PRESS RELEASE
The New York Hall Of Science Celebrates Its Re-opening
THE RE-OPENING KICKS OFF A WEEKEND-LONG PROGRAM OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES | Sponsored By Amazon
REFURBISHED, REIMAGINED BUILDINGS FEATURE THE HAPPINESS EXPERIMENT, A BRAND-NEW EXHIBIT | Sponsored By Pepsico
Queens, NY – July 8, 2021 – The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) is delighted to announce that it has re-opened to the public today and will host a weekend-long celebration that includes:
- The opening of a brand-new exhibit called The Happiness Experiment, where visitors will discover the ways in which environmental and social factors can affect emotions and well-being. The Happiness Experiment is sponsored by PepsiCo;
- The debut of Small Discoveries, a reimagined exhibit that invites visitors to explore the power of microbes;
- A redesigned PreSchool Place, featuring a new shadow and light area, train table, tinkering and building activities, and a new dedicated space for infants;
- Engineering activities, free workshops in our Maker Space, access to Rocket Park mini-golf, and dozens of other exhibits and experiences, as well as complimentary beverages at The bubly Smile Bar; and
- Several days of engaging community activities throughout the building.
The entire celebration is sponsored by Amazon.
I am thrilled that we are able to re-open and re-engage in person with families, teachers, students and the community,” said NYSCI’s President and CEO Margaret Honey. “While we were closed because of COVID-19, NYSCI staff came together to deliver virtual STEM learning experiences to young people and educators across the country. We have worked with other locally based non-profits to deliver food and relief services to the Corona neighborhood, which has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. And we used this time to create exciting new exhibits and enhance our facilities. I want to thank our staff, Board, funders, sponsors and community leaders for their support and trust. NYSCI is back and we are better than ever!
The New York Hall of Science is an integral part of our community and we’re glad to support the re-opening of its exciting exhibits and learning experiences,” said Carley Graham Garcia, Amazon’s New York City Head of External Affairs. “The work NYSCI does to engage visitors, families, and students in STEM has grown even more valuable as we recover from the pandemic.
The New York Hall of Science is a crown jewel among our borough’s cultural institutions, cultivating a strong interest in science, technology, engineering and math in youth among its half a million annual visitors,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “I am excited to see NYSCI reopen July 8 – back and better than ever. Its reopening will once again bring the joy and wonder of science through a hands-on approach within easy reach of all Queens residents and visitors to design, make and play.
The Happiness Experiment
Created in direct response to COVID-19, The Happiness Experiment will invite visitors to explore what happiness means and how it shapes our lives. The exhibition, delving into the neuroscience of happiness and other emotions, will guide visitors through a series of playful, immersive areas where they will discover the ways in which environmental and social factors can affect emotions and well-being. It will provide opportunities for visitors to collectively define happiness by recording their own feedback and stories, and it will engage young people in the exploration of habits they can use to affect their own mental well-being—promoting resilience and recovery. Sponsored by PepsiCo, The Happiness Experiment is a perfect post-pandemic remedy for visitors of all ages.
Small Discoveries
An interactive exploration of microorganisms, Small Discoveries is a permanent exhibition that provides tactile experiences for visitors to explore microorganisms and their impact on health and the environment. The exhibit includes a series of interactive experiences to help visitors make the leap from life at a visible scale to realms too small for us to see. From rich illustrations of scale, to samples of real microorganisms, to tardigrade casting molds, the project embodies NYSCI’s commitment to creating irresistible learning experiences that promote scientific inquiry and empower people of all ages and backgrounds to ask questions, explore, and discover new things.
A Weekend Full Of Activities
On Saturday, July 10 and Sunday, July 11, Rob Anderson, a Queens-based muralist, will work with visitors between 12 noon and 4 PM to collaboratively paint three 6-foot long and 6-foot high murals on the fence along 111th Street. Participants will receive a certificate for participating in the creation of this public artwork.
Visitors can also participate in design engineering activities, free workshops in NYSCI’s Maker Space, Rocket Park mini-golf, and dozens of other exhibits and experiences. There will also be a bubly Bar, where visitors can enjoy complimentary servings of PepsiCo’s bubly sparkling water.
Refreshed And Reimagined Facilities And Hours
Visitors will find refreshed and reimagined spaces, exhibits and experiences that they can enjoy safely Thursdays through Sundays, 10 AM-5 PM, except Saturday when NYSCI will be open 10 AM-6 PM. Other changes include:
- NYSCI’s new entry rotunda includes a dramatic and inviting new large-scale art installation that encourages visitors to design, make and play.
- NYSCI’s Early Learning Center now has access to a brand-new nursing room and new interactive exhibits that foster healthy development through energetic play and positive social interaction.
- NYSCI’s signature science demo stations include new stages and projectors, enhancing NYSCI Explainers’ abilities to deliver mind-blowing science demos.
- NYSCI’s beloved Rocket Park Mini Golf, that introduces visitors to rocket science physics, has been improved and can now be enjoyed after dark.
- Visitors will also notice major updates to NYSCI’s facilities and improved wayfinding. For example, the restrooms now have fully hands-free features to promote good hygiene and reduce the spread of infections.
Health And Safety
Many visitors to NYSCI are under the age for which vaccinations are currently authorized. For their and everyone’s protection, NYSCI will follow slightly more stringent COVID-19 protocols than those currently recommended by the CDC and the New York City Department of Health. Masks will be required for all staff and visitors while in indoor spaces, excepting while seated in the cafe. In outdoor spaces, such as Rocket Park Mini Golf, vaccinated visitors may remove their masks. There will be hand sanitizer stations throughout the building. Air handling and filtration systems at NYSCI were upgraded to meet or exceed federal standards. NYSCI encourages all staff to get vaccinated.
About NYSCI
The mission of the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) is to nurture generations of passionate learners, critical thinkers and active citizens through an approach called Design, Make, Play. Design, Make, Play emphasizes open-ended exploration, imaginative learning and personal relevance, resulting in deep engagement and delight in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. NYSCI was founded at the 1964-65 World’s Fair and has evolved into a local, global and impactful center for interactive science:
- 500,000 annual visitors.
- 1 million learners worldwide use NYSCI’s digital products.
- 3000 local teachers participate in professional development each year.
- 1,000 high-school and college students benefit from mentoring opportunities in STEM fields every year.
- 95 percent of the more than 4,000 young people participating in NYSCI’s Science Career Ladder program over the last three decades have gone on to college.
- 70 percent of the Science Career Ladder alumni work in STEM fields.
For more information, visit nysci.org or call 718-699-0005.
Follow NYSCI on Twitter and Instagram: @nysci, and on Facebook at: facebook.com/nysci.
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CONTACT
NYSCI Press. press@nysci.org
