News

04.15.2004

Significant Progress, Momentum for
Connecticut Center for Science & Exploration

The Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Center for Science & Exploration today adopted the Concept Plan for the major new science learning destination in Hartford. The plan represents several milestones for the project:

• Defines the Center’s mission, services, and programming
• Sets the framework for facility design
• Lays the foundation for the next stage of fundraising

“In little more than 100 days, we have successfully moved this project past several key milestones,” said Dr. Henry A. McKinnell, Co-Chairman of the Connecticut Center for Science & Exploration. “The Concept Plan adopted today lays the foundation for us to have a significant impact on science learning in Connecticut, to select a design team to create the Center, and to take the next step in assembling the resources to build it.”

Created by a blue ribbon panel of corporate leaders, educators, scientists, and community leaders and chaired by Yale University President Richard Levin, the Concept Plan sets the course for the Center to engage children and adults through a learning style of hands-on interactive concept exploration. Visitors won’t just learn about discoveries – they’ll make them. The Plan includes exhibits, teacher and student programming, and physical space requirements to build understanding and interest in science among young people and adults. The Center is expected to reach 100,000 school children and teachers through off-site programming in addition to more than 400,000 on-site visitors.

Distinguishing characteristics of the Center include the ability to facilitate a hub-and-spoke distribution of learning experiences – taking in as well as distributing programming to schools throughout the state –and a commitment to creating affiliations with other science based centers, science and math organizations, and cultural institutions.

“The Program Committee is pleased to submit this framework for the educational outreach, on-site programs and exhibits for the Center,” said Mr. Levin, Program Committee Chairman. “We envision a Center that offers exciting and compelling experiences to visitors as well as an array of programs for teachers, both on-site and in their classrooms, that helps them to be more successful teachers of science.”

The central “concept exploration” learning style can be viewed in contrast to the more passive museum format of “content transfer.” In place of reading information and just walking through and looking at exhibits, visitors will do real science in a real setting – focusing on transferable concepts and skills. The Center’s exhibits, many of which will change on a regular basis, will use both familiar and emerging topics in biology, chemistry, physics, earth and space sciences.

Through extensive partnerships and collaborative efforts, the Center will facilitate the delivery of science learning to schools throughout the state in partnership with current science learning organizations. By sharing resources and programming with other science education programs and cultural attractions, science curriculum that supports the State’s Science Framework will be disseminated by hundreds of corporate, academic, retired and volunteer scientists actively engaged in working with students and teachers, both in the Center and in schools. The hub-and-spoke concept is a new emphasis on bringing together many divergent groups already engaged in science education and the practice of science.

“At a time when retention and creation of high value jobs is so important to Connecticut, we are creating a Center where one generation of great Connecticut inventors and innovators can endow the next generation with the wisdom and inspiration to fill these jobs and perpetuate this tradition of technology leadership right here in Connecticut,” said Governor John G. Rowland, Honorary Co-Chair of the Center. “We will increase students’ appreciation and respect for science, and inspire more young people to pursue science at a time when Connecticut is producing more than 42,000 new science and technology jobs over a ten-year period.”

Under the current project schedule, which is subject to change, design work will begin this Fall, and plans would be finalized for construction to start in Fall 2005. Assuming a construction schedule of approximately two years, the Connecticut Center for Science & Exploration could open in late 2007.

“We have adopted a new, accelerated schedule since the formal establishment of our new Board of Trustees in December,” said Dr. Theodore S. Sergi, President & CEO of the Center. “With the new Concept Plan as our guide, we now move into a full scale Master Planning stage, including the selection of architects.”

The architect selection process will be led by the new Facilities Committee, chaired by Chase Enterprises Executive Vice President Cheryl Chase. The Center, which will be a bold and striking testament to the importance of science innovation and learning in Connecticut, will compliment the surrounding buildings, using the resources of the Connecticut Riverfront and surrounding cultural, historic, educational, and visitor destinations and amenities.

At the same time, the Center’s fundraising campaign begins the process of raising the remainder of the project’s estimated $149.6-million budget, about $35.5-million. Over $100-million in State funding for the project was approved in December, 2003.

Founded in September 2001, the Connecticut Center for Science & Exploration is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing science and math education throughout the state of the Connecticut, providing hands-on learning opportunities for students and adults of all ages, and engaging the community in scientific exploration.