Washington Area’s Newest Museum Wants Your Input

WOODBRIDGE — Ever visit a museum and wish they’d consulted you before they created their exhibits? Now’s your chance to weigh in with what you want. The new SciencePort Science Center wants to hear from you as it plans exhibits for a new, 200,000 square foot science center on the banks of the Occoquan River in Woodbridge. To make your opinions count, log on to the SciencePort Science Center Web site, www.bblsc.org, Thursday, April 15-Friday, May 7.

“We want to hear from adults and children in all walks of life,” says SciencePort Executive Director Jack Parry. “We want SciencePort to be a community oriented, interactive, public learning resource. To that end we are working with local schools, PTAs, chambers of commerce, cultural and ethnic groups to get the word out about our survey. We want to know what types of exhibits people are interested in visiting. Do they want an IMAX^® theater? Are they interested in lectures and after-hours events? Once we have the answers to our survey, we’ll be in a better position to create a science center that can meet the interests and needs of the greater Washington community. For many people, participating in our survey will also be your first interactive experience at SciencePort.”

  The survey covers numerous issues. Do you want to solve a mystery — and pick up some forensic science tips along the way? Wonder what an earthquake feels like? Are you fascinated by technology and computers? Curious about how a digital camera works? Are you interested in how your lifestyle can impact plants, animals and the environment? Would you like to see live animals to learn about their lives or would you prefer to see video of how the animals live?

              The online survey is actually divided into seven sections. You are asked to answer the appropriate survey. There are surveys for elementary school students, middle school students, high school students, educators, general public, museum directors and advisory committee members. Parents may want to help their younger children answer the elementary school survey. When children finish the survey they can print out a certificate that shows they have participated. Survey participants in kindergarten through 12^th grade receive a personalized certificate that's good for one free admission to the Science Museum of Virginia or, when it opens, the SciencePort Science Center.

 “A science center needs to be an engaging place,” says Parry. “We’re working to create a center featuring hands-on experiences. We also want to provide a gateway experience to the Occoquan National Wildlife Refuge. And we are developing educational offerings that are integrated with the Virginia Standards of Learning.”

SciencePort Science Center is a division of the Science Museum of Virginia. Center plans call for exhibition galleries, school programs, continuing educational programs for adults and learning resources. The center will focus on technology, physical sciences and life sciences. Both informal and formal programs for school-aged children will be aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning. George Mason University plans to establish a presence in the Science Center with research laboratories and classrooms.

The Science Center is to be built on five acres in SciencePort Town Center in Woodbridge. The riverside site is where the Occoquan and Potomac rivers meet and is adjacent to the new Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Plans also call for a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gallery about the refuge.

Virginia voters have approved $5 million for construction. An additional $589,000 has been awarded by the federal government. Land for the center has been offered by SciencePort developer Preston Caruthers. The SciencePort Science Center Foundation Board is starting work to raise more than $100 million to finance construction, fund programs, build research laboratories and classrooms for George Mason University and establish an endowment fund. Current plans call for the facility to be up and running in late 2007.

For SciencePort Science Center information call 1-866-201-2812. Log on to www.bblsc.org to access the SciencePort Science Center Web site. Belmont Elementary School and the SciencePort Science Center are located at 751 Norwood Lane in Woodbridge.

Contact Information

2500 West Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220 - (866) 201-2812 - www.bblsc.org