Da Vinci Science Center facts for kids
Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania in June 2014
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| Established | 1992 |
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| Location | 815 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Type | Science, Technology, Careers, Children |
| Accreditation | ASTC, NSF |
| Visitors | 142,000 participants annually |
| Public transit access |  LANta bus: 102, 322 |
The Da Vinci Science Center (DSC) is a fun and interactive science museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It's a non-profit organization that started in 1992. Their main goal is to "bring science to life" for everyone. The center's slogan is "Open for ExSCIting Possibilities," which means they want to inspire you with science!
This center helps people of all ages connect with science. They have a huge two-story area filled with exhibits you can touch and explore. They also offer many programs for students, teachers, and community groups. A big part of their work is introducing kids to the exciting world of STEM. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These subjects are super important for future jobs and understanding how the world works.
The Da Vinci Science Center is located in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. It's about 48 miles (77 km) northwest of Philadelphia and 78 miles (126 km) west of New York City.
Contents
- History of the Science Center
- Explore the Exhibits
- Engineers on a Roll: Design and Play
- PPL Electric Utilities Energy Zone: Power Up!
- Tunnel Experience: See with Your Senses
- Physics Playground: Forces in Action
- Animation Station: Make Your Own Movie
- Built Like a Mack Truck: Design Your Ride
- Deer Park Water Table: Splash and Learn
- Hurricane Simulator: Feel the Wind!
- Invent-a-Car: Build Your Dream Car
- KEVA Build It Up: Stack and Create
- Da Vinci Pond: Local Water Life
- Nano Exhibits: Tiny Science, Big Impact
- Newton Chairs: Push and Learn Physics
- Other Locations and Future Plans
- Leadership and Management
History of the Science Center
The Da Vinci Science Center first opened its doors in 1992. It began as the Science Model Area Resource Team (SMART) Center at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Its first main purpose was to host special JASON Project broadcasts. These broadcasts allowed students to interact with famous oceanographer Robert Ballard. He was the person who discovered the wreckage of the RMS Titanic!
The SMART Center hosted the JASON Project until 1998. But it also started creating more hands-on science activities for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Teachers also got support from the center. With help from a generous supporter, the SMART Center quickly grew. It became known as the Discovery Center of Science and Technology. This new name showed its focus on offering science experiences to the public.
In 1999, the Discovery Center became independent from Lehigh University. It was a small, community-focused group. It mostly served school field trips for younger students. It didn't have many exhibits or programs back then. In 2003, it joined with another group called Leonardo da Vinci's Horse, Inc. (LDVHI). This merger made the organization stronger. It also gave the center its new name, the Da Vinci Science Center. This new name also added a focus on connecting science and technology with art and other subjects.
In June 2005, the center moved from its old location in a former Bethlehem Steel building. It moved into a brand-new building specially designed for exhibits. This new building is on land leased from Cedar Crest College in Allentown. The bigger and more modern space meant more people could visit. It also helped the center reach more of the Lehigh Valley area. They also started developing programs for different age groups.
As the Da Vinci Science Center, the organization began to focus on careers in science and technology. In 2012, they had a record number of over 93,000 visitors. They also started their special programs that connect exhibits with real-world job opportunities. These programs help people learn about what jobs are available in different industries.
Explore the Exhibits
The Science Center has many exciting exhibits. You can learn about different science topics by trying things out yourself!
Engineers on a Roll: Design and Play
This area is like an engineering lab, a playground, and a climbing space all in one! You can have active fun while learning about math and engineering. Colorful balls roll along long tracks that dip and curve. You can guess where the balls will go, guide them, sort them, and experiment. The balls are always moving, making it a lively place to learn!
PPL Electric Utilities Energy Zone: Power Up!
Get excited about electricity in the PPL Energy Zone! You can dance, spin, and get hands-on with how electricity works. Learn about circuits, voltage, resistance, and how power is made. Check out the Energy Dance Floor, Jacob's Ladder, Circuit Blocks, Finger Tingler, and Hand Crank Generators. It's a shocking amount of fun!
Tunnel Experience: See with Your Senses
One of the most popular exhibits is the tunnel. Here, you learn to use your other senses besides sight. You crawl through a 72-foot-long tunnel in complete darkness. It helps you focus on what you can hear, touch, and even smell!
Physics Playground: Forces in Action
In the Physics Playground, you get to try out ideas about forces, motion, and simple machines. Try a giant lever, feel how a pulley makes things easier, and use hydraulics to lift heavy objects. You can also roll around on a Newton Chair and discover the forces that help planes fly. It's all about how things move and interact!
Animation Station: Make Your Own Movie
Here, you learn how animation works. Still pictures are put together quickly to create a moving video. You can make your own stop-motion film! Move objects around, and a computer takes photos of each scene. Then, it puts them all together into your very own animated movie.
Built Like a Mack Truck: Design Your Ride
This exhibit is like a video game where you design virtual "green" trucks. These trucks are fuel-efficient and don't create too much waste. You choose things like tire tread, engine power, and fuel type. Your choices affect how your truck performs as it drives through virtual challenges.
Deer Park Water Table: Splash and Learn
The Deer Park Water Table is perfect for younger kids. It's low to the ground and has movable parts. You can move these parts to change how the water flows. You'll learn about how we use water, how to save it, and why staying hydrated is important.
Hurricane Simulator: Feel the Wind!
Step inside this attraction and experience what it's like to be in a Category 1 hurricane. The wind rushes past you at speeds up to 78 miles per hour! It's a safe way to feel the power of nature.
Invent-a-Car: Build Your Dream Car
This exhibit lets young children design a car using plastic parts. You can add hoses to the engine and details to the tires. Once your car looks just right, you can even sit inside your creation!
KEVA Build It Up: Stack and Create
Here, you can build amazing structures using KEVA planks. These planks look like long Jenga blocks. They let you test your design skills and your problem-solving abilities. The center sees this as a great way to show how art, math, and design work together.
Da Vinci Pond: Local Water Life
The Da Vinci Pond is a 560-gallon tank lit by LED lights. It gives you a chance to see aquatic animals that live in the local area. You might see a painted turtle and different kinds of fish. You'll learn about these animals, how they behave, and why they are important to the local water system.
Nano Exhibits: Tiny Science, Big Impact
Nanotechnology is the study of super tiny objects, sometimes only a few atoms wide. At the center's Nano Exhibits, you learn the basics of this field. You'll see how it's used in our modern world. You can also try building large models of carbon nanotubes. There's also a feature called "Balance Our Nano Future" where you can apply what you learn.
Newton Chairs: Push and Learn Physics
Newton's Second Law of Motion says that force equals mass times acceleration (F=ma). The Newton Chairs show this law in action. When two visitors push each other, the chairs roll backward. If you push a parent, you'll roll back much faster. This is because the same pushing force acts on your smaller mass, causing you to accelerate more!
Other Locations and Future Plans
PPL Pavilion: A New Home
The Da Vinci Science Center started building its new location in downtown Allentown, PA, on April 22, 2022. This new center opened in 2024. It offers even more space for exciting exhibits and programs.
Leadership and Management
Board of Trustees: Guiding the Center
The Da Vinci Science Center is guided by a group called the board of trustees. Their job is to make sure the center follows its mission and has enough funding. They also choose the chief executive officer. The board has 30 members who meet four times a year.
The board of trustees has three smaller groups: the executive committee, the audit finance committee, and the committee on trustees. These groups meet throughout the year to help with different tasks.
Management: The CEO's Role
The current chief executive officer (CEO) of the Da Vinci Science Center is Lin Erickson. She returned to this role in 2013, having served as CEO before from 1997 to 2005. Before coming back, she worked for the Air Force Museum Foundation and Wittenberg University in Ohio. When she returned in 2013, the board of trustees chose her from nearly 175 candidates. The previous CEO, Troy A. Thrash, moved on to lead the Air Zoo museum in Portage, Michigan.
