Explorit receives five grants for science education

During the final two weeks of 2008, five organizations awarded grants totaling $55,400 to Explorit Science Center in Davis.

“We’re thrilled that during these tough economic times, businesses and foundations still understand the need for and support science education in Northern California,” said Lou Ziskind, Explorit’s executive director. “We’ll put these grants to good use in providing meaningful, hands-on science experiences through on-site and traveling programs.”

The grants and their purposes:

• $25,000 from the Morgan Family Foundation. This gift supports Explorit’s Inquiry Labs, which take place during elementary school field trips to Explorit. In 2007-08, more than 7,000 students participated in Inquiry Labs and their companion program, Discovery Lessons.

• $10,400 from Genentech will allow Explorit to present traveling programs in schools in Solano County, where the biotechnology firm has a facility. The programs include Health in Your World, which is a family science night for school communities, and a school assembly program called Journey Through the Human Body.

• $10,000 from the Rumsey Community Fund to support a year’s worth of Family Exploration programs at Explorit’s main public site, 2801 Second St. Family Explorations are all-ages events with a science focus; often they are led by scientists from the local community.

• $5,000 from the Safeway Foundation to present Health in Your World and the assembly program, Journey Through the Human Body, for low-income schoolchildren and families in communities where the grocery chain operates.

• $5,000 from Northrop Grumman will sponsor a museum exhibition called “I Wonder,” scheduled for June 6 through Sept. 6 at Explorit’s main site. The unusual exhibition format allows museum visitors and community members to submit their science questions for possible inclusion in the exhibit. Examples include “Why do ships float without sinking?” “Why is the sky blue?” and “How do plants eat?” (Send your questions to Exploritquestions@gmail.com.)

Since 1982, Explorit has offered hands-on science exploration to families in Davis and surrounding communities. In 2007-08, about 80,000 people took part in an Explorit program or visited one of the museum’s two sites in Davis. Traveling science programs took place in 16 Northern California counties.

For information about supporting Explorit, contact Allison Cagley, development director, at (530) 756-0191 or Allison@explorit.org.

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Explorit Science Center has two exhibitions running: “Body Blueprints” and “Move It! Science in Action.” Admission is $4 general, free for age 3 and under. The museum is open from 2-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Explorit is at 2801 Second St., Davis. For more information: (530) 756-0191 or www.explorit.org