Have you ever heard of a spider being turned into a useful robot? Or a real-life planetary defense team protecting the Earth from asteroids? Sounds like science fiction … but it’s not!

Take a wild ride with Maynard Okereke, the Hip Hop MD, into some of the most fascinating and strange corners of scientific research, from physics and engineering to ecology and neuroscience. These wacky wonders of nature and technology will wow all readers and inspire budding scientists to look at the world with fresh curiosity and consider how science can be used to help people, help nature, or enhance our understanding about the world. Interviews with real scientists highlight representation for diverse children and how scientists from a wide range of backgrounds are working to build a better future for our planet.

Join the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum for a special Community Day featuring Maynard Okereke, also known as The Hip Hop Science Doc!

On Saturday, April 11 from 10 AM–5 PM, Maine residents can enjoy free museum admission (please bring a valid ID). From 11 AM–3 PM, visitors are invited to bring in their own rocks and minerals for free mineral identification by museum experts.

Maynard Okereke is an award winning Science Communicator, having received the Odyssey Award for Excellence in Social Media, The National Society of Black Engineers’ Entrepreneur of the Year, and most recently Ebony’s Power 100 List.  He’s been featured on Netflix’s “Ada Twist Scientist”, The Science Channel, Curiosity Stream, and his STEM outreach work has been published in “Scientific American”.

At 2:30 PM, Maynard Okereke will host an interactive hands-on science presentation including science experiments, a demonstration on how flames works, levitating ping pong balls, and more! This is all along with a book signing for his book Zombie Spiders and Asteroid Blasters. It’s a fun opportunity for families, science lovers, and curious minds of all ages!

We will also have experts on hand for FREE mineral identification to help you identify any mystery rocks that might be in your collection. Visitors are invited to bring up to 3 palm-sized specimens for free identification.