Science North
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Science North is an interactive science museum in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
The complex, which is Northern Ontario's most popular tourist attraction, consists of two snowflake-shaped buildings on the southwestern shore of Lake Ramsey, just south of the city's downtown core, as well as a former ice hockey arena which includes the complex's entrance and an IMAX theatre. The snowflake buildings are connected by a rock tunnel, which passes through a billion-year-old geologic fault. This fault line was not known to be under the complex during the construction of the building in the early 1980s. Where the walkway reaches the larger snowflake, the Inco Cavern auditorium is frequently used for temporary exhibits, as well as for press conferences and other gala events.
Inside the main building, a 20-foot fin whale skeleton recovered from Anticosti Island hangs from the ceiling.
The complex also features a boat tour, the Cortina, which offers touring cruises of the scenic Lake Ramsey. The Jim Gordon Boardwalk also extends from the facility to the city's Bell Park along the western shore of the lake.
The facility was designed by architect Raymond Moriyama.
An agency of the provincial government of Ontario, Science North is overseen by the provincial Ministry of Culture.
Contents |
[edit] Facilities
[edit] First Level
- TD Canada Trust Toddler's Treehouse - a children's educational play area
[edit] Second Level
- Nature Exchange - visitors collect and research natural items from the wild and are swapped for points in a database. The points can be used to "purchase" other natural artifacts from around the world (ie: Rocks, sea shells, fossils, ect.)
- Lapidary Lab - Visitors learn how to cut, grind and polish rocks to turn them from ordinary stones into works of art.
- F. Jean MacLeod Butterfly Gallery - This glass-enclosed gallery is home to more that 400 butterflys from 30 different tropical species.
[edit] Third Level
- Northern Ecosystem - take a look at the animals, landscapes and natural ecology of Northern Ontario. Featuring a live Beaver(Drifter), Hawk (Enright), and Porcupin (Quillan) along with many other animals from around the North.
- Discovery Theatre - features live science demonstrations hosted by staff everyday!
[edit] Fourth Level
- BodyZone - Look at the anatomy of the human body and what makes you so unique!
- Lego Mindstorms Robotics Lab - Build a Lego Mindstorms Robot, or create a Lego Movie
- FedNor CyberZone - Computers lab which features a flight simulator similar to what pilots actually train on
- The Space Place - astronomy and the universe, featuring the Microgravity Drop tower
- TechLab - Technology and engineering area which you are able to stretch your creative muscle and build different creations using K'nex
- Everest - Follow the journey of a Sudbury native on her journey in climbing Mt. Everest, the last of the 7 summits. Watch her progress, listen to phone calls, monitor her condition and learn about the Napalese culture.
[edit] Object Theatres
Special film and video exhibits which change over time; current exhibits include
- The Climate Change Show -- narrated by Rick Mercer
- Secrets from the Sun -- a video tour of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory
[edit] Outdoor Grounds
- Polaris Boulevard - is a line which reaches from a large sundial right up the side of the building which points directly at Polaris (the north star).
- Terra - You’re literally on top of the world when you stand on this one-millionth scale world model, outdoors near Science North’s main entrance. At sunset and sunrise, you can watch the earth's shadow move across Canada. The benchmark at the centre of Terra is: 46° 28' 12.00" N and 80° 59' 45.70" W.
- a sculpture honouring local bush plane pilot Rusty Blakey.
- Lily Creek - a marsh located opposite to the centre, Lily Creek is home to many species of creatures.
- The Northern Forest - This outdoor exhibit features many of the tree species grown in northern Ontario that Domtar relies on for its sawmills and for the manufacture of pulp and paper at the Espanola mill.
[edit] Other activities
Science North, which was opened in 1984, also owns and operates Sudbury's Dynamic Earth facility, an earth sciences exhibition which is home to the Big Nickel, one of the city's most famous landmarks. From January 22, 2001 to May 10, 2003, the Big Nickel was temporarily located on the primary Science North grounds while Dynamic Earth was under construction.
Science North's science director, Alan Nursall, is also a correspondent for the Canadian science newsmagazine series Daily Planet, which airs on Discovery Channel Canada and CTV.
Science North has also worked extensively with the city's Laurentian University, both on scientific and environmental research and as a partner in the university's graduate program in science communication.
