● Mission
To inspire excitement for science through interactive exhibits and programs that engage, educate, and empower.
● Vision
Every young person is empowered to use science in shaping a better future.
● About the Sciencenter
The Sciencenter, a non-profit hands-on science museum in Ithaca, New York, grew out of a volunteer-run science program at a local elementary school. Founded in 1983, the Sciencenter operated from storefronts for nearly a decade. In 1993, the museum opened the first phase of its permanent home. Phase II opened in 1996 and provided additional program space. Phase III, which opened in 2003, expanded the Sciencenter to 32,000 sq. ft. During the decade from 1992-2002, 3,400 volunteers donated 50,000 hours of time to construct the Sciencenter. In 2010, the Sciencenter acquired an additional 8,000 sq. ft. building to support its growing traveling exhibition program.
Today, the Sciencenter is a nationally recognized museum, hosting 100,000 guests in Ithaca each year and reaching over 1.5 million guests worldwide through our traveling exhibitions and outreach programs.
The Sciencenter is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and Association of Children’s Museums (ACM).
● Values
We continuously provide opportunities for open-ended discovery and play in a clean, safe, and accessible setting.
We strive for new ideas, continuous improvement, and leadership in all that we do. We encourage the long-term stewardship of our environment, society, and economy through education and our actions. We help our local community and the museum field by giving back in mutually beneficial ways. We insist on high quality, scientific accuracy, efficiency, and integrity in all our activities. We nurture an environment that values staff and volunteers for their talents and contributions while providing regular opportunities for professional growth.