Science North facts for kids
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![]() The Science North main building
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Established | 19 June 1984 |
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Location | 100 Ramsey Lake Road Sudbury, Ontario P3E 5S9 |
Type | Science centre |
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Owner | Government of Ontario |
Science North is an exciting science museum located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. It's a place where you can explore and learn about science in a fun, hands-on way!
This science centre is the most popular tourist spot in Northern Ontario. It has two unique buildings shaped like snowflakes. These buildings sit on the shore of Ramsey Lake, close to the city centre. There's also a former ice hockey arena that now holds the entrance and an IMAX theatre.
The snowflake buildings are connected by a cool rock tunnel. This tunnel goes through a very old geologic fault, which is like a crack in the Earth's crust. Scientists discovered this fault line during construction in the early 1980s. Inside the larger snowflake building, there's a big room called the Vale Cavern. It's often used for special exhibits, events, and movie showings.
Inside the main building, you'll see a huge 20-metre fin whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling. It was found on Anticosti Island.
Science North is famous for its team of science communicators, who are called 'bluecoats'. They wear blue lab coats and help visitors learn about science. They also put on amazing shows at the Discovery Theatre and lead tours.
The centre also offers boat tours on Ramsey Lake aboard the William Ramsey. This boat was renamed in 2014 to honor the person the lake was named after. You can also walk along the Jim Gordon Boardwalk from Science North to Bell Park along the lake.
Science North first opened its doors in 1984. It was designed by architect Raymond Moriyama. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the facility during her visit in October 1984. The Government of Ontario owns and oversees Science North through its Ministry of Culture.
What Can You Explore at Science North?
Science North has many different areas where you can learn and discover.
First Floor Fun
- IMAX With Laser - Experience movies in amazing 3D on a giant screen. This theatre opened in 1994 and was updated to 3D in 2009.
- Planetarium - Look up at the stars and planets in this special dome theatre. It opened in June 2009 and has 36 seats.
- Vale Cavern - A large space used for special events and temporary exhibits.
- TD Canada Trust Toddler's Treehouse - A fun and educational play area designed for younger children.
Second Floor Adventures
- Nature Exchange - Bring in natural items you've found, like cool rocks or shells. You get points for them, which you can use to "buy" other natural items from around the world!
- F. Jean MacLeod Butterfly Gallery - Step into a warm, glass-enclosed space filled with over 400 beautiful butterflies from tropical places.
Third Floor Discoveries
The third floor has four main areas, each focusing on different parts of nature:
Northern Forests
This area teaches you about animals that live in northern forests. You might meet animal ambassadors like Maple the porcupine or Saunders the skunk. Other animals include Northern Flying Squirrels, Grey Rat Snakes, and Big Brown bats. There's even a special room where you can see nocturnal (night-active) animals during the day! You can also peek into an intricate bee hive behind a glass window.
Lakes and Rivers
Here, you'll learn about animals that live in lakes and rivers. Meet Common Snapping Turtles, Northern Water Snakes, and local fish found in Northern Ontario lakes. This section helps you understand the water systems around Northern Ontario and the challenges they face. There's also a stream table (like a sand table) that shows how erosion shapes the land.
Wetlands Wonders
The wetlands area teaches you about important wetland ecosystems. You can even take tours of Lilly Creek, a marsh right next to Science North, to see how important wetlands are. Animal ambassadors here include Northern Ontario frogs (like Green Frogs and Bullfrogs), American Toads, and painted turtles. This section also has a monitor that shows the sulphur dioxide levels in Sudbury.
Discovery Theatre
Located in the middle of the third and fourth levels, the Discovery Theatre hosts live science shows. These shows cover exciting topics from fire to sound. Check the daily schedule to plan your visit around the shows you want to see!
The Northern Garden
Outside the science centre, this garden teaches you about plants native to Northern Ontario. You can learn about plant growth and how to care for a garden.
Fourth Floor Explorations
- BodyZone - Learn about DNA and how it makes each person unique. Discover how your body works with many interactive exhibits. You can even measure your performance on the race track!
- Racetrack - Build your own race car and test it on two circular tracks. This area has a K'Nex table for building.
- Space Place - Explore astronomy and space travel in this lab. See a 6-foot gravity well, a microgravity drop tower, and learn about SNOLAB and Canadian space exploration. You can also watch the "Between the Stars" show, which explains dark matter in a fun way with a cartoon character named String Man.
- TechLab - This area is all about technology and engineering. You can create circuits, take apart old electronics, and play with pulleys and gears.
- DataBase - Learn how we use computers and coding in our daily lives in this computer-based technology area.
Special Shows (Object Theatres)
Science North has special film and video shows that change over time:
- The Changing Climate Show - This show, narrated by Rick Mercer, was updated in March 2011 and teaches about climate change.
- Between the Stars - This show explains why scientists believe dark matter exists and how they are trying to find it at SNOLAB.
- Ready, Set, Move! - This interactive experience encourages and shows how to live a healthy life.
Outdoor Grounds
- Polaris Boulevard - A line that goes from a large sundial up the side of the building, pointing directly at Polaris (the North Star).
- Terra - Stand on this model of the world, scaled down one-millionth of its actual size, near the main entrance.
- A sculpture - This sculpture honors a local bush plane pilot named Rusty Blakey.
- Lily Creek - A marsh across from the centre, home to many different creatures.
- The Northern Forest - This outdoor exhibit shows many tree species that grow in northern Ontario.
Other Cool Things Science North Does
Science North also runs Dynamic Earth, another science centre in Sudbury. Dynamic Earth is home to the Big Nickel, one of the city's most famous landmarks.
The Science North Production Team creates special shows, videos, and large films for other science museums across North America. Their film Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope won several awards in 2024.
Science North works closely with Laurentian University on science and environmental research. They also partner with the university for a special program in science communication.
Science North offers fun science education day camps for children during the summer, autumn, and winter breaks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Science North helped share information about COVID-19 vaccines with young people and families. They received grants from the Government of Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada to create programs, podcasts, and events to help people understand the importance of vaccines.
See also
- List of science centers