The Oklahoma Eagle Newswire
Just as schools are letting out for spring break, a new kind of learning experience will blast onto the scenes of nine of Tulsa Housing Authority’s housing communities. Thanks to a partnership between The Housing Authority of the City of Tulsa (THA) and Discovery Lab, over 14,000 Tulsans will experience hands-on, science-based exhibits, just steps from their front door. Discovery Lab’s Nano exhibition will open at THA’s Parkview Terrace, 1615 W. 59th St., 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 15— beginning the exhibit’s 18-month tour.
For Aaron Darden, CEO/President of Tulsa Housing Authority, the partnership is a win-win situation, and he hopes that exposing THA’s families to a science-focused project like the Discovery Lab’s Nano Exhibit will present an excellent opportunity to empower the lives of his residents.
“We are constantly looking for ways to empower our residents with valuable community resources. We are excited to offer this education-focused experience that will bring families together, improve success in the classroom, and inspire and advance our future workforce,” remarked Darden.
The Nano exhibition will spend six to eight weeks at each THA housing community. The interactive exhibit explores critical concepts related to nano (the science of the small) and nanotechnology and makes connections for children and families to nano concepts in the world around them. The Nano exhibit was gifted to Discovery Lab as part of a grant from the National Informal STEM Education Network.
Ray Vandiver, Executive Director of Discovery Lab, sees the partnership as a way to tear down any barriers that might keep all Tulsans from exploring the sciences.
“There are so many barriers that might prevent a family from having the opportunity to visit Discovery Lab or experience informal science learning. By bringing this exhibit to their home, we are eliminating a few of those barriers,” Ray Vandiver, Discovery Lab Executive Director, said.
The traveling exhibit will add to a larger, ongoing THA and Discovery Lab program, currently in its third year. The program brings hands-on, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and health and wellness resources for children ages 2 to 12 and their families to the nine THA family housing communities.
Each year, this programming, funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, includes 144 hands-on outreach classes presented by Discovery Lab educators, as well as camp scholarships and family field trips to the museum, amounting to $20,000 in classes and museum experiences.
“We hope to inspire students, helping them build confidence with STEAM concepts, and bring families together, encouraging parents to engage with their children in learning and exploring,” Vandiver said.
According to a study from Oregon State University, the majority of science learning happens outside of formal classrooms settings. One goal of this program is to increase outcomes by offering at-risk students more opportunities for informal STEAM learning.
After leaving Parkview Terrace, Nano will travel to Mohawk Manor, Comanche Park, Apache Manor, East Central Village, Riverview Park, Sandy Park, South Haven Manor, and Seminole Hills/Whitlow.
