7 minute read
SB Community: Sci-Port
SCI-PORT
STEAMS AHEAD
Alittle more than three years ago, Sci-Port embarked on a journey that was as unpredictable as Louisiana weather. The entity was completely reorganized under a new and separate entity, Red River STEM, Inc. With the assistance of the Community Foundation of North Louisiana and its Chief Executive Officer, Kristi Gustavson, a Board was formed for the new entity which was chaired by Jay Pierson who has since led Sci-Port through an incredible re-emergence as a premier science center. As the new Sci-Port Discovery Center celebrates its third anniversary, the Board is also celebrating the fact that the month of July marked a record admission revenue for the Center! According to Pierson, “We have endured some rough moments as we struggled to reorganize and keep the doors open for our guests throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Our Board and staff are to be commended for their efforts to save Sci-Port Discovery Center. We believe we are now on stable ground and see evidence of success through increased attendance, event rentals, grant receipts, outreach programming recognition and accolades from our community.” Under the direction and leadership strength of Pierson, the Sci-Port Discovery Center is now emerging from what was at first conceived to be an emergency stabilization reorganizational effort to a vibrant and ambitious team of dedicated individuals who are committed to providing the community with hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educational opportunities through the Sci-Port Discovery Center. With the recent appointment of new Board members, Jay has identified priorities for the new Board which include the assignment of committee responsibilities in: Finance & Accounting, Fund Raising & Grants and Programs & Exhibits. According to Executive Director Dianne Clark, “Sci-Port is so much more than a building. So often I discover community members who are unaware of the breadth and depth of our community outreach initiatives. This summer, in just one of our many grant-funded programs, GSK Science in the Summer’s “Be an Engineer!” was held at 19
sites through nine community partners whose missions focus on serving homeless, migrant and foster children. Nearly 800 youth were provided with hands-on STEM-related educational activities!” Recently selected by the Louisiana Board of Regents to serve as the STEM center for Region 7, Sci-Port is developing a network of resources to improve the availability little more than three years ago, Sci-Port of STEM resources for the region and beyond. One example of their commitment to this new responsibility is the establishment of a partnership with the Caddo Parish School System’s Broadmoor STEM Academy (BSA) to provide Red River STEM, Inc. With the STEM-based resources for students and faculty. In addition, Sci-Port will work with BSA and its Chief Executive Offi- administration and faculty to help the school reach its goal of was formed for the new entity becoming the premier STEMbased educational facility in son who has since led Sci-Port our area. Executive Director Clark is pleased with the direction being given to the new Board. “We have so many exciting things happening all around us. We are rebuilding and cord admission revenue for the Center! According to Pier son, “We have endured some rough moments as we strug gled to reorganize and keep the doors open for our guests throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Our Board and staff are to be commended for their efforts to save Sci-Port Discovery Center. We believe we are now on stable ground and see evidence of success through increased attendance, focused on our mission.” Sci-Port Discovery Center’s mission is to provide a fun, educational environment for people of all ages to explore and actively engage in the world of mathematics, science, and technology. Sci-Port serves to spark curiosity about the world around us, provides hands-on tools for using scientific discovery in everyday life, and encourages a passion for life-long learning. event rentals, grant receipts, outreach programming rec One of Sci-Port’s newest learning experiences is the Chanognition and accolades from our community.” dra X-Ray Observatory, currently on loan from NASA Under the direction and leadership strength of Pierson, the Sci-Port Discovery Center is now emerging from what was at first conceived to be an emergency stabilization reorganizational effort to a vibrant and ambitious team of dedicated individuals who are committed to providing the community with hands-on STEM (Science, Technol ogy, Engineering and Math) educational opportunities through the Sci-Port Discovery Center. With the recent until Fall 2022. Chandra is one of this nation’s greatest observatories, sharing this honor with the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope. It is designed to explore the many wonders of space such as exploded stars, colliding galaxy clusters, and swirling matter around black holes. The exhibit includes some of the first x-ray images of Sagittarius A, the supermassive black hole located at the center of the Milky Way. appointment of new Board members, Jay has identified Another immersive exhibit at Sci-Port is the Adventures of priorities for the new Board which include the assignment Intrigue. This new and permanent exhibit is an open air Esof committee responsibilities in: Finance & Accounting, cape Room type adventure. Visitors use the entire Gallery of Intrigue to solve history-based adventures by answering puzzles, riddles, and mysteries. The gallery is filled with is so much more than a building. So often I discover com munity members who are unaware of the breadth and relics and replicas from Shreveport history dating back to Captain Henry Miller Shreve’s arrival in 1835. depth of our community outreach initiatives. This sum Look for Sno-Port 2021 in November. IMAX fans: stay mer, in just one of our many grant-funded programs, GSK tuned for a big announcement in late September! Science in the Summer’s “Be an Engineer!” was held at 19 sci-port.org
sites through nine community partners whose missions focus on serving homeless, migrant and foster children. Nearly 800 youth were provided with hands-on STEM-related educational activities!” Recently selected by the Louisiana Board of Regents to serve as the STEM center for Region 7, Sci-Port is developing a network of resources to improve the availability of STEM resources for the region and beyond. One example of their commitment to this new responsibility is the establishment of a partnership with the Caddo Parish School System’s Broadmoor STEM Academy (BSA) to provide STEM-based resources for students and faculty. In addition, Sci-Port will work with BSA administration and faculty to help the school reach its goal of becoming the premier STEMbased educational facility in our area. Executive Director Clark is pleased with the direction being given to the new Board. “We have so many exciting things happening all around us. We are rebuilding and focused on our mission.” Sci-Port Discovery Center’s mission is to provide a fun, educational environment for people of all ages to explore and actively engage in the world of mathematics, science, and technology. Sci-Port serves to spark curiosity about the world around us, provides hands-on tools for using scientific discovery in everyday life, and encourages a passion for life-long learning. One of Sci-Port’s newest learning experiences is the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, currently on loan from NASA until Fall 2022. Chandra is one of this nation’s greatest observatories, sharing this honor with the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope. It is designed to explore the many wonders of space such as exploded stars, colliding galaxy clusters, and swirling matter around black holes. The exhibit includes some of the first x-ray images of Sagittarius A, the supermassive black hole located at the center of the Milky Way. Another immersive exhibit at Sci-Port is the Adventures of Intrigue. This new and permanent exhibit is an open air Escape Room type adventure. Visitors use the entire Gallery of Intrigue to solve history-based adventures by answering puzzles, riddles, and mysteries. The gallery is filled with relics and replicas from Shreveport history dating back to Captain Henry Miller Shreve’s arrival in 1835.
Look for Sno-Port 2021 in November. IMAX fans: stay tuned for a big announcement in late September!
sci-port.org
Photo courtesy of Sci-Port
