The Science Discovery Center of Oneonta is a hands-on

science museum A science museum is a museum devoted primarily to science. Older science museums tended to concentrate on static displays of objects related to natural history, paleontology, geology, industry and industrial machinery, etc. Modern trends in mu ...

that is a part of

SUNY Oneonta The State University of New York College at Oneonta, also known as SUNY Oneonta, is a public college in Oneonta, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. History SUNY Oneonta was established in 1889 as the Oneon ...

Oneonta, New York Oneonta ( ) is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, United States. It is one of the northernmost cities of the Appalachian Region. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Oneonta had a population of 13,079. Its nickname is "City of the Hil ...

. The museum features more than eighty simple science

experiment An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into Causality, cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome oc ...

s, focusing mainly on

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

, for children as well as for adults. In addition to regular visitor hours, the center hosts school and other groups. It also sponsors special events in science education, such as Nano Days and provides family-friendly activities for major events such as Homecoming Weekend and the Otsego County Fair.

History

The

museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make these ...

was the result of the hard work and dedication of Albert Read, a

professor at SUNY Oneonta from 1957 to 1985. After his retirement, he planned and designed the center and housed it in a room formerly used for batting practice. The official dedication took place on January 21, 1990. From its opening in 1990, to the time of Read's retirement as director in 2005, the museum doubled the number of exhibits and served an estimated 7,000 visitors per year. The center is part of the

Association of Science-Technology Centers The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is a non-profit, global organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States, that provides a collective voice, professional support, and programming opportunities for science cen ...

(ASTC) and some of the exhibits developed by Read were included in the ASTC "Cheapbook" exhibit guide series. Following Read's retirement, Dr. Hugh Gallagher served as director. In 2006, the center received a $100,000 state grant to expand its outreach to local elementary and secondary teachers, provide additional education resources for teachers and students, and improve the facility. "I'm thrilled that the College will have this tremendous opportunity to enhance such a valuable community resource," said Dr. Gallagher. "The unique collection of hands-on science exhibits offers people of all ages a way to touch and feel the physical sciences." The grant was used to re-decorate the center, develop new exhibits, and enhancing the interactivity of other exhibits. The work of the center was described in a faculty research presentation "Science Discovery Center: A Resource for Curricular Enhancement for Many Disciplines" by Hugh Gallagher (Physics & Astronomy), Carolyn Chryst (Elementary Education & Reading), Jenny Flynn (SUNY Oneonta Headstart), Paul French (Physics &Astronomy), Kelly Gallagher (Chemistry & Biochemistry), Larry Guzy(Psychology), Crystal Hamm (SUNY Oneonta Headstart), Sunil Labroo, Carolyn McCruden, Albert Read (Physics & Astronomy), David Tagg (Music). Paul French served as director until September 2015. In 2015, the center celebrated its 25th anniversary, and was renamed the "A. J. Read Science Discovery Center" in honor of the contributions of its founding director. At that time, the center had been temporarily moved from the Physical Science Building to the 3rd floor of Bugbee Hall. In 2017, the center moved into a new space following the renovation of the Physical Sciences building. In September 2016, Douglas Reilly was named Outreach Coordinator to work with the A. J. Read Science Discovery Center and support the SUNY-Oneonta Planetarium.

References

External links

* {{authority control Science museums in New York (state) Museums in Otsego County, New York State University of New York at Oneonta University museums in New York (state) Museums established in 1990 1990 establishments in New York (state) Buildings and structures in Oneonta, New York