TUSCALOOSA EXPLORATORIUM

SCIENCE CENTER
A PROPOSAL FOR HANDS-ON
LEARNING FOR ALL AGES
September 30, 2013
Team Lotta Legos
IT 0
About Tusa!oosa"s E#p!orator$um
%&at $s a S$e'e
E#p!orator$um(
An Exploratorium is a museum of the modern day.
It focuses on hands on learning and interactive
exhibits. It is not only fun for kids and families but
also for people of all ages. Tuscaloosa has a
heavy population of young adults that are always
looking for something new to do. This science
center would offer the perfect relief for these
people. It would also present a different
environment than is usually present in a college
setting. It also appeals to the professors and
professionals of the college that could have a
heavy impact on how the Science Exploratorium is
used and the success of it. It presents a great
learning opportunity to anyone interested in
visiting. The professors would be able to find
countless opportunities for learning outside of the
class room.
%&ere )ou!* t&e
E#p!orator$um be !oate*(
According to results collected from our survey,
those interested in the Exploratorium find a
location on the niversity of Alabama!s campus
most convenient. This is a difficult place to build
such a large"complex building as the Science
#enter re$uires with a lot of outdoor and indoor
space. A piece of %ryce &ospital!s property located
on &ackberry 'ane and #ampus (rive is both
large enough and remote enough to allow for a
large self"contained museum.
+a,grou'*
Team Lotta Legos
September 30, 2013
P!ae Logo Or
Compa'- Name .ere
Percentage of Donations People would
be Willing to Contribute
Questions
1. Do you think Tuscaloosa would beneft from having an
Exploratorium science center?
2. Have you ever been to a Exploratorium science center?
3. What activities do you think you or your family would
enjoy the most? Check all that apply.
4. Which themed exhibit would you enjoy the most?
5. Would you visit on-sight food amenities?
6. What location(s) would appeal to you or your family the
most?
7. How often would you visit the Exploratorium?
8. Would you be willing to donate money towards the
building of the Exploratorium?
We created a survey with 9 questions asking counity ebers of Tuscaloosa! "# their thoughts
on a science $%ploratoriu in their city& The questions were specifically chosen to tell us about
interest in an $%ploratoriu as well as if it is financially feasible& '( were questioned and results
were collected and analy)ed& The survey was given on a website called surveyonkey&co&
Resu!ts/
The survey $uestions ranged from whether the person even knew what a Science Exploratorium was to
whether they were willing to contribute financially. #ertain $uestions were specifically telling of the success of
a science Exploratorium. These $uestions are as follows)
10 1o -ou t&$', Tusa!oosa )ou!* be'e2$t 2rom &a3$'g a' E#p!orator$um s$e'e e'ter(
The responses for this $uestion were a resounding yes. *f the +, that took the survey +- responded
with ./es0 and only one responded .1o0. Therefore 2+3 of those surveyed do believe that a Science
Exploratorium would be good for the Tuscaloosa community. 4hen asked what activities people
would like to do most there was interest in almost all areas that are being considered to be included
in the Exploratorium.
,. %ou!* -ou 3$s$t o'4s$g&t ame'$t$es(
This $uestion was also met with a lot of positive feedback. According to the survey 2-3 of people
would visit on sight food amenities while at the Exploratorium Science center. This provides another
source of revenue for the Exploratorium and would aid in its progression.
+. .o) o2te' )ou!* -ou 3$s$t t&e E#p!orator$um(
5-3 said they would visit the Exploratorium at least once a month. Although this is less than we
would!ve liked to see, we believe that with the incorporation of different events and kid programs this
percentage could increase. Also with a restaurant on sight and an I6A7 movie theatre, the
Exploratorium has a lot more to offer than 8ust a museum.
9. %ou!* -ou be )$!!$'g to *o'ate mo'e- to)ar*s t&e bu$!*$'g o2 t&e E#p!orator$um(
4e gave people a variety of answers to select, including no money at all. The graph below shows the
distribution of the amounts people would be willing to donate to the cause.
Sur3e- Resu!ts
Compa'- Name .ere
September 30, 2013
P!ae Logo Or
Compa'- Name .ere
Conclusion
"ccording to the data gathered! the interest for the *cience $%ploratoriu is there& People
are not only interested but also e%cited by the new opportunities the $%ploratoriu will
offer& The only significant proble is the funding for the pro+ect& This needs to coe fro
businesses located in the Tuscaloosa area that would like to iprove the standards of
living in the counity& With that funding $%ploratoriu could begin building and
changing the lives of the people in Tuscaloosa&
"n $%ploratoriu is an e%pensive endeavor for any city to undertake& ,any of the people we surveyed
were siple college students or professors& The interest for this lies in these people! the financial support
has to coe fro larger bodies within the city& ,any corporate donations fro businesses and possibly
the -niversity itself would be required to prop up a a+or part of the costs of building and opening a
successful and prosperous $%ploratoriu *cience Center& ,any of these copanies could fund the
building of an entire e%hibit or the Theater itself and have their nae eoriali)ed either in the nae of
the e%hibit or where people can see that the copany ade it possible to en+oy that wonderful part of the
*cience Center& .undraising and other endeavors would have to be undertaken! but the aount of people
interested throughout the counity would ake fundraising very successful as their ore reasonable
donations build up with the aount of students willing to contribute saller aounts of oney&
Feasibility of an
Exploratorium
Place #ogo /ere!
0therwise Delete 1o%