combined with real imagery of our place in space, create an alchemy of music, presence, and wonder. This exclusive event includes a live performance choreographed with immersive imagery of the cosmos.

Get Tickets

Tickets

Early Bird discount: $60 (available until October 10, 2025)

Regular ticket price: $75 (after October 10, 2025)

Member price: $60

Cocktail attire is suggested.

What’s included with your ticket

Access to Morehead exhibits

Light hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages

One drink ticket (Prosecco)

I AM screening + performance

Food and drinks are available until the performance begins at 8:00 pm.

Please note: No one under the age of 21 will be allowed into the event. IDs will be verified.

Get Tickets

Refund/Cancellation Policy

All ticket sales are final; refunds are not available for absent guests or unused tickets. Purchased tickets may be transferred to another guest 21+ for admission. However, requests for transfer must be made no later than the day prior to the date on the original ticket. Requests for transfer on or after the date of the original ticket are not accommodated. Morehead reserves the right to waive part or all of this refund policy if the event is cancelled due to severe weather or other unexpected circumstances.
This is a 21+ event. No one under the age of 21 will be allowed into the event; IDs will be verified.

Code of Conduct

By entering Morehead or participating in our programs, guests acknowledge and agree to adhere to Morehead’s posted Code of Conduct.

Teen Science Cafe: Healing Lahaina
2025-10-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for October’s Teen Science Cafe! In this session, we’ll be screening the documentary film Healing Lahaina, which addresses community advocacy and climate resilience through the personal experiences of survivors of Maui’s 2023 wildfires. Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.

Learn more about Teen Science Cafe

Program Schedule

6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. The screening will take place in the Science Stage.

Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

I AM: The Student Experience
2025-10-23 17:30 - 19:30 | Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, United States
Space Just for You

Need space to relax, reflect, and revive? We’ve got space for you. Come on out to Morehead Planetarium for an evening of wonder under the stars. GRAMMY®-nominated and award-winning artist, vocalist, pianist and composer Radhika Vekaria will take you on an unforgettable journey through the cosmos as she blends her amazing vocals and musicality with real and awe-inspiring imagery of our universe. If you attended Radhika’s performance in March 2025, you’ll want to come back and bring that friend who needs to experience this! Radhika will again showcase the music and imagery from the short immersive film I AM, then invite some special guests to talk about what it means to be in awe and wonder—and how these experiences support both body and mind. Finally, she will close out the program with a second live performance of her latest recordings. Stay for an exclusive meet-and-greet along with refreshments after the show. This space is absolutely for you.

RSVP on Heel Life

I AM: The Student Experience is free and open to UNC students with CLE credit available; RSVP is encouraged. This event is brought to you in partnership by UNC Student Wellness, UNC’s Parr Center for Ethics, and Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in support of UNC community wellness. UNC Student Affairs will be on hand with resources promoting healthy wellbeing and fun giveaways.

Yoga Under The Stars
2025-10-22 18:00 - 19:00
