Whether you're introducing your children to science for the first time, spending the day with friends, or simply looking to rediscover your own sense of wonder, Joe Piazza believes the New York Hall of Science is a place for you.

As NYSCI's Visitor Experience Manager, Joe oversees the teams that welcome guests, answer questions, and help families make the most of their visit. But for him, visitor experience goes far beyond admissions or logistics. It's about creating an environment where everyone—from first-time tourists to lifelong New Yorkers—feels invited to explore, experiment, and discover.

"Museums are for every single person out there," Joe says.

That belief has guided Joe throughout a museum career spanning more than two decades, from the American Museum of Natural History and the Intrepid Museum to the New York Hall of Science. Along the way, he's learned that the best museum experiences don't just teach us something new—they remind us what it feels like to be curious.

Joe didn't set out to work in museums.

While attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he initially studied forensic science before switching to psychology, he took a part-time job at the American Museum of Natural History. What began as a college job quickly turned into a career.

Working on the front lines of one of New York City's busiest museums introduced him to visitors from around the world and, just as importantly, to the many careers that exist behind the scenes.

"I kind of fell in love with museums from then on," he says.

Over the next 15 years, Joe worked across departments, collaborated with scientists and technology teams, and helped produce public programs ranging from overnight sleepovers to adults-only evening events.

After three years at the Intrepid Museum managing visitor services and ticketing, he brought that experience to NYSCI, where he has served as Visitor Experience Manager for nearly two years.

As Visitor Experience Manager, Joe and his team are often the first people guests meet. Whether visitors arrive from across Queens or across the globe, his goal is to make them feel welcome from the moment they arrive. From helping families choose activities to recommending demonstrations, mini golf, movies, or the Science Playground, Joe sees every interaction as part of the museum experience—not just customer service.

While generations of New Yorkers remember visiting NYSCI on school field trips, Joe is working to introduce the museum to visitors from across the country and around the world.

Just as proudly, Joe encourages visitors to explore Queens itself.

"We're the world's most diverse county," he says.

From neighborhood restaurants serving cuisines from around the globe to destinations like the Queens Night Market, he believes a visit to NYSCI is also an opportunity to discover one of New York City's most vibrant boroughs.

Although Joe jokes that forensic science wasn't the right fit for him in college, his enthusiasm for science never disappeared.

"Science is ever-changing," he says. "Science helps everyone progress into the future."

It's one reason he encourages anyone who feels intimidated by science to simply jump in.

Whether it's exploring the structures and behavior of bubbles, discovering the hidden infrastructure that makes New York City run, or engineering solutions to everyday challenges, Joe believes science and engineering are woven into everyday creativity. Buy your tickets to the New York Hall of Science here.