Crowds return to Fleet Science Center

Steven Snyder, executive director, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center U-T San Diego

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park may be in turn-around after a long slide in attendance that hurt its financial health and reputation.

The non-profit center attracted 67,711 paying visitors in July and August, a 16-percent increase over the same period a year ago. The summer months are important to the Fleet's bottom-line.

The upswing is due, at least in part, to 'Illusion,' a new interactive exhibit on optical illusions that was booked by Steven Snyder, the Fleet's new executive director. Illusion has drawn big crowds.

Snyder, 46, also is preparing the science center for the Sept. 28 debut of, 'Genome: Unlocking Life's Code,' an interactive exhibit produced by the Smithsonian Institution and other organizations. The bookings are part of Snyder's plan to modernize the Fleet and expand its reach across the county.

Genome: Unlocking Lifes Code opens on Sept. 28.Courtesy Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

He recently discussed his first year at the helm, and what he's looking forward to in the near future.

Q: The Fleet's attendance had been in serious decline. What did you do to begin to turn things around?

A: We spent a great deal of time talking with the San Diego community about what the Fleet means to them and what they would like it to be in the future. We conducted on-site surveys, off-site interviews and focus groups. Based on what we learned, we developed a new set of exhibits and programs designed to not only promote science learning, but also create engaging social experiences for both children and adults.

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Balboa ParkCourtesy of Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

We started by launching a series of community-focused programs-Two Scientists Walk into a Bar, Suds & Science and Astronomy Night-where we bring scientists into neighborhoods to spark conversations and create dynamic social experiences with San Diegans where they live. We opened Illusion: Nothing Is As It Seems, which uses art to show us the science behind perceptual illusions. The great thing about this exhibition is that it's engaging and fun for adults and children. Everybody can share in the experience of trying to understand how each illusion works.

We've paired the Illusion exhibition with a special show in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater called Perception: See Beyond the Illusion. For that project, we worked with Jason Latimer, an L.A.-based illusionist, to present a show that uses applied science, large mechanical props and the power of our digital dome system to create an entertaining, thought-provoking live performance. On Sunday we open a brand new exhibition called Genome: Unlocking Life's Code which de-mystifies the science behind genomics. In February we plan to debut a series of interactive live science shows, and next May we will open Circus, Science Under the Big Top.

We've been very pleased with the results we've seen so far, not just from an attendance perspective but, more importantly, by the reaction of those who visit. It's been really great to walk the floor and see a couple deeply engaged in trying to understand one of the Illusion exhibits while right across the room a family is using a mirror to make their daughter appear to fly. To overhear the conversations our visitors are having and to run into those who have come back again to bring friends and family to share the experience has been very gratifying.

Entities 0 Name: Snyder Count: 2 1 Name: Steven Snyder Count: 2 2 Name: Fleet Count: 2 3 Name: Reuben H. Fleet Science Center U-T San Diego The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Count: 1 4 Name: San Diegans Count: 1 5 Name: Smithsonian Institution Count: 1 6 Name: San Diego Count: 1 7 Name: The Fleet Count: 1 8 Name: Balboa Park Count: 1 9 Name: Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Count: 1 10 Name: Jason Latimer Count: 1 11 Name: Courtesy Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Count: 1 12 Name: Balboa Park Courtesy of Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Count: 1 13 Name: Suds & Science and Astronomy Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1mhMp5n Title: Quiz: Can You Answer 5th Grade Science Questions? Description: A new survey on scientific literacy from the Center for Accountability in Science found that most respondents failed to correctly answer questions designed for a 5 grade science class. "Most Americans are not armed with the basic facts about science," said Dr. Joseph Perrone, chief science officer at the Center for Accountability in Science in a statement.

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