CLEVELAND (August 27, 2024) – Great Lakes Science Center received $500,000 from the State of Ohio’s capital budget bill this summer, funding that will go toward the construction of a new water technology exhibit.
Proudly standing along the shores of Lake Erie, the Science Center is intrinsically tied to the Great Lakes in name, location and mission. Northeast Ohio serves as a gateway to one of the world's largest sources of freshwater. As the global importance of water conservation and sustainable management grows, the exhibit will offer guests an immersive experience to understand the critical role of the Great Lakes ecosystem and how water technologies will protect this invaluable resource. The exhibit will showcase innovative solutions, experiments, testing stations, and hands-on interactive experiences. Guests will gain deeper appreciation for our region’s innovations and our greatest natural resource, and the experience will inspire future generations to address freshwater challenges in their community.
“The Science Center surveyed the content offered and the audiences served related to water across Northeast Ohio. Although we found many environmental programs and exhibits that address natural and biological science content, we found almost no examples of programs or exhibits that focus on water-related engineering, advanced manufacturing, technology, chemistry, or physics,” said Science Center President & CEO Kirsten Ellenbogen. “As a region that serves as a gateway to more than 20 percent of the world’s freshwater, we have a responsibility to look to the short- and long-term sustainability of this vital resource, the economic impact, and the technology and engineering that will conserve and protect Lake Erie for many years to come. We are grateful to the governor and the state legislature for their support of this project and their recognition of the importance of protecting our Great Lake.”
The exhibit will not only educate guests about the vital role of water technology in addressing environmental challenges, but also showcase cutting-edge innovations that promote water conservation and efficiency, and empower guests to take an active role in effectively using and strongly safeguarding our freshwater for future generations. Prime views of Lake Erie from the Science Center will lend immediate relevancy to the experience.
As the exhibit is developed, featured concepts might include water purification methods, chemistry, advanced manufacturing, amazing feats of engineering, and advancements in sustainable energy generation from water sources. A wide range of scientific, industry, and education experts will consult on the exhibit’s content. Some of these same experts will be featured in the exhibit, continuing the Science Center’s commitment to making the STEM careers of the future come alive in our galleries.
The new exhibit is part of an overall $21 million campaign to transform many of the Science Center’s exhibition galleries and make a long-lasting commitment to increasing opportunities and ensuring that programs remain accessible to every child and their family.
About Great Lakes Science Center
Great Lakes Science Center is one of the top ten museums in the nation as celebrated by the 2024 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award for Best Science Museum. The Science Center hosted Total Eclipse Fest in 2024, one of the largest free eclipse events in the country, and is home to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center and makes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) come alive for more than 300,000 visitors a year through hundreds of hands-on exhibits, temporary exhibitions, the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater, historic Steamship William G. Mather, daily science demonstrations, seasonal camps, and more. The Science Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit institution, earned a 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, a leading provider of insight and data about the non-profit world. The Science Center is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Visit GreatScience.com for more information.