Science Factory Children's Museum & Planetarium

Science Factory
Sign at the Entrance of the Science Factory.
Location 2300 Leo Harris Parkway
Eugene, Oregon
Type Science Museum

The Science Factory, located in Alton Baker Park in Eugene, Oregon, United States, is a science and technology center for children, families, and school groups. The 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) museum near Autzen Stadium features changing interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, camp programs, special events and other science and technology-related education programs. The Science Factory is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a 13-member volunteer board of directors. The Science Factory's mission is: "To engage children, excite their curiosity, inspire them toward a lifetime love of science, and empower them to use science and technology to improve their communities."

History

The Science Factory was founded in 1961 as the Southwest Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (SWOMSI). SWOMSI received initial support from its parent organization, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) of Portland, but soon after became an independent museum with a board of directors composed primarily of local educators.[1]

SWOMSI first occupied the Oregon Electric Railway Station, currently the Oregon Electric Station restaurant, located at 5th Avenue and Willamette Street. During its early years in the Oregon Electric Railway Station, SWOMSI offered exhibits and classes and ran planetarium shows in the Spitz Planetarium, a facility operated by OMSI.[2]

In 1973, finding the railroad station inadequate and the Spitz Planetarium nearing the end of its useful life, SWOMSI's Board of Directors approached the Lane County Commissioners to ask for space in the newly created Alton Baker Park. Following a break from OMSI, SWOMSI became the Willamette Science and Technology Center (WISTEC). Major funding for the new museum was obtained under the Economic Development Administration and each of the consortium members (Lane Community College, Lane Education Service District, University of Oregon, and WISTEC) contributed substantially to the project, financially and through in-kind services. At that time, the Oregon Electric Railway Station was sold and $50,000 in WISTEC funds were put into construction of the present building in Alton Baker Park.[2]

From 1978-79 the WISTEC building and the new planetarium was constructed. When the City of Eugene took control of most of Alton Baker Park in the mid-1980s, it also took ownership of the WISTEC building. WISTEC opened at its present location in 1980. The planetarium was at that time functionally and financially separate from the museum.[1] The planetarium eventually became the sole responsibility of the Lane Education Service District and was closed in December 2002, after a funding crisis.[2] In January 2002, WISTEC changed its name to The Science Factory and with the transfer of the planetarium to Science Factory ownership in 2003, it became the Science Factory Children's Museum & Planetarium, but reverted back to Science Factory in 2016.[3]

Exhibits

Science Factory features a planetarium and an exhibit hall with several permanent and changing exhibits.

Planetarium

The Science Factory Planetarium, owned and operated by Science Factory since 2002, seats 70 people. Its star projector is a Minolta series llB under a 40-foot (12 m) Astro-Tec dome. The planetarium offers shows to the public year round on Saturdays and Sundays and everyday during the summer.

Temporary exhibits

A large portion of Science Factory's Exhibit Hall can be devoted to temporary traveling exhibits. Notable past exhibits include "Yesterday's Tomorrows", "Magna Carta", "Finding Your Way", "Tech City", "Your Healer Within", and the "A View From Space."

The Tot Spot

The Tot Spot is an exploration room devoted to children four years old and younger. This exhibit was funded by Selco Community Credit Union.

Education

The Science Factory serves children from birth through 6th grade through special programs, summer camps, and field trips, and from such former specialized programs as CyberSisters, a nationally recognized program designed to provide young girls with adult female mentors who encouraged the girls to explore careers in math, science and technology.[4] It also offers such education programs as YES!YEA! Days, an interdisciplinary literature, art and sciences program partnered with the Young Writer's Association,[5] and once-monthly "Tot Discovery Days" for toddlers.[1] In recent years special learning environments have been created within the exhibit space including a remodeled computer education laboratory (1998), library and video station (2007), a toddler area (2004), an upgraded classroom (2007), and an upgraded planetarium (2010).

References

  1. 1 2 3 Salvia, Vanessa (Winter 2008-09). "Engage, Excite, Inspire." Eugene Magazine. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  2. 1 2 3 "Organizational History". Science Factory Children's Museum & Planetarium website. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
  3. ↑ Bolt, Greg (2002-6-24). "WISTEC now Science Factory". The Register Guard. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  4. ↑ Ullstad, Shannon (2002-5-14). "Program gets girls involved in science." The Daily Barometer. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
  5. ↑ "Classes". Science Factory Children's Museum & Planetarium website. Retrieved 2009-11-25.

Coordinates: 44°03′23″N 123°04′21″W / 44.0564°N 123.0726°W / 44.0564; -123.0726

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