Science World is turning 30, and celebrating with special events

One of Vancouver’s best-loved landmarks is gearing up to celebrate its 30^th birthday.

On May 6, Science World at TELUS World of Science will mark three decades of exhibitions, demonstrations, and outreach. Since opening its doors in 1989, the famous geodesic dome has welcomed more than 18 million people, and hosted high-profile figures such as physicist Stephen Hawking, Soviet Union president  Mikhail Gorbachev, and astronaut Chris Hadfield.

The iconic structure began life as the Expo Centre, and was created as part of the ’86 World’s Fair. By 1987, all three levels of government decided that the building would be dedicated to science and technology, with Queen Elizabeth II dubbing the spot “for the people of British Columbia.” More than $19 million (around $37 million in today’s currency) was put into renovation and expansion, allowing the company to redesign the interior and develop the first exhibits. In 1989, the 10,200 square metre building—including the largest OMNIMAX dome screen in the world—opened to the public.

While dinosaur exhibitions have been featured more than any other, Science World has hosted an array of memorable displays. The recently-ended Science Behind Pixar let visitors in on some Disney magic secrets by showing how iconic film characters were created and animated; 2015’s BODY WORLDS 3: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies showcased skin-off cadavers in various poses; and 2000’s Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body examined the mushy, oozy, crusty, and scaly gunk produced by our bodies.

In addition, the non-profit company has offered an array of outreach programs to people all over B.C., including teaching kids to code, celebrating community science, and spotlighting future science leaders.

“At Science World, we are extremely proud of the impact we’ve had on our community through exhibits and province-wide programs over the past 30 years,” says Scott Sampson, president and CEO of the organization.  “We are so grateful for our talented team, generous donors, and supportive community for helping Science World become such a flourishing centre of experiential learning. Looking to the future, we plan to make high-quality learning opportunities accessible to children and youth throughout British Columbia, while also engaging youth and adults in crowdsourcing a thriving future.”

To celebrate its 30^th birthday in style, Science World is ringing in its anniversary with three unique events.

First is the opening of a new exhibition. Starting on May 4, TELUS World of Science will feature Limitless, a large participatory installation by Tangible Interaction that grows in size as more people contribute to it. Visitors will write down ideas from their imagination onto paper and see them fly up more than 40 feet into a net above the Peter Brown Centre Stage.

On the day itself, Science World will host the 30^th Anniversary Kick Off. On May 6 at 2:20 pm, Science World staff will attempt to pull off 30 science experiments in 5 minutes at the Peter Brown Centre Stage. This will be opened by a cake-cutting ceremony and a welcome message from president and CEO Scott Sampson.

For the adults, the organization will throw an ‘80s Themed Science World After Dark (SWAD) event. Taking place on May 16, the evening will celebrate the decade in which Science World launched.

For more information and tickets, check out the Science World website.

Kate Wilson is the Technology Editor at the Georgia Straight. Follow her on Twitter @KateWilsonSays