Science World (Vancouver)

Last updated

Science World
Science World at TELUS World of Science.jpg
Vancouver (British Columbia) Downtown - OpenStreetMap.png
Red pog.svg
Location of Science World in Vancouver
Former name
  • Telusphere (2005)
  • Telus World of Science (2005–2020)
Established1989 (1989)
Location1455 Quebec Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates 49°16′24″N123°06′14″W / 49.273251°N 123.103767°W / 49.273251; -123.103767
Type Science museum
Visitors1,009,583 (2019) [1]
CEO
ChairpersonCheryl Slusarchuk
Architect Bruno Freschi
Public transit access Translinkexpo.svg Main Street–Science World
Website www.scienceworld.ca

Science World is a science centre run by a not-for-profit organization called ASTC Science World Society in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located at the end of False Creek and features many permanent interactive exhibits and displays, as well as areas with varying topics throughout the years.

Contents

Prior to the building being handed over to Science World by the city government in 1987, the building was built as Expo Centre for the Expo 86 world's fair. Following the end of Expo 86, the building was re-purposed as a science centre. The science centre opened on May 6, 1989, as Science World. [2] From 2005 to 2020, the museum was branded as Science World at Telus World of Science, before it reverted to its original name.

History

In 1977, Barbara Brink ran mobile hands-on exhibits known as the Extended I around British Columbia's Lower Mainland. Later, the temporary Arts, Sciences & Technology Centre opened in downtown Vancouver on January 15, 1982, attracting over 600,000 visitors. Another 400,000 benefited from the centre's outreach programs, which were delivered around the province.

When Vancouver was chosen to host the transportation-themed 1986 World's Fair (Expo 86), a Buckminster Fuller–inspired geodesic dome was designed by Expo's chief architect Bruno Freschi to serve as the fair's Expo Centre. [3] Construction began in 1984 and was completed by early 1985. After Expo closed its gates in October of the following year, an intensive lobbying campaign was launched to secure the landmark building, relocate the "Arts, Sciences and Technology Centre" into the post-Expo dome, and convert the Expo Centre into Science World. With much government backing, the dome was obtained from the province and a massive fund-raising campaign ensued. Donations from the federal, provincial and municipal governments, the GVRD, the private sector, foundations, and individuals contributed $19.1 million to build an addition to the Expo Centre, redesign the interior and fabricate exhibits. In 1988, in a four-month preview, over 310,000 visitors came to see the new building. A year later, the 400-seat Omnimax theatre in the upper section of the dome was opened, extending upon the 3D IMAX theatre which was built in 1986 for the Expo "Transitions" film series. [4]

The centre entered its first title sponsorship agreement with Alcan Inc. in 1996, renaming its Omnimax Theatre the Alcan Omnimax Theatre. Alcan later decided to sponsor the organization in different ways and the theatre returned to its original name, the Omnimax Theatre.

Ken Spencer Science Park shortly after its opening in 2012 Science World, Vancouver, BC (2012) - 3.JPG
Ken Spencer Science Park shortly after its opening in 2012

In January 2005, the building was officially renamed "Telusphere" as part of an agreement where Telus gave a $9-million donation in return for the naming rights to the building. This new name proved universally unpopular. In mid-2005, the name of the science centre was changed to "Science World at the Telus World of Science". The brand "Telus World of Science" was used for several other science centres in Calgary and Edmonton. [lower-alpha 1] The naming rights agreement ended in 2020, with the science centre dropping "Telus World of Science" from its name. During this period, the name change did not affect the nearby Main Street–Science World SkyTrain station.

During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Science World played host to "Sochi World", a hospitality area representing the country of Russia, hosts of the 2014 Winter Olympics. The attraction closed in mid-January 2010 to facilitate the transformation, and was re-opened that March. [5] Science World underwent renovation after the 2010 Winter Olympics. The indoor renovations were completed by mid-2012 and the adjacent Ken Spencer Science Park opened in late 2012. [6]

On July 29, 2020, the organization's board of governors announced that BC Liberal MLA from Surrey-White Rock, Tracy Redies, would be resigning her legislature seat and taking over as the CEO of Science World, from September 14, 2020. The new CEO would be replacing the interim CEO, Janet Wood. [7] [8] Dr. Bonnie Henry was named as a "Friend of Science World" in 2021. [9]

In January 2022, Science World entered a long-term partnership with Acuitas Therapeutics, developers of the lipid nanoparticle technology used in the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. [10] In September 2022, Teck Resources announced a $650,000 donation to Science World to increase awareness of the antimicrobial properties of copper. The contribution funded the addition of copper layers to the surface of various exhibits, door handles and countertops. [11]

Activities

Outreach

A member of the museum guides children through a demonstration. Science World (10930112275).jpg
A member of the museum guides children through a demonstration.

Science World runs a variety of outreach programs all over British Columbia. [12] Some examples include Scientists and Innovators in the Schools, a volunteer-based mentor program to inspire students' interest in STEM through interactive presentations in classrooms; [13] On the Road, where staff travel extensively throughout the province to conduct workshops and present science-themed shows in schools and communities that otherwise would not have access to a local science centre; [14] and Super Science Club, where Science World educators conduct after-school programs in underserved schools to inspire at-risk children to become passionate about lifelong science and technology learning. [15]

COVID-19

In July 2021, Science World received a $50,000 grant from the Government of Canada in order to develop a programming series surrounding vaccines. [16] It was awarded through a grant program called "Encouraging Vaccine Confidence in Canada" jointly administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), intended to increase uptake and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines across Canada. [17]

Organization

Funding

Science World operates with funding from donors to the ASTC Science World Society and programming partners. Supporters for the 2021/2022 fiscal year include: [18]

Previous financial and programming partners have included: [9] [19] [20] [21]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Telus World of Science centres were institutions sponsored by Telus. All science centres branded under "Telus World of Science" operated independently of one another.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Columbia</span> Province of Canada

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada. Situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, forests, lakes, mountains, inland deserts and grassy plains. British Columbia borders Alberta to the east; the territories of Yukon to the north; the Northwest Territories to the northeast; the U.S. states of Washington, Idaho and Montana to the south; and Alaska to the northwest. With an estimated population of over 5.5 million as of 2023, it is Canada's third-most populous province. The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, while the province's largest city is Vancouver. Vancouver and its suburbs together make up the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada, with the 2021 census recording 2.6 million people in Metro Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver</span> City in British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Metro Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million. Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada, with over 5,700 people per square kilometre, and fourth highest in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SkyTrain (Vancouver)</span> Automated rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, Canada

SkyTrain is the medium-capacity rapid transit system serving the Metro Vancouver region in British Columbia, Canada. SkyTrain has 79.6 km (49.5 mi) of track and uses fully automated trains on grade-separated tracks running on underground and elevated guideways, allowing SkyTrain to hold consistently high on-time reliability. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 116,569,000, or about 447,000 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telus</span> Subsidiary of Telus Corp, a Canadian telecommunications company

Telus Communications Inc. (TCI) is the wholly owned principal subsidiary of Telus Corporation, a Canadian national telecommunications company that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, healthcare, video, smart home automation and IPTV television. The company is based in the Vancouver, British Columbia, area; it was originally based in Edmonton, Alberta, before its merger with BC Tel in 1999. Telus' wireless division, Telus Mobility, offers UMTS, and LTE-based mobile phone networks. Telus is the incumbent local exchange carrier in British Columbia and Alberta. Its primary competitors are Rogers Communications and Bell Canada. Telus is a member of the British Columbia Technology Industry Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of British Columbia</span> Public university in Canada

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna in Canada. Established in 1908, it is the oldest university in British Columbia. With an annual research budget of $759 million, UBC funds over 8,000 projects a year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surrey, British Columbia</span> City in Punjab Columbia, Canada

Surrey is a city in British Columbia, Canada. It is located south of the Fraser River on the Canada–United States border. It is a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver regional district and metropolitan area. Mainly a suburban city, Surrey is the province's second-largest by population after Vancouver and the third-largest by area after Abbotsford and Prince George. Seven neighbourhoods in Surrey are designated town centres: Cloverdale, Fleetwood, Guildford, Newton, South Surrey, and City Centre encompassed by Whalley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burnaby</span> City in British Columbia, Canada

Burnaby is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. Located in the centre of the Burrard Peninsula, it neighbours the City of Vancouver to the west, the District of North Vancouver across the confluence of the Burrard Inlet with its Indian Arm to the north, Port Moody and Coquitlam to the east, New Westminster and Surrey across the Fraser River to the southeast, and Richmond on the Lulu Island to the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coquitlam</span> City in British Columbia, Canada

Coquitlam is a city in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Mainly suburban, Coquitlam is the sixth-largest city in the province, with a population of 148,625 in 2021, and one of the 21 municipalities comprising Metro Vancouver. The mayor is Richard Stewart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennium Line</span> Rapid transit line in Metro Vancouver, Canada

The Millennium Line is the second line of the SkyTrain rapid transit system in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. The line is owned and operated by BC Rapid Transit Company, a subsidiary of TransLink, and links the cities of Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam and Port Moody. The line was opened in 2002 and was named in recognition of the new millennium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver International Film Festival</span> Annual film festival held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is an annual film festival held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for two weeks in late September and early October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teck Resources</span> Natural resources company

Teck Resources Limited, known as Teck Cominco until late 2008, is a diversified natural resources company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, that is engaged in mining and mineral development, including coal for the steelmaking industry, copper, zinc, and energy. Secondary products include lead, silver, gold, molybdenum, germanium, indium and cadmium. Teck Resources was formed from the amalgamation of Teck and Cominco in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langara College</span> Canadian college

Langara College is a public degree-granting college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which serves approximately 6,500 students annually through its university, career, and continuing studies programs. At 37% in 2022-23, Langara has the highest percentage of international students of any public BC college, rising from 33% in 2021-2022. On-campus student housing availability sits at 0%. The college takes its name from the neighbourhood in which it is situated, which was named after Spanish Admiral Juan de Lángara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Denver</span> Village in British Columbia, Canada

New Denver is a village in the Central Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada at the mouth of Carpenter Creek, on the east shore of Slocan Lake, in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The village is 47 kilometres (29 mi) west of Kaslo on Highway 31A, and 47 kilometres (29 mi) southeast of Nakusp and 32 kilometres (20 mi) northeast of Slocan on Highway 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BC Elite Hockey League</span>

The BC Elite Hockey League, or BCEHL, is the highest level of provincial youth ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. Governed by BC Hockey and inaugurated in 2004 as BC Major Midget League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expo 86</span> Worlds Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo 86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from May 2 until October 13, 1986. The fair, the theme of which was "Transportation and Communication: World in Motion – World in Touch", coincided with Vancouver's centennial and was held on the north shore of False Creek.

Simone Orlando is a Canadian ballet dancer and choreographer born in Vancouver, British Columbia. Orlando received her early dance training at the Carisbrooke School of Dance, the Vancouver Academy of Dance, and the Goh Ballet Academy. She completed her training at the National Ballet School in Toronto and subsequently joined the National Ballet of Canada in 1989 under the direction of Reid Anderson where she danced a wide range of repertoire from the ballets of John Cranko and Kenneth MacMillan to those of George Balanchine and Glenn Tetley. In 1995, Robert Desrosiers invited her to join Desrosiers Dance Theatre, where she originated roles in several new productions and toured to Brazil and Aruba. In 1996, Orlando joined Ballet British Columbia under the direction of John Alleyne where she danced for twelve years as principal artist, joining the reorganised Ballet BC as Artist in Residence for 2009–10. She has performed in theatres and festivals around the world including The Kennedy Centre, The Joyce Theatre, The Bayerische Staatsoper, The Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Cervantino Festival, Canada Dance Festival, and Ballet Expo Seoul. While dancing with Ballet BC, Orlando was prominently featured in new creations by John Alleyne, garnering accolades for her performances as Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Puck in The Faerie Queen, Fate in Carmina Burana, and the Elder in The Rite of Spring. She has also created roles with James Kudelka, Crystal Pite, Dominique Dumais, Mikko Nissenen, and Jean Grand-Maitre and has been featured in the works of William Forsythe, Paul Taylor, Nicolo Fonte, Jiri Kylian, Martha Graham, and Twyla Tharp, among others. Orlando also taught and set repertoire on the dancers of Ballet BC and the pre-professionals in the Ballet BC Mentor Program.

Tracy Redies is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2017 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Surrey-White Rock as a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party caucus.

The COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia forms part of an ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On January 28, 2020, British Columbia became the second province to confirm a case of COVID-19 in Canada. The first case of infection involved a patient who had recently returned from Wuhan, Hubei, China. The first case of community transmission in Canada was confirmed in British Columbia on March 5, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acuitas Therapeutics</span> Canadian biotechnology company

Acuitas Therapeutics Inc. is a Canadian biotechnology company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company was established in February 2009 to specialize in the development of delivery systems for nucleic acid therapeutics based on lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology, a key component of the mRNA vaccines deployed for COVID-19.

References

  1. ↑ "Biggest tourist attractions in B.C. in 2021" . biv.com. Business in Vancouver. February 8, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  2. ↑ Science World History | Science World British Columbia. Scienceworld.ca. Retrieved on 2015-01/-15
  3. ↑ "Our Iconic Facility", Science World webpage. Retrieved January 4, 2014
  4. ↑ Science World - OMNIMAX Theatre - OMNIMAX Facts Archived June 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "The Russians are coming to Science World". Metro Vancouver. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ Ken Spencer Science Park | Science World British Columbia. Scienceworld.ca. Retrieved on April 12, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Science World Board of Governors announce appointment of new CEO - Tracy Redies" (PDF). Science World. July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Surrey-White Rock MLA Tracy Redies quits to become CEO of Science World". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Skinner, Launi; Redies, Tracy (May 20, 2021). "2020/21 Annual Report" (PDF). Science World. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  10. ↑ Acuitas Therapeutics (January 24, 2022). "Acuitas Announces Key Partnership with Science World". Life Sciences British Columbia. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Teck, Science World partner to educate students about the role of metals in daily life". Mining.com . September 8, 2022. Archived from the original on September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  12. ↑ Science World British Columbia. Scienceworld.ca. Retrieved on April 12, 2014.
  13. ↑ Scientists and Innovators in the Schools | Science World British Columbia. Scienceworld.ca. Retrieved on November 1, 2021.
  14. ↑ On The Road | Science World British Columbia. Scienceworld.ca. Retrieved on April 12, 2014.
  15. ↑ Super Science Club | Science World British Columbia. Scienceworld.ca. Retrieved on April 12, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Encouraging vaccine confidence in Canada - Competition Results". Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council . July 26, 2021. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  17. ↑ Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (March 3, 2021). "Encouraging vaccine confidence in Canada". Government of Canada . Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  18. ↑ Slusarchuk, Cheryl (May 12, 2022). "2021/22 Annual Report" (PDF). Science World. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  19. ↑ Skinner, Launi; Wood, Janet (July 26, 2020). "2019/20 Annual Report" (PDF). Science World. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  20. ↑ Skinner, Launi; Sampson, Scott D. (June 2019). "Annual Report 2018/19" (PDF). Science World. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  21. ↑ Skinner, Launi; Sampson, Scott D. (2018). "2017/18 Annual Report" (PDF). Science World. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.

49°16′24″N123°06′14″W / 49.273251°N 123.103767°W / 49.273251; -123.103767

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.