Science Central

Thanks to a $500,000 donation from the American Electric Power Foundation, Science Central will be able to initiate its first significant expansion since opening 16 years ago. With this lead gift, along with the donation from other foundations around the area, the Science On a Sphere project is well on its way to becoming a reality. Science Central has moved from the silent fundraising campaign, currently at $1.3M of the necessary $1.5M, into the public campaign.You hear about infectious diseases in the news - new diseases emerging, old ones re-emerging, resistant bacteria. What does it all mean?Science Central Mission Statement

Science Central is a regional resource that provides inspiring and fun hands-on science education for people of all ages.

Facility

• Opened November 5, 1995 in the 1929 City Light and Power Plant
• Renovations and exhibits cost about $9 million
• 70,000-square foot building with 50,000-square feet of used space
• Includes 32,000-square foot of exhibit space, a traveling exhibition area, a Giftshop, three classrooms, one demonstration theater, storage, an exhibits shop, and offices

Distinctions

• The only regional science and technology center
• The only NASA Educator Resource Center in Indiana
• The only regional GEMS and Project Flying Wild sites
• Partnerships include museums, universities, school districts, radio and television stations, library systems and government agencies
• Staff serve on regional, state and national STEM committees

Budget

• Approximately $1.1 million per year
• 2009-about 46% of the operating budget came from earned revenue
• 90% of US science centers receive yearly public funds, while Science Central receives none

Programs

• Educational programs include student field trips, demonstrations, labs, outreach, birthday parties, science camps, teacher training, scout programs, overnights and public lecture series
• 2,100 in-service teachers and 1,800 pre-service teachers have received specialized training
• All school programs are correlated to Indiana's Academic Standards for Science

Visitors

• 1.5 million people have been served since opening
• Annual visitor impact averages 100,000 and includes general public, field trips and outreach
• 23% of general public visitors and 49% of school group visitors are from outside Allen County
• Outreach programs visit three states and 15 Indiana counties
• Over 370,000 people have been served in outreach programs

Economic Impact

• Significant part of the region's culture to attract new businesses and residents
• Contributor to the educational development of the region's future employment base
• Out-of-town visitors annually contribute approximately $1 million to the local economy
• Employ approximately 50 people

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