‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Paleo Paul’ help Planetarium Celebrate 7th Anniversary Saturday

Texas A&M International University’s Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will celebrate its 7th Anniversary with a Family Movie Day and Dinosaur Exhibit Saturday, April 14 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

The event is open to the community and will feature “Jurassic Park” from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tickets are $3 per movie.

A new offering this year will be an interactive dinosaur exhibit by dinosaur expert, ‘Paleo Paul.’ Exhibit times are 12:30, 1:30, 3, 4:30, and 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $3 per exhibit.

‘Paleo Paul’ Heaston is a dinosaur expert and educator with a master’s in Fine Art from Montana State University. When he’s not teaching kids about dinosaurs, he’s busy using his artistic experience to restore the appearance of prehistoric creatures in drawings and digital paintings, many of which are featured in his presentations.

He will exhibit an amazing display of museum-quality replica fossils, including teeth, claws and life-size skulls of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.

Gerardo Pérez, Planetarium director, said the event is an opportunity for everyone to visit the Planetarium’s facilities and spend quality time with their family.

“We encourage everyone to come and spend a relaxing and educational afternoon with their families,” Pérez said, “The dinosaur exhibit promises to be entertaining and informative. Children will especially enjoy hearing about a T. Rex or seeing skull casts of an Allosaurus or Ceratosaurus while expanding their knowledge of prehistoric creatures.”

For more information, please contact Gerardo Pérez, Planetarium director, at 326.2606, e-mail gaperez@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center, room 385A.

University office hours are 8 a.m. – 5p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu