Engage your curiosity
Discover over 250 interactive science exhibits to engage your curiosity and explore the world around you.
Exhibits & Animals
Experience hands-on learning with our interactive exhibits! Engage with reptiles and fish in the Animal Room, learn about weather patterns at Changing Skies, and explore engineering in our Build Space.
Sonic Sensation
Discover the awesome power of sound! Create sound waves in a tube. Match mystery sounds. Test your hearing. Sort high and low pitches on a turntable. Can you locate a cricket and cat in a kitchen just by listening?
Upcoming Activities
Animal Feeding
Join an Animal Keeper to observe snakes, lizards, frogs, and fish snacking on their preferred prey.
August 27 @ 4:00 pm - 4:30 pmScience Connections: Fight the Bite!
Join our friends from Cornell Entomology to learn about mosquitoes, ticks, and how to have fun outside while you fight the bite! You’ll have a chance to play with baby mosquitoes, meet ticks from ou...
August 31 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pmScience Together: Magnet Fishing
Sort and count the fish you catch! Science Together activities are designed for ages 0-4.
September 2 @ 10:30 am - 11:00 am
What’s New @ Sciencenter
Sciencenter Receives Highest National Museum Recognition
The Sciencenter is proud to announce that it has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.
Sciencenter Receives Racker’s 2025 Community Partner Award
We’re honored to share that the Sciencenter has been awarded Racker’s 2025 Community Partner Award, recognizing our ongoing commitment to inclusion, collaboration, and creating joyful, barrier-free experiences for all visitors.
Sciencenter Hit By Federal Grant Termination
The Sciencenter was notified on April 10th, 2025, that two federally awarded grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), totaling nearly $500,000, have been terminated.
Honoring Our Friend Julian Pompilio
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Julian Pompilio, an Exhibit Fabricator who worked with us for the past 10 years. Through his curiosity, playfulness, and knowledge he brought immense joy to the Sciencenter community.
The Ithaca Voice
Sciencenter receives big funding boosts from state awards to replace the building’s HVAC with a new heating and cooling system.
Challenging Our Assumptions: Front-End Evaluation for Biomedical Engineering Exhibition
When you hear "biomedical engineering," what comes to mind? This question led recent interviews by graduate students from Cornell’s Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and a professional evaluator, who spoke with families in Ithaca, NY, and Missoula, MT, to help shape the Sciencenter’s upcoming Bridges to Bioengineering exhibit.
Honoring the Legacy of Debbie Levin
With deep affection and profound gratitude, we remember our beloved co-founder, Debbie Levin, who passed away on October 5, 2024, just shy of her 102nd birthday in November.
Science for All
The Sciencenter is committed to creating a welcoming environment that embraces our diverse visitors. Through several access programs, we reduce barriers so that everyone can experience the joy of the Sciencenter.
All Things Equal: Kate Supron Talks with Michelle Kortenaar
Tune in to the latest episode of All Things Equal hosted by Kate Supron, featuring Sciencenter's Executive Director Michelle Kortenaar. Discover the meaningful impact we have in the community and and gain insight into our mission and values.
A Fun-Filled Summer of STEM Exploration: Behind the Scenes of Sciencenter Summer Camp!
Summer Camp at the Sciencenter (designed for rising 1st through 6th graders) is all about adventure, discovery, and hands-on learning! Every day at Sciencenter Summer Camp offers a unique blend of fun and education to keep campers engaged and excited about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
Fresh From Instagram
Our Science Park`s new water feature is taking shape! Take a look at the construction in progress. Big thanks to @common_excavation for their help!
#sciencenter #sciencepark #waterfeature #ithacany #constructionzone
Art meets engineering in motion! 🌀
George Rhoads (1926–2021) was a sculptor known for his mesmerizing audiokinetic ball machines.
One of his works, Quantum’s Last Leap, was designed specifically for the Sciencenter in 1994. Rhoads began building these machines in his own metal shop, later teaming up with local welder Bob McGuire. Together, and with a team of engineers at McGuire’s Rockstream Studios in Ithaca, they brought many of Rhoads’s imaginative designs to life.
#sciencenter #artandscience #audiokineticart #georgerhoads #ithacany
