Center of Science and Industry
Columbus, Ohio
Known locally as COSI, the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, gives visitors a broad look at scientific principles and how they have shaped our world throughout history. Exhibits, many with interactive elements, include looks at natural history, physics, biology and other topics. Visitors can drive a simulated Mars rover, hold a meteorite or ride a unicycle on a tightrope two stories above the museum floor. A high-tech planetarium at the museum offers in-depth night sky shows run by professional astronomers, and the museum has a full menu of STEM-focused experiences for student groups.
Kennedy Space Center
Cape Canaveral, Florida
For decades, the Kennedy Space Center has been one of the chief outposts of NASA and the site of dozens of space shuttle launches. Though the shuttle program has been retired, there’s still plenty of activity at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex. Groups can see a space shuttle and an Apollo Saturn V rocket in museums at the center, or they can step aboard a simulator that re-creates the sensation of a rocket launch. The center also has a wide range of special programs for students, including the Astronaut Training Experience and opportunities to meet and talk to astronauts.
Museum of Science
Boston
In 1830, six local science enthusiasts formed the Boston Society of Natural History, an organization that opened its museum in 1864. That museum, now the Museum of Science, remains a staple of the New England educational community, with engaging exhibits and a host of special programming designed to engage students in STEM pursuits. Permanent exhibits explore the human body, fascinating animal life, nanotechnology, transportation, space travel and more. The museum has also developed a focused series of engineering and math experiences for students in elementary through high school.
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
Dubuque, Iowa
Situated squarely in America’s heartland, the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa, brings a distinctly Midwestern experience to STEM education. The museum focuses on the mighty Mississippi River, its underlying science and how it has shaped life in middle America. Students can see Mississippi River fish and animals up close in the aquarium, and educational workshops teach about wildlife, plants, and watersheds along the river. A high-tech simulator gives visitors the opportunity to pilot a riverboat down the river using radar, navigation satellites and other tools.
