The great lakes science center (glsc) is a nonprofit educational enterprise with a mission to stimulate interest in. And increase understanding of, the sciences with a particular emphasis on the…

The great lakes science center (glsc) is a nonprofit educational enterprise with a mission to stimulate interest in. And increase understanding of, the sciences with a particular emphasis on the interdependence of scientific, environmental and technological activities in the great lakes region. The great lakes science center was founded in 1988 by a group of civic, educational, and corporate leaders with a vision: to establish a world-class, hands-on, interactive science and technology center in northeast ohio. The center capitalizes on the region's unique contributions to science and technology, and makes them accessible and interesting to the public. When the great lakes science center opened on july 19,1996 IT was part of a year long commemoration of cleveland's bicentennial. DR. Linda abraham-silver joined the museum as its president and executive director in fall 2004. One of DR. Abraham-silver's first major projects was to complete a strategic plan. The strategic plan emphasized a focus on glsc's core mission and includes an emphasis on strengthening its educational offerings. Since adopting the new strategic plan in august of 2005, the great lakes science center has hosted highly attended special exhibitions, launched several large scale demonstration projects on advanced energy and the great lakes, consolidated operations with its neighbor, the steamship william g. Mather museum, and partnered with case western reserve university to totally refurbish one of its original signature exhibits, the biomedtech gallery to reflect cutting edge science and technology in medical and health sciences. In march of 2010, glsc completed a space act agreement with the NASA glenn research center and the science center now serves as the official home of the NASA glenn visitor center. Today, the great lakes science center is among the leading hands-on science centers in the country featuring 65,000 square feet of interactive exhibit and program spaces that inspire wonder and stimulate curiosity for students and families from ohio, the great lakes region and beyond. Glsc engages its visitors with more than 420 hands-on exhibits, exciting traveling exhibits, unique educational programs and features the 320 seat cleveland clinic omnimax theater. Our newest signature exhibits include the recently renovated biomedtech exhibit, the science phenomemon floor and the polymer room. Since opening in 1996, the science center has welcomed more than 5.5 million visitors from all fifty states and more than fifty foreign countries. The great lakes science center has become known in the region for high quality, educational, and fun activities for children and families that inspire curiosity about the world around US. The programs presented by the science center include exhibits, omnimax films, school field trips, and science camps and classes. Now in its 14TH year. The science center's three floors contain hundreds of hands-on activities, permanent and traveling exhibits, demonstrations, and workshops. Thedramatic 165.000 square-foot facility receives close to 8% of its power from its 26-ton, 150-foot wind turbine and a 156-photovoltaic panel solar array erected at the center's front gates. A willing collaborator, the science center presents science camps on site and at multiple academic settings throughout the community, serves as a site for the cleveland municipal school district's MC2 stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) high school, and continues to play a leadership role in exploring the feasibility of a freshwater institute for northeast ohio. The new NASA glenn visitor center work on the highly anticipated visitor center is currently underway, and phase one, which features more than 50 exhibits and artifacts, is now open. Visitors can enjoy shuttle and rocket models, a moon rock, a lunar lander model and more. When fully complete in 2011, the new NASA glenn visitor center will feature an exciting blend of NASA AR