The Ontario Science Centre ignites curiosity in almost 1,000,000 visitors in 2013
The Science Centre continues to engage its public through a broad assortment of exhibitions, films, programing, and remarkable science stories
TORONTO, Dec. 30, 2013 /CNW/ - This year, more than 998,000 visitors agreed - their curious belonged at the Ontario Science Centre. March Break drew the highest visitorship in six years, while further strong attendance came from Family Day Weekend, the Centre's annual Community Day in September, and the summer blockbuster exhibition Game On 2.0, which appealed to a broad range of audiences. Finally with the opening of The AstraZeneca Human Edge exhibit hall and the return of Dream Machines, The Art of Rowland Emett, the December holiday line-up rounded out a very popular year for Centre visitors. In addition, many thousands more enjoyed Science Centre experiences off-site at community-based events as such as Caribbean Carnival, Pride and Word on the Street.
"The Ontario Science Centre's vision is to inspire a lifelong journey of curiosity, discovery, and action to create a better future for the planet," said Lesley Lewis, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre. "In addition to our regular offerings, special exhibitions and IMAX® films, we engage people of all ages with emerging science and technology stories, encouraging them to explore, to ask questions, to become even more curious about the world around them and to take action."
The Science Centre's scientists and researchers compiled a list of the most popular science stories that engaged visitors and most captured their imaginations:
Ontario Science Centre's Five Most Popular Science Stories with Visitors in 2013
- Test-Tube Burger - Volunteers tasted the first burger made from lab-grown beef using cattle stem cells, bovine fetal serum and antibiotics. (Source: Scientific American)
- Dramatic Decline in Migrating Monarchs - The number of these butterflies overwintering in Mexico reaches the lowest level in 20 years. Experts blame the population drop on North American use of herbicides, logging in Mexican forests, excessive ecotourism and climate change. (Source: CBC.ca)
- Human-Powered Helicopter - University of Toronto Team captures Sikorsky Prize for human-powered helicopter flight lasting 64 seconds and reaching 3.3 metres. (Source: Aerovelo.com)
- Keep on Gaming - Spatial skills used in doing puzzles and reading maps can be improved through training, like playing video games. (Source: ScienceDaily.com)
- Octopuses Go to Great Lengths for a Snack - Scientists in Italy measured octopuses' arm extensions as they reached up a tube towards tasty bait and found that octopuses' arm elongation ability differed depending on their sex and size. (Source: BBC.co.uk)
About the Ontario Science Centre
The Ontario Science Centre delights, informs and challenges the communities we serve, enriching people's lives and understanding through engagement with science of local, national and global relevance. Since 1969, the Ontario Science Centre has welcomed over 48 million visitors, with an interactive approach that was the model for Science Centres around the world. It is the public centre for innovative thinking and provocative dialogue in science and technology, aiming to inspire a lifelong journey of curiosity, discovery and action to create a better future for the planet. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario. Please visit us at OntarioScienceCentre.ca.
For images and video, please visit: http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/Media/ImagesVideo
Social Media Links
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/OntarioScienceCentre
Twitter: @OntScienceCtr | #ScienceNOW
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/OntarioScienceCentre
SOURCE: Ontario Science Centre
Media contacts:
Anna Relyea
Director, Strategic Communications
416-696-3273 | cell: 416-668-1967
[email protected]
Jefferson Darrell
Media Relations Officer
416-696-3154
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Andrea Mus
Media Relations Officer
416-696-3191
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