State School Superintendents Tour Updated Discovery Center
School administrators view science center’s updated exhibits and learn about programs for students
More than 20 Connecticut superintendents gathered at the renovated Sacred Heart University Discovery Science Center & Planetarium (DSCP) recently to learn more about educational opportunities the facility has to offer students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
The school officials gathered on the first floor near the “Universe and You” exhibit to chat and enjoy refreshments before presentations began. The exhibit is home to DSCP’s “Science on a Sphere,” a large globe where guests can experience a new, interactive kiosk, a touchless aurora wall and a moon lander simulation game.
“The Discovery Center has been here for a very long time, and it was in need of some updates to bring it into the 21st century, and SHU has been able to do that,” said Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. “Now more than ever, there is a need for these types of science centers that provide STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.”
Sacred Heart took over management of the Discovery Science Center & Planetarium, formerly the Discovery Museum, in January. The University will continue to expand the museum’s educational mission, which benefits the whole state, while also offering additional educational opportunities and experiences for SHU students and staff.
Rabinowitz said the DSCP helps prepare students for a world in which STEM is prevalent. “There are many possibilities for careers in the STEM field, and it’s incredibly important to expose children to it. Children in kindergarten and above get excited by the hands-on learning,” she said.
Alison Villanueva, ’15 ’19, superintendent of Watertown Public Schools and a graduate of SHU’s Isabelle Farrington College of Education superintendent of schools (093) certification program, also attended the reception. She said the center is a jewel in the area and builds a bridge between K-12 and higher education. The pipeline to higher education starts in kindergarten, she said, and rich, positive experiences, like those the DSCP offers, sets children up for college and success.
The superintendents viewed a presentation in the DSCP’s Henry B. DuPont III Planetarium and learned more about the center’s mission and student programs.
Due to the pandemic, the DSCP’s doors were closed for the past year, though the center ran programs online. Support from local foundations, the state and SHU brought about significant upgrades and improvements, making the DSCP a state-of-the-art facility. The center officially reopened in late September. It is open to the public and to school groups. Visitors can frequent the center in-person for an immersive experience.
To learn more, visit the DSCP’s website.