Discovery Science Center

Discovery Science Center
Established 1998
Location Santa Ana, California, U.S.
Visitor figures 420,000 (2007)[1]
Director Joe Adams[2]
Website http://www.discoverycube.org

The Discovery Science Center, formerly known as the Taco Bell Discovery Science Center, is a science museum in Santa Ana, California, with more than 100 hands-on science exhibits designed to spark children's natural curiosity.[3] It has become a visual landmark due to its ten-story solar array cube that stands over Interstate 5.[4]

Contents

History

In 1984, the Boards of the Exploratory Learning Center and the Experience Center joined to form the Discovery Museum of Orange County with the dual goals of teaching children what life was like in Orange County in the 1900s and creating a world-class science center. A funding feasibility study in 1989 indicated that county leaders would support the project. The 59,000-square-foot (5,500 m2) facility was opened on December 17, 1998.[4] In 2008 the Center became an affiliate within the Smithsonian Affiliations program.[5]

Exhibits

The center is divided into several themed areas: Discovery Stadium, Techno Arts, Air & Space, Perception, Dynamic Earth,[6] Quake Zone, the Digital Lab[7] and KidStation. Some of the available exhibits at the museum include Dino Quest, an interactive work which opened in 2006 and includes life-size dinosaurs[8][9]; and Science of Hockey, which opened in 2009 and presents the various scientific aspects behind the game of hockey with the help of the Anaheim Ducks franchise.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ Baron, Alex (2007-07-09). "Discovery Science Center strains at the seams". OC Register. http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1758068.php. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
  2. ^ "First STEMCAP Forum Successful in Laying Out Goals and Objectives". InnovateCalifornia.net. 2006-12-08. http://innovatecalifornia.net/success/search/details/accomplishment/10. Retrieved 2008-06-09. 
  3. ^ "CSA Member Profile: Discovery Science Center". CaliforniaSpaceAuthority.org. 2008-05-19. http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/html/member-profiles/member-discoveryscicenter.html. Retrieved 2008-06-09. 
  4. ^ a b "Background". DiscoveryCube.org. http://www.discoverycube.org/about.aspx?q=2. Retrieved 2008-06-09. 
  5. ^ Pat Brennan (2008). "Discovery Science Center named Smithsonian affiliate". OC Science. Orange County Register. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2008/05/01/science-center-gets-access-to-smithsonian-collection/2851/. Retrieved 15 Jul 2011. 
  6. ^ "Earth System Science Informal Education Network". InformalEarthScience.org. http://www.informalearthscience.org/providers/providers1/discovery-science-center.html. Retrieved 2008-06-09. 
  7. ^ Rivenburg, Roy (2006-07-26). "A Prehistory Lesson From the Insides Out". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jul/26/local/me-dino26?pg=0. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
  8. ^ Diepenbrock, William (2006-06-28). "Big summer fun with dinosaurs". OC Register. http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/life/homepage/article_1194911.php. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
  9. ^ Witz, Billy (2009-03-28). "A hockey exhibit's cold, hard facts". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sp-hockey-science28-2009mar28,0,3704599.story. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
  10. ^ Stephens, Eric (2009-03-27). "Hockey, science meet at Discovery Science Center". NHL.com. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=415639. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 

External links