2021 Opening Minds to Science - Saint Louis Science Center

2021 Opening Minds to Science The Saint Louis Science Center’s Report to the Community

“[I enjoyed] showing my son the same dinosaurs that my parents showed me when I was a kid.”

Science Center Guest March 2021

“ Really appreciated having to make a reservation as I think that really helped spread out the crowd. It made it much easier and more enjoyable to read all the signs at the exhibits, etc. while allowing COVID safe-spacing.”

“So many fun things to see. It’s changed a bit since going two years ago, which is good.

We liked the game section.

My son especially liked the eSports area.”

Science Center Guest July 2021

Science Center Guest July 2021

“ The staff was incredibly friendly, outgoing, knowledgeable, and very welcoming. The whole place looked and even smelled very clean. Our son LOVED the dinosaur exhibits, the roller coaster in space simulator ride, and… an incredible film in the OMNIMAX theatre that just blew him away. This experience at the Science Center helped make this one of the best weekends of my family’s lives. Thank you!”

Science Center Guest April 2021

From the President and Chief Executive Officer

Todd Bastean Dear Friends of the Saint Louis Science Center, I am pleased to introduce the eighth edition of Opening Minds to Science – The Saint Louis Science Center’s Report to the Community, 2021.

“We always love the Planetarium shows.

We enjoyed the computer games in the Life Science section.

And we always enjoy the Mars Mission section.”

Science Center Guest June 2021

This report reviews key findings from our audience research work from 2021, including an overview of our general public visitation demographics, guest satisfaction ratings, and a look at how evaluation informs the development and review of our exhibit galleries and programs, including the addition of the Discover Science with Me program for early learners and the new Inside the Vault exhibit featuring items from our collection.

Although the past two years have had their challenges, we are proud of how our team continued to serve our community, providing a welcoming and exciting Science Center experience, while addressing health concerns. The success of these efforts is evident when reviewing our guest satisfaction scores throughout the year.

While this report reflects on 2021, the Science Center is actively planning for the future. Science happens around us every day – from healthcare and medical advancements to food, technology, and much more.

We are excited for what the future holds as we use hands-on, informal learning to connect our guests and the community with science happening in our own backyard and around the world.

We hope you are equally excited to join us on this journey.

Sincerely,

1

2

Table of Contents 4

Our Data –W hy is this work important?

–H ow do we learn about our audiences?

5

People Served

6

General Public Audience Profile

–H ow many people does the Saint Louis Science Center reach?

–W ho are our visitors?

–W hy do people visit the Science Center?

–W hat do guests do during their visit?

10

Guest Satisfaction

12

Program Evaluation – Discover Science with Me

14

Exhibit Evaluation – Inside the Vault

15

Laser Show Feedback

16

Interest in Esports at the Science Center

17

Thank You

–H ow do guests rate their Science Center experience?

–W hat did we learn from guest feedback about a new offering for early learners?

–H ow do focus groups help us develop new exhibits?

–W hat do guests say about their experience attending Laser Shows?

–H ow does a community study provide insight into interest in esports programs?

Co-Authors:

Contributing Authors:

Elisa Israel

Amy Callahan Rasika Somaweera

Director of Research & Evaluation Saint Louis Science Center

Harvard University

Rebecca Nall Research & Evaluation Associate Saint Louis Science Center

Copyright 2022 Saint Louis Science Center

3

Our Data Why is this work important?

How do we learn about our audiences?

Our guests and their experiences are central to everything we do at the Saint Louis Science Center.

We use audience research and evaluation to better understand our guests and their experiences with Science Center offerings. This helps the Science Center team make informed decisions in the planning and review of exhibits, programs, and operations. This work is done following best practices in the field of visitor studies.

Data presented in this report were systematically collected and analyzed through a variety of studies, including: Exit Surveys of adult, general public guests that provide key information, including demographics, visitation patterns, and likelihood of recommending the Science Center. The Science Center is one of over 30 science museums across North America participating in the Collaboration for Ongoing Visitor Experience Studies (COVES) where all participating institutions collect comparative visitor data through a common exit survey. COVES is managed by the Research & Evaluation team at the Museum of Science, Boston.

Post-Visit Email Surveys sent to guests who made online reservations. In 2021, these types of surveys were used to collect feedback about general visit experiences as well as specific activities such as Laser Shows in the James S. McDonnell Planetarium.

4

Online Community Surveys where St. Louis area residents who have visited cultural attractions in the previous three years are invited to participate in an online study used to assess general awareness of the Science Center as well as gauge interest in potential new offerings.

Program Evaluation Studies, in which the feedback participants provide via interviews and surveys are used to assess overall effectiveness of educational programs and inform decisions on modifications to program design. In this report, we highlight evaluation of the Discover Science with Me program for young learners.

Focus Groups where participants are recruited to participate in a facilitated discussion about a particular topic. In 2021, focus groups were used to support the development of the Inside the Vault exhibit showcasing items from the Science Center’s Collection.

Some of the data that are used in this publication were made available through the Collaboration for Ongoing Visitor Experience Studies (COVES). Neither the Museum of Science (Boston) staff nor COVES bear any responsibility for the results or conclusions presented here.

People Served How many people does the Saint Louis Science Center reach?

The Saint Louis Science Center monitors daily attendance through the use of onsite door counters and by tracking attendance at offsite programs.

In 2021, the Science Center reached 379,400 people. The vast majority, 99% (376,060 people), were onsite visitors. The remaining 1%, (3,340 people), experienced educational programs and community outreach activities at offsite locations such as schools and community centers.

Throughout 2021, the Science Center’s regular operating schedule was five days per week (Thursday – Monday). Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the Science Center operated with capacity limits. For comparison, the total People Served in 2021 was 154% of the People Served in 2020 (when the Science Center was closed for three months due to the pandemic), and 34% of People Served in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

379,400 People served in 2021

94.9% General Public 0.9% Offsite 0.8% Other Onsite 1.0% Facility Rentals 1.5% Non-School Groups 0.9% School Groups

5

General Public Audience Profile Who are our visitors?

Every month, a randomized sample of our adult, general public visitors are invited to participate in a survey at the end of their visit. These surveys provide key information on demographics and visitation patterns. In 2021, a statistically valid sample of 1,689 guests completed an exit survey.

General Public Visitors’ Residence

First Time vs. Repeat Visitors Three-quarters of general public visitors are repeat visitors. On average, these repeat visitors came to the Science Center 1.6 times during the previous 12 months.

9% St. Louis City St. Louis County 39%

Metro Area MO Counties

26%

24%

76%

First Time

Metro Area IL Counties

12%

Repeat

14%

How often do repeat visitors come to the Science Center?

Tourists

All Local Residents – 61%

1st visit in 12 months

Local Zoo-Museum District Residents – 35%

2–4 visits in 12 months

Local Non Zoo-Museum District Residents – 26%

Respondents represented 43 states or US territories, plus several countries. The majority of them (61%) reside in the Metro St. Louis area, including St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and the surrounding Metro area counties in Missouri and Illinois.

CALHOUN 0% JERSEY <1%

LINCOLN <1%

MACOUPIN <1% BOND 0%

WARREN <1%

ST. CHARLES 8%

MADISON 6%

ST. LOUIS CITY 9%

ST. LOUIS COUNTY 26%

CLINTON <1%

JEFFERSON MONROE 4% <1%

6

WASHINGTON <1%

TOURISTS 39%

23% 4%

Science Center Membership Status Most general public visitors are not current Science Center Members. Members, however, visit more often: Repeat visitors who are Members come an average of 2.8 times per year, while those who aren’t visit 1.4 times per year.

89% Non-Members

ST. CLAIR 5%

FRANKLIN 2%

5 or more visits in 12 months

73%

11%

Members

Visiting Group Type and Age Ranges Although the majority of adults visited in groups that included children, one-third visited in adultonly groups. Most adults in groups with children were age 25–44, while most adults in adult-only groups were age 18–34.

45–54 7%

65+ 9% 65–64 9% 35–44 12%

45–54 13%

33%

1% 1%

8%

3% 5%

65+ 5% 55–64 4%

14%

68%

68%

Adults Only 25–34 34%

Overall General Public Audience Racial Identity

35–44 38%

White

Adults & Children

African-American/ Black Asian/Pacific 25–34 32%

Multi-racial Other

Hispanic/Latino/a/x

18–24 29%

Visitors from the St. Louis Metro Area

18–24 8%

Ages of Adults in Groups of Adults Only

American Indian/ Alaska Native

Ages of Adults in Groups of Adults & Children

The typical group with children consisted of two adults and one child. Of all the children represented in these groups, 22% were age 0–3, 32% were age 4–7, 35% were age 8–12, and 12% were age 13–17.

Guests in adult-only groups typically come in groups of two; however, some visit in larger groups and others visit by themselves.

The racial/ethnic distribution of Science Center guests who reside in the St. Louis area (St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and the surrounding Metro area counties in Missouri and Illinois) is similar to the 2020 US Census Bureau data for the St. Louis Metro area (the most recent data available); however, among these local visitors, more identified as multi-racial and fewer identified as African-American/Black.

2020 US Census Data for St. Louis Metro Area

2021 Science Center Local Visitors

Highest Level of Education Completed

White

71%

67%

The Science Center’s adult, general public visitors tend to be fairly well-educated, with over two-thirds holding at least a college degree.

African-American/ Black

18%

16%

Asian/Pacific

3%

5%

Hispanic/Latino/a/x*

4%

3%

0.3%

1%

Multi-racial

6%

8%

Other

2%

1%

Some High School 1%

11% High School Degree

Some College

20%

Some Graduate Work

36% College Degree

5%

27% Graduate Degree

American Indian/ Alaska Native

* The US Census tracks Hispanic/Latino/a/x data separately from race data; total exceeds 100% for the US Census data column.

7

General Public Audience Profile Why do people visit the Science Center?

Primary Reason for Visiting As part of the exit survey, respondents selected their two primary reasons for visiting from a list of 10 options. The most commonly selected reason for visiting the Science Center was for the social experience of spending time with others in their group.

Primary Reason for Visiting Today (Respondents could select up to two options.

Total exceeds 100%)

45%

To spend time together as a group/family

29%

For fun/entertainment for group members/children

18%

To see a specific exhibit, program, or show

16%

For fun/entertainment for myself

15%

For an educational experience for group members/children

8%

To relax or relieve stress

6%

For an educational experience for myself To support the Science Center

4%

To return to a normal routine 3% A different reason

Motivations differed by group type People visiting in groups that included children appeared to be primarily motivated by others in their group, most commonly citing spending time together as a group/family (52%) and fun/entertainment for others in their group (39%).

Those visiting in adult-only groups appeared to be more motivated by personal interests, with nearly one-third citing seeing a specific exhibit, program, or show (32%) and 31% selecting fun/ entertainment for myself.

8

1%

Of those who selected, “To see a specific exhibit, program, or show,” they most commonly indicated that a special exhibition (either Mummies of the World or Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family) (73%), an OMNIMAX® film (17%), or a Planetarium Star Show (11%) was what they came to see.

General Public Audience Profile What do guests do during their visit?

Areas Visited Most guests spent time in the free galleries. The special exhibition, Mummies of the World and the ExploreStore gift shop were the most heavily visited revenue producing areas.

(Multiple responses possible. Total exceeds 100%.)

Free galleries and activities

88%

*Special exhibition: Mummies of the World

24%

ExploreStore gift shop

22%

Food court (near main lobby)

16%

Planetarium Star Show

15%

OMNIMAX® film

15%

Pulseworks/360/VR Flight Simulators

11%

*Special exhibition: Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family Participated in a paid educational program (e.g. Discover Science with Me) *Planetarium gift shop

66%

Experience Energy

63%

Life Science Lab – Atrium

57%

4%

Structures

54%

Mission: Mars – Base

51%

Makerspace

37%

Liftoff

34%

Outbreak & Mission Control the Spread^

30%

GROW

28%

Life Science Lab – Classroom

27%

Presentations at the Energy Stage

22%

Math Cart^

15%

Life Science Lab – Activity Benches^

12%

Dig Site^

10%

3%

34%

Inside the Vault^

18% 10%

5% 2 hr to 2 hr, 59 min

GameXPloration

60%

In 2021, visitors stayed an average of 2 hours, 27 minutes.

1 hr to 1 hr, 59 min

78%

Mission: Mars – Control

How long do visitors stay at the Science Center?

Less than 1 hour

Ecology & Environment

4%

* Percentages shown for all items are based on the full year. Mummies of the World was open February 6–October 3, 2021. Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family was open October 29– December 31, 2021. The Planetarium Gift Shop reopened regularly late in 2021 and was added back to the exit survey in November.

34%

Exit survey respondents identified which galleries they spent time in during their visit. Ecology & Environment, home to the Science Center’s iconic animatronic dinosaurs, was the most heavily visited, as it has been in previous years, followed by GameXPloration and Experience Energy.

(Multiple responses possible.

Total exceeds 100%)

13%

The Loft (2nd floor snack shop)

Free Galleries and Activity Areas Visited

3 hr to 3 hr, 59 min

4 hours or longer

4%

^ Percentages shown for all items are based on the full year. Outbreak & Mission Control the Spread were available April–November 2021. Inside the Vault opened in December 2021. The Life Science Lab–Activity Benches, the Math Cart, and the Dig Site remained closed when the Science Center reopened in June 2020. The Activity Benches and Math Cart reopened June 2021. The Dig Site reopened in August 2021.

9

Guest Satisfaction How do guests rate their Science Center experience?

The Science Center’s exit surveys, which use a common set of questions from the multiinstitutional Collaboration for Ongoing Visitor Experience Studies (COVES), provide two broad measures of satisfaction: the Overall Experience Rating (OER) and the Net Promoter Score (NPS®). Additionally, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, questions related to health concerns were added to the survey and provide another perspective on the guest experience during this time.

-100

Overall Experience Rating (OER) The Overall Experience Rating (OER), which measures satisfaction, was developed and tested by the Smithsonian Institution. Many cultural institutions have since adopted it and it is included on the COVES exit survey tool. The OER asks respondents to rate their visit as “Poor,” “Fair,” “Good,” “Excellent,” or “Outstanding.” By providing an option that exceeds “Excellent,” the OER scale allows for greater differentiation about visit satisfaction than other measures.

Less than Excellent Poor 0.2%

Fair 1.2% Good 11% Good 11%

Poor 0.2%

Excellent or Outstanding

Fair 1.2%

Saint Louis Science Center, 2021 42% Excellent 45% Excellent

46% Outstanding 43% Outstanding COVES Aggregate, 2021

In 2021, 88% of respondents rated their Science Center experience as “Excellent” or “Outstanding,” suggesting a high level of satisfaction with their visit.

The Science Center’s OER ratings were comparable to the OER ratings across the aggregate of the other science museums participating in COVES.

10

100

74.5

2021 SLSC NPS

Net Promoter Score (NPS®) The NPS, which asks guests how likely they would be to recommend visiting the Science Center, is a question used in a variety of service industries. On a scale of 0 – “Not at all likely” to recommend to 10 – “Extremely likely” to recommend, those who provide a rating of ‘9’ or ‘10’ are considered “Promoters,” those giving a rating of ‘7’ or ‘8’ are considered “Passives,” and those whose rating is ‘6’ or lower are considered “Detractors.”

The NPS is calculated by subtracting the percentage of Detractors from the percentage of Promoters, therefore the NPS scores can range from -100 to 100.

In 2021, the Science Center’s NPS was 74.5, with 65% of respondents selecting the highest rating of ‘10,’ indicating a high level of satisfaction. For comparison, the aggregate NPS for science museums participating in COVES was 73.8.

Addressing Health Concerns Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, two questions were added to the COVES survey to address guest comfort with coming back to museums and to assess how well museums were doing in addressing health safety concerns guests may have had prior to their visit.

Although patterns varied during the year as local case numbers fluctuated and restrictions such as mask mandates changed, overall, the majority of respondents (56%) indicated that they were “Not at all concerned” about their or their group’s health and safety at the Science Center amid the pandemic.

Of the 44% who expressed some level of concern, approximately half indicated that the Science Center “Fully addressed” their concerns.

“I appreciate the requirement to wear masks and the enforcement by staff.”

Science Center Guest September 2021

“I really liked how the IMAX was spread out with the reduced capacity and someone helping facilitate where to sit. Felt very safe.”

Science Center Guest January 2021

Before arriving, how concerned were you about your and your group’s health and safety at SLSC amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

Moderately 13%

A little 27%

Not at all 56%

Extremely 4%

To what extent did SLSC address your health and safety concerns?

11%

35%

“Your efforts were very good.

Unfortunately, many guests did not follow mask guidelines.”

Science Center Guest March 2021

51%

4% Did not address my concerns at all Addressed my concerns a bit Mostly addressed my concerns Fully addressed my concerns

“I felt safe with the plastic shields and social distancing.

Along with [the] limited amount of people within the exhibit.”

Science Center Guest August 2021 11

Program Evaluation – Discover Science with Me What did we learn from guest feedback about a new offering for early learners?

75%

of survey respondents were “Extremely Likely” to recommend the program to friends

“There was natural scaffolding and challenge built into the activities to meet diverse needs and interest of all kids.”

In response to health and safety concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Science Center paused its traditional Discovery Room experience in 2020. To address continued interest in experiences designed specifically for early learners, educators developed a new offering, Discover Science with Me. Using a structure that better accommodated COVID-19 safety protocols, this program provided early learners and their caregivers opportunities to engage in guided, hands-on science activities, designed around changing themes.

During Spring 2021, the Science Center worked with students from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education to collect feedback about participants’ experience in the Discover Science with Me program. Adult participants were invited to provide their email address in order to participate in a post-visit survey and/or interview about their experience. The researchers received a total of 20 survey responses and conducted six interviews via Zoom.

Satisfaction with the program was high, with 80% of survey respondents rating the experience as either “Outstanding” or “Great.” Additionally, three-quarters of respondents indicated they were “Extremely Likely” to recommend the program.

Overall Experience in Discover Science with Me Mean Rating = 4.2 out of 5

Fair 10%

12

Good 10%

Great 30%

Outstanding 50%

“Opportunities for children to do things they cannot do at home.”

“The two guides were amazing. Loved the materials.”

Participants’ highlights included the interactions with the educators, the balance of choice and structure in the design of the program, and the small group setting that allowed groups to be in a public space in a COVID-safe way.

Most respondents felt the activities were ageappropriate, fun, engaging, and educational.

Some respondents were concerned that the price ($25 for a table of up to five people) could be cost prohibitive for some guests.

Mean Satisfaction Ratings (1=Strongly Disagree; 5=Strongly Agree)

4.90 The staff members were helpful

4.45 It was a high quality educational experience

4.65 The instructions for each activity were clear

4.25 The experience met or exceeded my expectations

4.55 The discussion questions were helpful

4.55 The activities were engaging to the children in my group

4.05 The program provided good value for the cost

“[We enjoyed] the ability to social distance but still feel like we were connected.”

13

Exhibit Evaluation – Inside the Vault How do focus groups help us develop new exhibits?

The goal of front-end evaluation is to understand what audiences know, are interested in, or have questions about on a particular topic. Focus groups are a useful tool for gathering this input through a structured, yet flexible dialogue that allows for deeper exploration of themes than a survey.

For the new Inside the Vault exhibit, the Research & Evaluation team conducted three focus groups to gain insight into visitors’ perceptions of collections in general, collections at the Science Center in particular, and reactions to mini-displays of objects planned for the full exhibit. The focus groups also allowed exhibit development team members to directly observe participants’ reactions, questions, and interest in the content.

Through the course of the discussions, several key themes emerged, which helped inform the artifact presentation and storytelling the team developed to accompany the displays: • C ompared to personal collections, participants thought of collections at museums as more unique, rare, valuable, or significant.

– “ I think that the collections from museums should have that sort of rarity, much more researched type of presentation.” – Focus Group 1 Participant – “ I think about the value…it’s on display because of its value for the people who are coming to the museum. The value of it — the pricelessness of it.” – Focus Group 2 Participant • P articipants were curious to know detailed information about individual objects.

– “ When were they [fossils] found?” – Focus Group 1 Participant – “ How were these objects [miniatures] created?” – Focus Group 1 Participant – “ How [do] these different minerals form?”

– Focus Group 2 Participant – “ What was used to power them [lamps]?

Oils? Fats?” – Focus Group 2 Participant – “ What impact, what significance does it [any object] have?” – Focus Group 3 Participant 14

• O pportunities for deeper engagement with artifacts through augmentations such as touchable models, immersive sounds, or activity guides were appealing.

– “ A functioning reproduction would be awesome.” – Focus Group 2 Participant – “ Sound effects.” – Focus Group 3 Participant – “ You have…those 3D objects that…you can really look into and everything, but then you also have things on the wall…and that tells you the story a little bit as you go. And there’s also…interactive videos…telling you more for whatever your interest level is.”

– Focus Group 1 Participant • C larity between the arrangement of objects and their corresponding labels is important.

– “ I love it when they have like a miniature topdown view of the display where you can see, ‘okay this is...’” – Focus Group 1 Participant – “ I love placards when they have it right next to the device.” – Focus Group 2 Participant

“Nostalgia, great music, and making new memories with my kid.”

Laser Show Feedback What do guests say about their experience attending Laser Shows?

85%

“Have more shows!”

of respondents rated their Laser Show experience as either “Excellent” or “Outstanding.”

“Have Planetarium entrance open so you don’t have to walk so far.”

“[Need] more comfortable seating.”

“Loved the music and visual effects. It is fun to have a different kind of entertainment experience.”

During 2021, the Science Center offered Laser Shows in the James S. McDonnell Planetarium on select dates in July, October, and December. Following the October and December showings, attendees were invited to participate in an online survey to share feedback about their experiences. A total of 318 people responded.

Attendees enjoyed the uniqueness of the laser show experience, including both the musical and visual elements. They also told us that they would like more comfortable seating, more convenient access to the Planetarium building, and for Laser Shows to happen more often.

Respondent Age Ranges 25–34 11%

35–44 34%

45–54 17%

55–64 24%

65+ 11%

18–24 2%

“The mixture of the starfield and the laser projection really made for an outstanding visual experience, passed my high expectations.”

Laser Shows attracted a wide range of age ranges and the majority of respondents (65%) attended in adult-only groups. Additionally, many indicated they are not frequent visitors to the Science Center, with 39% reporting that they typically visit less than once a year.

15

Interest in Esports at the Science Center How does a community study provide insight into interest in esports programs?

Inspired by the success of the innovative GameXPloration gallery, the Science Center began to explore the world of esports — a growing industry of competitive video gaming that integrates STEM skills such as coding, problem solving, and critical thinking. To assess interest in this area, questions about potential esports activities were included in a broader community study designed to gather data from a sample of 600 St. Louis area residents who had visited any cultural attraction in the previous three years.

Who is interested in esports?

• A majority of respondents (59%) said that at least one person in their households would be interested in exploring esports at the Science Center.

• S ignificantly more men (27%) expressed interest than women (15%).

• T hose who visit the Science Center five or more times per year were more likely to have at least one child who would be interested in esports (48%).

• T hose age 44 or younger were the most interested in esports.

Who in your household would be interested in esports at the Science Center?

(Multiple responses possible. Total exceeds 100%.)

Myself

19%

At least one other adult

19%

At least one child

19%

No one

16

For those interested in esports, what types of formats or programs are most appealing?

• O pportunities for free play was the most popular choice, and it was appealing to both men (52%) and women (68%).

• A majority of men (54%) were interested in onsite competitions.

• C amps were appealing to those who typically visit with children. For these respondents, camps (48%) were second only to free play (73%).

• T hose age 18-24 were interested in Game Jams (52%) as well as Creating Teams and Leagues (52%).

• W rite-in suggestions included career fairs, educational opportunities, and how-to sessions for gameplay improvement.

Key Takeaways

27%

At least one teen

The Hickman High School esports team, winners of the first ever Missouri High School tournament for the game, Rocket League, held at the Science Center in November 2021.

44%

There is a wide range of interest in esports programs among both children and adults, but both age and gender do play a role in that interest. Additionally, those who did not express interest in esports often indicated that they were unfamiliar with esports in general, so this gap in understanding could be a starting point for future programs.

Thank You! Through all of our evaluation studies, we collected over 5,200 points of data from our audiences in 2021!

Thank you to everyone who completed an exit survey, responded to an online survey request, tried out an exhibit prototype, or participated in an interview or focus group.

We hope you gained some new understanding with this glimpse into our visitor studies work from 2021. These data provide valuable insights about who visits the Science Center, why they visit, and what they do onsite.

This information is critical to improving the Science Center experience.

Thank you to the guests who come to explore galleries and see shows. Thank you to the people who participate in Science Center programs both within our walls and out in the community. You are why we are here.

Finally, thank you to all our supporters.

Without you, we would not be able to fulfill our mission to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning.

17

Saint Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110