This episode of Nonprofit Report features three leaders from science museums across the U.S., exploring how informal learning spaces foster curiosity, intergenerational engagement, and scientific literacy at a time when science is more essential than ever.
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Guests:
- Steven Schnell, Executive Director, The Science Zone
- Mat Sinclair, CEO, Kiewit Luminarium
- Joe Cox, President & CEO, Museum of Discovery and Science
Key Points:
- Science Museums are community-specific engines of engagement. The “scale” of the institution matters less than the depth of the experience.
- Informal learning fosters family-based discovery. All three leaders emphasized the transformational power of multigenerational learning—where a child sees their parent or grandparent captivated by science, building together, asking questions, and modeling curiosity.
- Exhibits are a stage—visitors complete the performance. Echoing theatrical analogies, Cox and Sinclair described exhibits not as static objects, but as interactive invitations. Visitors co-create meaning through hands-on engagement, making memories that often outlast traditional classroom experiences.
- Mobility and access are core to equity. In rural regions, Schnell’s team brings exhibits to libraries and communities across Wyoming. Whether by truck, trailer, or tote, Science Zone ensures that every child—no matter how remote—can launch rockets, build aqueducts, and learn side-by-side with family.
- Critical thinking is essential for a democratic society. The centers encourage experimentation, iteration, and problem-solving. Their environments promote the scientific method as a joyful, creative act.
Other Points on Science Museums:
As public trust in science collides with misinformation, these institutions offer a clearinghouse for evidence-based dialogue. Rather than lecture, they create open spaces for exploration, where individuals can test ideas, refine understanding, and pursue truth at their own pace.
Joe Cox described a forthcoming Climate Solutions exhibit aimed at transforming youth eco-anxiety into eco-action by building confidence, empathy, and collaboration.
Mat Sinclair noted that science centers—especially during the pandemic—revealed the urgency of nurturing public scientific curiosity. Their job is not just workforce development, but strengthening the very cognitive foundation of civil society.
Steven Schnell summed it up: “The parent and the child are building the rocket together. That’s when we know we’re winning.” When informal learning sparks awe, builds agency, and unites people across generations, it shapes communities—and futures.
