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 in the Energy Gallery, and explore engineering in the Build Space.
Ocean Bound
What can YOU do in your watershed to protect our ocean? Find out in Ocean Bound!
Upcoming Activities
Math Fun with MathHappens!
Join us for playful, informal math exploration with the MathHappens Foundation! Discover the “M” in STEM through hands-on models and engaging learning experiences.
November 7 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pmTidepool Touch Tank
Get hands-on with ocean life! Meet marine creatures up close in the Tidepool Touch Tank and learn how they live, move, and survive. A fun, interactive experience for curious kids and families.
November 8 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 amMeet a Reptile
Learn all about reptiles—and get up close and personal with some of Sciencenter’s scaly animal ambassadors!
November 8 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
What’s New @ Sciencenter
Sciencenter Unveils Science by the Stream Trailside Signage
The Sciencenter is pleased to announce the installation of a new series of Science by the Stream trailside signage along the Cascadilla Creek pedestrian pathway in the Fall Creek neighborhood alongside the museum. Developed with local middle school students and community partners, the outdoor exhibit invites visitors to discover the…
Michelle Kortenaar to Retire as Sciencenter’s Executive Director
The Sciencenter's Executive Director Michelle Kortenaar will retire at the end of February 2027 after 17 years of leadership and service to the museum, including over seven years as Executive Director.
Bridges to Bioengineering: How Graduate Students and Museums Bring a Science Exhibit to Life for Young Learners
Bridges to Bioengineering will be a 1,500 square-foot bilingual (Spanish/English) traveling exhibition with supporting activities that foster an understanding of biomedical engineering (BME) and the innovative ways that it is used to address issues in medicine and public health. This unique co-development approach immerses Sciencenter staff in BME content while…
Honoring Charlie Trautmann with ASTC Leading Edge Award
The Sciencenter congratulates founding director, Charlie Trautmann as the recipient of the 2025 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award, presented at the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Annual Conference. The Sciencenter was proud to nominate Charlie for this honor.
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.
Fresh From Instagram
Meet Athena, our friendly visiting pine snake! 🐍 She`s staying with us while Bonito, our rainbow boa, is away. Athena will be here through the spring, so be sure to stop by and say hello!
As Michelle prepares to retire after 17 years, she’s proud of the community partnerships that have opened doors for more families to experience the joy of science and to feel they belong.
Help carry that spirit forward. 💙 Give to the Annual Fund today. Link in bio.
