From "Science Centered," Fall 2007

By Explorit Staff

Lou Ziskind, Explorit's new executive director, envies the students who visit the science center on field trips. "The other day I watched Jon Bell (an Explorit educator) lead a whole bunch of kids in a Discovery Lesson, and it was absolutely delightful to see how he connected with them," Ziskind recalled. "I said to him afterward, 'Boy, I wish I had had a teacher like you when I was in school, someone so enthusiastic about science and who engages students so well."

Ziskind is learning his science again - and a whole lot more - as he settles into his new job. He succeeds Suzanne Ullensvang, who left the center after 13 years in late September to travel and pursue other opportunities. Holding degrees from Northeastern and Antioch Universities, Ziskind brings to Explorit extensive nonprofit administrative experience, most recently as chief operations officer for Girl Scouts' Joshua Tree Council in Bakersfield. Ziskind took a few moments recently to answer a few questions for Science Centered .

Tell us a little about you - what makes you tick?

  You could say I've made a career of helping provide resources to people who need them, empowering them. It began with the Peace Corps in the mid-1960s. Working in Colombia, South America sparked my interest in international development. It sounds trite, but I wanted to help the people in Third World countries to find better lives. I worked for international development organizations for many years, and that led into various other realms of nonprofit work. Most recently, with the Girl Scouts, I found it very rewarding to see the girls learning new skills, taking on new responsibilities, as they moved through the years. I'd like to see the students Explorit serves have the same positive experience. They can become empowered by science education. The future is wide open for them.

Do you plan any big changes at the science center?

None I can take credit for, but there are big changes on the horizon. In January, we're going to open the second floor of the new Second Street facility as an exhibit hall. It will house a Changing Exhibition called "Go With the Flow . . . From Delta to Sea." quite a deal. Another thing many people don't know about Explorit is that we have a suite of traveling programs. They're like field trips in reverse - we take the science center to schools and other places. Our traveling programs aren't just for schools. Any group can book one, and they're reasonably priced. Scouts, 4-H groups, after-school clubs, community center programs - we have a program for them or can adapt one to fit their needs.

What is your vision for Explorit over the next five to 10 years?

  Explorit has a great thing going. An enthusiastic staff. A clear mission. A vast "play book" of hands-on activities we can draw from. I'd like to continue to expand our science reach. Not only can we seek out new audiences, but also we can share what we've learned about making science come alive by strengthening our teacher education program. We're hoping to partner with UC Davis in a way that will allow teachers to gain continuing education credit at our workshops. But mainly, we're all about directly involving people in science experiences that touch their lives. That's the focus now and for many years to come. Opening that new area, named the Gumerlock Gallery in honor of major donors to the capital campaign, will nearly double our space and provide many more hands-on science activities during a visit to Explorit. Placing the Changing Exhibition upstairs paves the way for the second major change, the opening of a long-term exhibit downstairs in March. It will be called "Move It! Science in Action," and from what I've seen so far, it is very dynamic. The long-term exhibit and greatly expanded physical space are the culmination of several years' worth of dreaming, planning and plain hard work by a group of highly committed individuals. They deserve many thanks for steering Explorit to a new level of offerings.

What little-known fact about Explorit would you most like to share?

It's hard to choose. Certainly I wish everyone knew what a bargain Explorit membership is. For $50, a family can come as often as they like, and they can take part in special programs twice a month on a wide range of science topics. And a huge benefit of membership is the fact that you can use your Explorit card to get into other science museums worldwide for free. It's quite a deal. Another thing many people don't know about Explorit is that we have a suite of traveling programs. They're like field trips in reverse - we take the science center to schools and other places. Our traveling programs aren't just for schools. Any group can book one, and they're reasonably priced. Scouts, 4-H groups, after-school clubs, community center programs - we have a program for them or can adapt one to fit their needs.

What is your vision for Explorit over the next five to 10 years?

Explorit has a great thing going. An enthusiastic staff. A clear mission. A vast "play book" of hands-on activities we can draw from. I'd like to continue to expand our science reach. Not only can we seek out new audiences, but also we can share what we've learned about making science come alive by strengthening our teacher education program. We're hoping to partner with UC Davis in a way that will allow teachers to gain continuing education credit at our workshops. But mainly, we're all about directly involving people in science experiences that touch their lives. That's the focus now and for many years to come