Orlando Science Center
 The Orlando Science Center as seen from Harry P. Leu Gardens | |
  Location within Florida | |
| Established | 1955 |
|---|---|
| Location | Orlando, Florida |
| Coordinates | 28°34′20″N 81°22′06″W / 28.572321°N 81.368394°WCoordinates: 28°34′20″N 81°22′06″W / 28.572321°N 81.368394°W |
| Type | Science museum |
| Visitors | 400,000 annually |
| Director | JoAnn Newman |
| Public transit access | Rollins St and Camden Rd Lynx Bus Stop & Florida Hospital SunRail Station |
| Website |
www |
The Orlando Science Center (OSC) is a private science museum located in Orlando, Florida. Its purposes are to provide experience-based opportunities for learning about science and technology and to promote public understanding of science.
The Orlando Science Center is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC). The Orlando Science Center is member supported and sponsored in part by United Arts of Central Florida, Inc., the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council.
Mission statement
Inspire science learning for life.
History
Incorporated in 1955, the Central Florida Museum (CFM) opened in Orlando Loch Haven Park in 1960. For its first decade, it was an anthropology museum with collections of artifacts relating to Florida and the Caribbean Basin.
In the early 1970s, the CFM's board of directors voted to change directions and to become a "hands-on" science and technology center. In 1973 the institution was renamed to honor a famous native son and astronaut, John Young.
In 1984, as part of an expansion and change of philosophy, the institution's name was changed to Orlando Science Center. In 1985 another major expansion created a permanent physical sciences hall, a traveling exhibit hall, and Curiosity Corner, a hands-on exhibit area dedicated to pre-school and early primary age children. Its new facility was the setting for the Orlando Children's Museum scenes in Ernest Saves Christmas. During the final expansion to the original facility in 1990, NatureWorks, a prototype for OSC's centerpiece natural science exhibit was created.
In May 1992, the Board and staff developed a comprehensive master plan for the Orlando Science Center, including a blueprint for construction of an entirely new science center. Construction of the new science center began in early 1995.
The new 207,000 sq ft (19,200 m2). Orlando Science Center celebrated its grand opening on February 1, 1997. It is six times larger than the original facility, which closed December 31, 1996. The current president and CEO of the science center is JoAnn Newman.
Exhibits
As of 4 December 2014, here is a list of the current exhibits within the Orlando Science Center (In order from 1st floor).
- NatureWorks - 1st Floor - Exhibit hall that describes the richness of the natural world, with a focus on the diverse ecosystems of Central Florida. Such as, plants and animals of coral reefs, cypress swamps, mangrove, and other Florida environments. You can learn how living and non-living things interact with each other and their environment.
- KidsTown - 1st Floor - Miniature town that introduces science concepts through whole-body experiences, hands-on interactives and imaginative role-playing, water tables, automotive garage, orange juice processing plant and more.
- Science Park - 2nd Floor - An interactive exhibit lets visitors explore such concepts as lights and lasers, sound and waves, electricity and magnetism, fundamental forces, and simulation.
- All Aboard - 2nd Floor - Child-sized models of trains, planes and the space shuttle provide the mode of transportation as creativity provides the road map.
- Engineer It! - 3rd Floor – A hands-on exhibit that designed around the engineering process. Guests can plan a design; create a prototype; and improve and retest engineering prototypes.
- DinoDigs - 4th Floor - Exhibit consisting of fossil replicas of dinosaurs and prehistoric sea creatures. Uncover fossils in the giant dig pit “Jurassic Ridge”; examine real, fossilized dino eggs; explore displays that feature ancient land and marine reptiles; compare reptiles and dinosaurs to see similarities and differences; and discover denizens of the ancient oceans such as Elasmosaurus and Tylosaurus.
- Our Planet, Our Universe - 4th Floor – This exhibit is geared to exploring the strange, curious and odd peculiarities of the universe and our place within it. Discover the dynamic forces and systems that shape Earth and uncover the mysteries of the solar system. Experiences include computer-based interactives and visuals, such as images direct from the NASA Hubble Space Telescope, and hands-on stations that explore some strange and familiar phenomena. There is also a Virtusphere: a 10-foot hollow sphere that rotate freely in any direction based to the user’s steps.
- Crosby Observatory - 6th Floor - Florida's largest public refractor telescope as well as an array of smaller yet still powerful telescopes strategically placed for star gazing. The Crosby Observatory is open from 3-5pm for SunWatch on the first Saturday of each month, weather permitting, and from 5-9 on the first and third Saturday of the month, weather permitting (exhibit halls are closed during this time).
Movie Viewing
The science center has two movie theaters that show both educational and Hollywood films. Check the Orlando Science Center website for a current list of movie showtimes.
- Dr. Phillips Cinedome Featuring a giant screen measuring 8,000 square feet, the 300-seat Dr. Phillips CineDome projects films through a fisheye lens, creating an image that surrounds the audience and extends well beyond their peripheral vision. It uses the largest film format in the world, 10 times larger than a conventional film theater. It's commonly called 15/70, meaning 15 perforations (horizontally) on a 70 mm print.
- Digital Adventure Theater One of the first museums to join a national effort with National Geographic, the Science Center has special access to one of the world’s largest giant-screen film libraries that includes award-winning films in 2D and 3D digital formats. In addition, this theater also shows select Hollywood movies and Science Live! programs such as Kaboom! and High Voltage.
Annual Events
- Otronicon offers demonstrations of how interactive technology will impact how we work, learn and play.
- Science Night Live Science Night Live are held on Saturday nights when the science center is reserved only for adults with grown-up-inspired programming including Science Trivia, experiments, 3D films, special presentations, laser light, stars and planets viewing through the giant refractor telescope in the Crosby Observatory.
- Science of Wine The Science of Wine is a wine and food tasting that takes place every May. Over 150 wines from all of the major regions of the world are represented.
- Orlando Maker Faire Maker Faire Orlando is an annual community-organized, family-friendly event featuring local do-it-yourself science and technology, art, rockets, robots, crafts, music, hands-on-activities, and more.
Facility rentals
The Orlando Science Center offers its facility to host meetings, special engagements, and weddings. The venue offers 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) of exhibits, a private theater, and IWerks movies.
References
External links
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