The Sciencenter is renowned for hands-on exhibits that spark curiosity and inspire a love for science in visitors of all ages. Covering a range of topics related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), these exhibits are designed to build science process skills through interactive experiences. Most of the exhibits are created in the Sciencenter’s fabrication shop by its team of exhibit developers.
Gear Up: The Science of Bikes
Among its various initiatives, the Sciencenter’s traveling exhibition program stands out as a dynamic effort to extend its educational impact beyond its physical location. This program fosters collaboration with national sponsors, universities, and museums to develop and share engaging educational exhibits, promoting a broader appreciation for science.
Adrienne Testa, Director of Exhibits & Facilities, expresses enthusiasm for the program’s impact: “A big traveling exhibition project is exciting work for our team. We get to partner with local scientists and prototype new ideas with our visitors. It’s amazing to see our projects travel around the country, so many people get to experience them!”
Life on the Edge
The Sciencenter tours 11 traveling exhibitions to museums and cultural organizations across the U.S. and Canada, reaching several hundred thousand people each year. In 2023 alone, our traveling exhibitions visited 26 museums nationwide, engaging diverse audiences with hands-on, interactive experiences. Some of these exhibitions, such as Life on the Edge, are developed and fabricated in-house at the Sciencenter, while others are created by science centers, creative studios and museums. The Sciencenter’s Tour Management Team handles all logistics for these tours, and they always make a stop at the Sciencenter for visitors to enjoy. Currently, the Exhibits Team is focusing on their next project, BioBuilding, a traveling exhibition for future biomedical engineers. The development and fabrication of these exhibitions typically span up to 5 years.
Charity Burger, Traveling Exhibitions Rentals Manager & Exhibit Fabricator, shares her passion for the program: “ I love working with traveling exhibits because I get to be an ambassador for play and discovery! Traveling exhibitions bring new wonders to different communities and spread the spark of curiosity that keeps young minds engaged with new ways to explore science and understand the world in which they live.”
Mobilab
One of the newest additions to the traveling exhibition portfolio is Mobilab. This hands-on physics exhibit, developed by Loodo Exhibits, focuses on designing vehicles to test on various tracks. Recently in prototype mode, Mobilab is now making its debut at the Sciencenter.
Mobilab will be at the museum all summer, so come by and unleash your inner inventor!