The Science Factory Children's Museum & Planetarium, located in Alton Baker Park in Eugene, Oregon, United States, is a science and technology center for children, families, and school groups. The 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) museum near Autzen Stadium features changing interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, camp programs, special events and other science and technology-related education programs. The Science Factory is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a 13-member volunteer board of directors. The Science Factory's mission is: "To engage, excite and inspire children for a lifetime love of learning about science, technology and humanity."
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The Science Factory was founded in 1961 as the Southwest Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (SWOMSI). SWOMSI received initial support from its parent organization, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) of Portland, but soon after became an independent museum with a board of directors composed primarily of local educators.[1]
SWOMSI first occupied the Oregon Electric Railway Station, currently the Oregon Electric Station restaurant, located at 5th Avenue and Willamette Street. During its early years in the Oregon Electric Railway Station, SWOMSI offered exhibits and classes and ran planetarium shows in the Spitz Planetarium, a facility operated by OMSI.[2]
In 1973, finding the railroad station inadequate and the Spitz Planetarium nearing the end of its useful life, SWOMSI's Board of Directors approached the Lane County Commissioners to ask for space in the newly created Alton Baker Park. Following a break from OMSI, SWOMSI became the Willamette Science and Technology Center (WISTEC). Major funding for the new museum was obtained under the Economic Development Administration and each of the consortium members (Lane Community College, Lane Education Service District, University of Oregon, and WISTEC) contributed substantially to the project, financially and through in-kind services. At that time, the Oregon Electric Railway Station was sold and $50,000 in WISTEC funds were put into construction of the present building in Alton Baker Park.[2]
From 1978-79 the WISTEC building and the new planetarium was constructed. When the City of Eugene took control of most of Alton Baker Park in the mid-1980s, it also took ownership of the WISTEC building. WISTEC opened at its present location in 1980. The planetarium was at that time functionally and financially separate from the museum.[1] The planetarium eventually became the sole responsibility of the Lane Education Service District and was closed in December 2002, after a funding crisis.[2] In January 2002, WISTEC changed its name to The Science Factory and with the transfer of the planetarium to Science Factory ownership in 2003, it became the Science Factory Children's Museum & Planetarium, generally still referred to as the Science Factory.[3]
Science Factory features a planetarium and an exhibit hall with several permanent and changing exhibits.
The Science Factory Planetarium, owned and operated by Science Factory since 2002, seats 100 people. Its star projector is a Minolta series llB under a 40-foot (12 m) Astro-Tec dome. The planetarium also has special-effect projectors, satellite reception capabilities, and Internet access to Pine Mountain Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute. The planetarium offers shows on weekend days.
A large portion of Science Factory's Exhibit Hall can be devoted to temporary traveling exhibits. Notable past exhibits include "Yesterday's Tomorrows", "Magna Carta", "Finding Your Way", "Tech City", and the recent "Your Healer Within."
The Tot Spot is an exploration room devoted to children four years old and younger. This exhibit was funded by Selco Community Credit Union.
Permanent additions to the Science Factory, these two terrariums house a Green Iguana and a selection of lizards, frogs, and plants.[4]
The Science Factory serves children from Kindergarten through 6th grade through summer camps and field trip programs, and from such former specialized programs as CyberSisters, a nationally recognized program designed to provide young girls with adult female mentors who encouraged the girls to explore careers in math, science and technology.[5] It also offers such education programs as YES!YEA! Days, an interdisciplinary literature, art and sciences program partnered with the Young Writer's Association,[6] and once-monthly "Tot Discovery Days" for toddlers.[1] In recent years special learning environments have been created within the exhibit space including a remodeled computer education laboratory (1998), library and video station (2007), a toddler area (2004) and an upgraded classroom (2007). Next to be accomplished will be a remodel and upgrade of the planetarium into a multipurpose educational space featuring a new digital full-dome projection system planned for 2010.