Fact Sheet 2012–2013
The Exploratorium is changing the way the world learns.
Exhibitions and Programs
- More than 1,000 interactive exhibits have been designed and built on site, with 600 on display at Pier 15
- Hands-on exhibits explore biology, physics, listening, cognition, visual perception, social behavior, and environment
- The museum has hosted more than 250 artists-in-residence
- 80 percent of science centers internationally use Exploratorium exhibits, programs, or ideas
Education and Research
- Since 1995, 6,400 educators from 48 states and 11 countries have completed Exploratorium workshops
- Community Educational Engagement offers 3,500 underserved children and families free science workshops
- 70 underserved middle- and high-school students participate in XTech, a college-prep program
- The Explainer program hires and trains 200+ students ages 15-19 as docents
- The Osher Fellowship program hosts four resident scholars, scientists, educators, and artists each year
- The museum has a nationally recognized research & evaluation group with 8 staff members, including 3 Ph.Ds.
Media
- 13 million people visit www.exploratorium.edu annually to view the 50,000 pages of original content
- 75 live webcasts, podcasts, and videos produced each year; 294,000 visitors viewed the Transit of Venus webcast from Mauna Loa, Hawaii, putting exploratorium.edu in the top 10 web content providers for the day with nytimes.com and aol.com
- 25,000 copies of Exploratorium-developed publications sold in the past year, with 18 titles in print
- Sound Uncovered and Color Uncovered, highly rated, free interactive apps for the iPad
Facilities
- Opening April 17, 2013, 330,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space at Pier 15 on the San Francisco waterfront, providing 3 times more space than the original Palace of Fine Arts location
- Environmentally-friendly design incorporating a bay water heating and cooling system, rooftop photovoltaic arrays, rainwater collection, and high-performance windows and glass to achieve net zero energy goal
- 1.5 acres of free space feature a public plaza on the Embarcadero, public lobby with a Bay History Walk, waterfront promenade, outdoor exhibits, café, and Exploratorium store
- The museum includes six main galleries; 200-seat theater; life sciences laboratory; wired classrooms and labs; and machine, wood, and electronics shops
- The Exploratorium offers rental space during evening hours
Budget and Staff
- 2012–13 budget $58,662,223
- 554 employees (290 full-time equivalent); 39 percent people of color; 25 Ph.D.-level scientists and educators
- 250 volunteers contribute 16,000 hours annually
