Press Release
THE NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE FULLY RE-OPENS
Queens, NY – October 15, 2022 – The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) today officially – and fully – re-opened its doors to the public, welcoming back New Yorkers of all ages to experience new interactive science exhibits as well as its permanent exhibitions. NYSCI’s re-opening comes nearly one year after Hurricane Ida caused extensive flooding and damage throughout the museum.
Museum and community leaders were joined by NASA Astronaut and Scientist Dr. Jeanette Epps, an inspiration to children across New York and the country, for the official re-opening. The New York native and NASA veteran helped welcome guests back to the science center, and encouraged students to set big goals, to discover and explore.
“NYSCI is back – and we are thrilled to welcome back families, teachers, students, and New Yorkers of all ages to our world of interactive science-learning. Between COVID and last year’s flood, we’ve had to rethink the whole science museum. But our new Powering the City and Human Plus exhibits – along with our permanent collection – will inspire young people and share critical problem solving and resilience ideas,” said NYSCI’s President and CEO Margaret Honey.
On September 1, 2021, Hurricane Ida flooded the New York Hall of Science with more than a million gallons of water from overflowing sewage drains resulting from Hurricane Ida. Large portions of the museum were soaked in up to three feet of standing water, destroying exhibits, offices, and equipment. This occurred after we had spent fifteen months during the COVID-19 pandemic refreshing exhibits and infrastructure to transform the visitor experience.
NYSCI’s reopening is possible because of the support we have received from federal, state, and local elected officials, who have shown their deep commitment to the organization. Support was also provided by a generous group of individuals, companies, and foundations including, Amazin’ Mets Foundation, American Chemical Society, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Citi Foundation, The Countess Moira Foundation, Google.org, The JPB Foundation, Seidenberg Family Foundation, Simons Foundation, The Carson Family Charitable Trust, The Pinkerton Foundation, The Siegel Family Endowment.
As part of the re-opening, NYSCI will feature a series of new, interactive exhibits, including:
- Powering the City: The exhibit, supported by National Grid and Con Edison, invites visitors, through a series of engaging and entertaining hands-on experiences, to discover how energy transforms and works to power our lives.
- Human Plus: Using real-life stories, this exhibition explores the ways in which different kinds of technologies can be used to supplement and enhance human abilities.
- Small Discoveries (coming soon): This exhibit invites visitors into the amazing world of microorganisms, making the invisible visible and enabling everyone to understand their impact on our health and the environment.
“The New York Hall of Science is an iconic staple of Queens and an important cultural hub for families throughout New York City," said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “The rapid response of community stakeholders and elected officials to support its repair and reopening following the flooding it suffered from Hurricane Ida is a testament to just how important of a resource it is. It is an honor to join my colleagues and friends in welcoming New Yorkers back to the New York Hall of Science. I'm excited to see what the next generation of learning here brings.”
The reopening of the New York Hall of Science marks a triumph of our city’s resilience and a joyous moment for children and families. Spaces like this are exactly where we should be investing our resources. I’m thrilled to celebrate this moment with the community and look forward to NYSCI inspiring generations of learners and creators for years to come,” said Council Member Chi Ossé, Chair of the New York City Council’s Committee of Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations.
About NYSCI
The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) is New York City’s premier interactive museum of science and technology, a global leader in STEM education, and a laboratory for new forms of learning. Founded during the 1964–1965 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadow Corona Park, NYSCI serves 400,000 visitors annually—the most diverse audience of any science center in the country—and is now recognized for its groundbreaking experiences that draw children and adults into hands-on STEM learning; innovative educational programs and teacher professional development; youth development and mentorship; and research into approaches that support inclusive STEM learning. Our mission is to nurture passionate learners, critical thinkers, and active citizens through Design Make Play—an approach to learning and engagement that encourages hands-on experimentation, critical thinking, and iterative problem-solving. We design experiences that enable every young person to feel confident and empowered as a STEM learner—an approach with equity and inclusion baked into its core.
- 400,000 annual visitors.
- 1 million learners worldwide use NYSCI’s digital products.
- 3,000 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. Follow NYSCI on Twitter and Instagram: @nysci, and on Facebook at: facebook.com/nysci.
CONTACT: NYSCI Press, press@nysci.org