They're slimy and sparky and way cool.
They're the exhibits in CSULB's Science Learning Center and Mobile Science Museum that help hundreds of Southern California school children and other guests learn about science in a fun and engaging way.
From the sparkling bolts of a Van de Graaff electrical generator to a touch tank full of sea creatures, the exhibits are designed to bring science to life, said Jim McKibben, who is director of the two programs as well as of science technical services in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM).
The Science Learning Center is currently located in the basement of Peterson Hall 2 and is expected to find a more prominent place on the first floor of the future Hall of Science. The Mobile Science Museum is a 1975 General Motors motor home that travels to Southern California locations.
Both began operating in 1980 as outreach efforts of CNSM, said McKibben, a CSULB marine biology alumnus. "My goal is to stimulate the curiosity of our visitors of all ages. We've had 3-year-old to 88-year-old visitors, and a number of different international visitors have come through the center. Instead of getting a brief lesson on something in science, if they can push a button or turn a knob and see how the exhibit reacts to their input, then it gives them a much more positive response."
Both the Science Learning Center and Mobile Science Museum are offered at no charge. McKibben and other staff try to tailor presentations to the particular audience as well as to California education standards. "For instance, we recently had a couple of groups of third graders from Lowell Elementary School in Long Beach. One of the third grade standards is to understand magnetism," so he ensures thatthe museum provides the appropriate content. "When we have classroom groups, I or someone else will act as a
guide and explain the exhibits to the students for about the first 20 minutes or so of the visit and then turn them loose to explore on their own."
He also has hosted a number of U.S. and international educators who learned how to create similar science education experiences in their communities. Additionally, he and the college are working with developers of the proposed Second and PCH project, a residential, hotel, shopping and dining complex at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Second Street in Long Beach, to have a small public center focused on marine science.
One of McKibben's ongoing challenges is to find funding to maintain the exhibits and the Mobile Science Museum vehicle. "The Alumni Association has been very supportive of the program and at times their funding has helped us keep going. We don't charge anything for the visits, but we accept donations."
However, the Severns Family Foundation recently donated $10,000 to fund a new solar power system for the Mobile Science Museum that will both power the displays and provide an interactive demonstration of solar power. McKibben is working with students in CSULB's College of Engineering to develop the system. A Severns family member is a CSULB student who learned of the museum through a science class.
To expand the programs' outreach, McKibben wants to develop a much more sophisticated Web site that has a short video and a teacher's guide for each exhibit. "Teachers can go to it and will be aware of which exhibits we have that directly relate to the particular curriculum standards. I think that will be very beneficial and we would get a lot of positive response. I've been asked many times, 'Do you have a specific exhibit on this subject?'"
To learn more, call McKibben at 562/985-4841 or visit www.beach-science.org.
