The Museum of Science has announced that it will receive a gift of $10 million from MathWorks, the Natick-based leading developer of mathematical computing software.
The gift will fund the development of a new permanent technology and engineering exhibit, set to open in 2020. The exhibit, under development, will be part of the initial phase of the most comprehensive project in the Museum’s history: the transformation of the 100,000-square foot Blue Wing.
The new exhibit will provide a permanent home for one of the Museum’s most popular programs –– Engineering Design Challenges.
With this facilitated program at its heart, the new exhibit will feature multiple opportunities for visitors to engage in hands-on engineering activities. The exhibit will welcome a range of visitors but will have a particular emphasis on girls and women as well as families with young children.
As visitors work together to solve challenges, they will recognize that they are using many of the skills engineers and computer scientists use, including creativity, collaboration, and learning from failure.
“Expanding upon years of support and partnership from MathWorks, this generous gift demonstrates the alignment of our missions, values, and commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers as they create solutions, investigate questions and imagine possible worlds for both today and tomorrow,” said Ioannis Miaoulis, president and director of the Museum of Science. “We’re grateful to have a partner like MathWorks that supports our vision to transform the Blue Wing into a state-of-the-art, integrated experience that excites, empowers, and engages everyone to be the critical thinkers needed to shape our technological future.”
The gift from MathWorks will fund the design, fabrication, and construction of the exhibit, as well as fund an endowment that will ensure the exhibit remains well-maintained and up-to-date. MathWorks has been a supporter of the Museum since 1991, sponsor of the Mugar Omni Theater since 2005, and a Premier Partner since 2008. MathWorks staff have volunteered their time to support numerous engineering and computer science events at the Museum.
“MathWorks is committed to helping students discover their passion for STEM subjects. To complement classroom learning, they need to experience working hands-on to explore, experiment, model and build,” said MathWorks CEO Jack Little. “The Museum of Science shares in this approach to education, and we are very happy to expand our partnership through the Blue Wing transformation and creation of the MathWorks exhibit.”
Fabrication and construction of the exhibit are scheduled to begin in 2019 with the goal of opening to the public in spring 2020.
One of the world’s largest science centers and New England’s most attended cultural institution, the Museum introduces more than 1.5 million visitors a year to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) through the interactive exhibits, programs and K-12 curricula of its William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center.
A variety of learning experiences span the Yawkey Gallery on the Charles River, Hall of Human Life, Thomson Theater of Electricity, Charles Hayden Planetarium, Mugar Omni Theater, Gordon Current Science & Technology Center, 4-D Theater, and Butterfly Garden.
The Science Behind Pixar, created with Pixar Animation Studios, is touring nationally. The Museum’s National Center for Technological Literacy® K-12 curricula, including its award-winning Engineering, is Elementary®, have reached an estimated 13 million students and 129,700 educators. Visit: http://www.mos.org.
MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software. MATLAB, the language of technical computing, is a programming environment for algorithm development, data analysis, visualization, and numeric computation.
Simulink is a graphical environment for simulation and Model-Based Design for multidomain dynamic and embedded systems. Engineers and scientists worldwide rely on these product families to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, and development in automotive, aerospace, electronics, financial services, biotech-pharmaceutical, and other industries.
MATLAB and Simulink are also fundamental teaching and research tools in the world’s universities and learning institutions. Founded in 1984, MathWorks employs more than 3500 people in 15 countries, with headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, USA. For additional information, visit mathworks.com.
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