The Exploratorium has captivated me since I first visited in the early 1990s, shortly after moving here from New York City with my husband-to-be. I was struck by the Exploratorium's unique mission around science, art, and human perception. This blend suits my personal educational outlook, which appreciates a less-siloed view of the world and how we can best understand it.

Now, as a parent, I continue to love the Exploratorium’s unique approach to learning. Some museums claim to offer exploration and interaction but don’t satisfy this entirely. The Exploratorium truly upholds its name—you don’t need explanatory plaques on the wall to appreciate the experience it offers.

On the Impact of the Exploratorium
As a new Board member, I’m delighted to be learning more about the impact the Exploratorium has beyond the experience of the exhibits on the museum floor, where we’ve enjoyed coming as a family in recent years. I’m particularly excited about the national and international breadth of the Exploratorium’s work. It has an internationally recognized brand, creating and offering exhibits built for science institutions around the world; it’s well respected for its teacher-training programs, and so much more. I’m proud to be associated with an institution that extends meaningful programs to those in our local community who might not otherwise have access to them.

The Exploratorium is deeply committed to having an impact here in the Bay Area. And what’s not to love about the Explainer program? It’s a win-win opportunity for young people to work at the Exploratorium, and these teens serve as a wonderful bridge to visitors of every age.

On the Importance of the Exploratorium’s Move in 2013
I believe the Exploratorium is vital to our nation’s efforts to strengthen science education, and it’s particularly relevant as we look at the challenges of 21st-century learning and what that really means. The skills our children need to thrive in the future are already touchstones of the Exploratorium’s mission and approach to learning. Its programs, exhibits, and extended educational offerings support those dimensions, giving us the tools we need to be effective questioners, innovative entrepreneurs, collaborative problem solvers, and sophisticated thinkers. The Exploratorium plays a crucial role in helping us better understand the beauty and complexity of our world.

I think the new location down on the waterfront is going to be fabulous! Not only will it be more accessible to visitors to our city, as well as to the residents of East Bay and South Bay communities, but its expanded space will offer visitors of all ages new experiences and opportunities for learning they might not have had. What a terrific asset the Exploratorium will be for all of us.