Sciencenter’s 30-Year Journey Sparks Curiosity through Hands-On Learning

The Sciencenter, an interactive science museum located in Ithaca, New York, has dedicated over 30 years to fostering curiosity and engagement through hands-on learning experiences. Unlike typical modern environments filled with screens, the Sciencenter buzzes with the sounds of discovery—children laugh, explore, and interact with exhibits designed to ignite their interest in science.

Sierra Coathup, the Sciencenter’s volunteer program manager, recently witnessed a memorable moment in the Saltonstall Animal Room, which hosts a variety of amphibians, reptiles, and fish. A child excitedly exclaimed to their parent, “See, I told you it was real!” while dashing towards an axolotl tank. Coathup reflected on the experience, noting the unexpected role reversal where the child acted as the educator. Such moments are the result of the Sciencenter’s commitment to its mission: to cultivate a community of curious, collaborative, and critical thinkers.

Engineering Curiosity through Interactive Experiences

As formal education progresses, the natural curiosity that fuels children’s interest in science often diminishes, shifting from exploration to rote memorization. According to Professor Chris Schaffer from Cornell University’s biomedical engineering program, science is typically a favorite subject among students until the end of middle school. He highlights the detrimental effects of traditional classroom environments, which frequently reframe science as a mere collection of facts.

Schaffer emphasizes the significance of interactive spaces that nurture curiosity through active participation. “It really is an exploratory process for discovery that keeps visitors engaged in science,” he stated. Research supports his assertion; a 33-year longitudinal study demonstrated that early hands-on experiences significantly shape individuals’ lifelong interests in science.

Creating engaging exhibits requires more than just colorful displays. At the Sciencenter, curiosity is meticulously engineered through extensive research, prototyping, and testing. Each exhibit, while only capturing attention for a brief moment, is the product of a comprehensive five-year development cycle.

A prime example of this process is the Bridges to Bioengineering project, a collaboration involving faculty and students from Cornell’s Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering. Now in its third year, this bilingual traveling exhibition—available in both Spanish and English—aims to bridge the gap between complex biomedical concepts and public understanding.

The project began with a phase known as “front-end evaluation,” where Adrienne Testa, the director of exhibitions, and her team identified key questions about public perceptions of biomedical engineering. They conducted interviews with professionals, students, and parents across various schools in Tompkins County and Groton, N.Y.. The second phase involved testing prototypes to assess if the exhibits successfully captured attention and communicated scientific principles effectively.

In a workshop located in the Sciencenter’s basement, the current phase of development focuses on refining the exhibition based on feedback from initial public interactions. Schaffer noted the importance of monitoring visitor engagement, asking questions regarding their enjoyment and the knowledge gained from the experience. This iterative approach ensures that the final design is both effective and engaging.

Extending the Reach of Discovery

The Sciencenter’s commitment to fostering curiosity is not limited to its Ithaca location. In 2025, the Sciencenter’s completed traveling exhibitions are expected to reach 14 states and two Canadian provinces, engaging hundreds of thousands of people. Testa mentioned plans for an exhibition to be hosted at a children’s science museum in Chengdu, China, demonstrating the Sciencenter’s ambition to share its model of discovery across cultural and geographical boundaries.

This dedication to curiosity is evident in the daily experiences of visitors. The Sciencenter aims to ensure that discovery remains tangible, hands-on, and enjoyable. The culmination of years of careful planning and execution manifests in simple yet profound moments, like a child confidently announcing to their parents, “See? I told you it was real!”

Through the efforts of its staff, researchers, and thousands of volunteers, the Sciencenter continues to champion an environment where curiosity thrives, proving that learning can—and should—be an engaging adventure.