Oregon Museum of Science and
Industry, Portland, Oregon
www.omsi.edu
Press Contact: Lee Dawson, OMSI Publicist
503-797-4586-office; 503-913-8072-mobile
ldawson@omsi.edu
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Left to right:
Mrs. Laura Bush, Director Nancy Stueber, community
member Priyam Shah, and IMLS Director Anne Radice.
Click image for a larger version. |
Part brain-powered playground for kids and
adults, part cutting-edge classroom for communities across
the state, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
serves to inspire wonder for the kid in each of its visitors.
Today, OMSI is one of the largest and most
successful campuses of its kind in the country, offering
219,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, hands-on
demonstrations, a big-screen OMNIMAX® Theater, the
Northwest’s largest planetarium, and the USS Blueback
– the last fast-attack, diesel-powered submarine
built by the U.S. Navy, now decommissioned. Visitors to
the museum can touch a tornado, uncover a fossil, surf
the Internet, enter the world of virtual reality, experience
an earthquake, or simply experiment on their own in one
of the many hands-on labs.
But just as OMSI bills itself as destination
tourism for the Mr. Wizard in each of its visitors, it
is equally passionate about bringing the love of science
to thousands of classrooms and students who can’t
always make the trip to Portland. Each year, OMSI reaches
millions of people through direct visits, outreach programs,
camps, classes, and after-school science clubs, traveling
exhibits, and fairs – one of the largest outreaches
of its kind in the nation. With a range extending across
six western states, including Alaska, and some 200,000
students, OMSI is able to bring the museum experience
directly to them through Traveling Programs and Fairs
– programs that include interactive presentations
on forensics, live animal demonstrations, and the popular
Discovery Dome Portable Planetarium.
“OMSI is a national leader in science
education," said U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). "This
award recognizes the outsized impact this center of learning
has on our region. Congratulations to the staff of OMSI
for your invaluable work inspiring our next generation
of scientists and innovators.”
"I am pleased that the Oregon Museum
of Science and Industry has been awarded this prestigious
prize and is getting the recognition it deserves,"
said U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). "For
decades OMSI has been instrumental in inspiring kids and
adults alike to learn about science, technology and the
environment around them. Oregon has always recognized
OMSI as a cultural icon, and it’s great to see it
now being recognized nationally."
“This recognition by the Institute
of Museum and Library Services is confirmation of what
generations of Oregon families have known for some time—that
OMSI is a true national treasure,” said U.S. Senator
Gordon Smith (R-OR).
Community Member Priyam Shah –
Energy-Efficient Teen
Born and raised in Portland, OR, 15-year-old Priyam Shah
has immersed himself in science at numerous OMSI camps
and weekend activities for more than a decade. Then, just
two years ago, Shah learned about sustainable and green
practices through OMSI's Rising Star Youth Leadership
Program. Shah’s passion for energy efficiency and
sustainable practices prompted him to research and develop
economic models to convince his parents to embrace eco-friendly
practices when they built their new home.
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