- Science North
infobox Museum
name=
established=1984
location= Sudbury,Ontario
director= David Pearson
website= [http://www.sciencenorth.on.ca/ Science North]Science North is an interactive
science museum inGreater Sudbury ,Ontario ,Canada .The complex, which is
Northern Ontario 's most popular tourist attraction, consists of twosnowflake -shaped buildings on the southwestern shore ofLake Ramsey , just south of the city's downtown core, as well as a formerice hockey arena which includes the complex's entrance and anIMAX theatre. The snowflake buildings are connected by a rock tunnel, which passes through a billion-year-oldgeologic fault . This fault line was not known to be under the complex during the construction of the building in the early 1980s. Where the walkway reaches the larger snowflake, the Inco Cavernauditorium is frequently used for temporary exhibits, as well as forpress conference s and other gala events.Inside the main building, a 20-foot
fin whale skeleton recovered fromAnticosti Island hangs from the ceiling.The complex also features a boat tour, the "Cortina", which offers touring cruises of the scenic Lake Ramsey. The Jim Gordon
Boardwalk also extends from the facility to the city's Bell Park along the western shore of the lake.The facility was designed by architect
Raymond Moriyama .An agency of the provincial government of Ontario, Science North is overseen by the provincial Ministry of Culture.
Facilities
First Level
* 4-D Inco Cavern - a 4-D Bush Plane Adventure Ride
* TD Canada Trust Toddler's Treehouse - a children's educational play area
econd Level
* Nature Exchange - visitors collect and research natural items from the wild and are swapped for points in a database. The points can be used to "purchase" other natural artifacts from around the world (ie: Rocks, sea shells, fossils, etc.)
* Lapidary Lab - Visitors learn how to cut, grind and polish rocks to turn them from ordinary stones into works of art.
* F. Jean MacLeodButterfly Gallery - This glass-enclosed gallery is home to more than 400 butterflys from 30 different tropical species.Third Level
* Northern Ecosystems - take a look at the animals, landscapes and natural ecology of Northern Ontario. Featuring a live beaver (Drifter), hawk (Enright), and porcupine (Quillan) along with many other animals from around the North, including many types of frogs, snakes (including a rattlesnake) and some other interesting reptiles.
* Discovery Theatre - features live science demonstrations hosted by staff everyday!
* Northern Landscapes - educates visitors about the nature around us. From forest fires to insects.Fourth Level
* BodyZone - Look at the anatomy of the human body and what makes you so unique!
*Lego Mindstorms Robotics Lab - Build a Lego Mindstorms Robot, or create a Lego Movie
*FedNor CyberZone - Computer lab which features a flight simulator similar to what pilots actually train on
* The Space Place - astronomy and the universe, featuring theMicrogravity Drop tower
* TechLab - Technology and engineering area which you are able to stretch your creative muscle and build different creations usingK'nex Object Theatres
Special film and video exhibits which change over time; current exhibits include
* The Climate Change Show -- narrated byRick Mercer
* Secrets from the Sun -- a video tour of theSudbury Neutrino Observatory Outdoor Grounds
* Polaris Boulevard - is a line which reaches from a large sundial right up the side of the building which points directly at Polaris (the north star).
* Terra - You’re literally on top of the world when you stand on this one-millionth scale world model, outdoors near Science North’s main entrance. At sunset and sunrise, you can watch the earth's shadow move across Canada. The benchmark at the centre of Terra is: 46° 28' 12.00" N and 80° 59' 45.70" W.
* a sculpture honouring localbush plane pilot Rusty Blakey.
* Lily Creek - a marsh located opposite to the centre, Lily Creek is home to many species of creatures.
* The Northern Forest - This outdoor exhibit features many of the tree species grown in northern Ontario that Domtar relies on for its sawmills and for the manufacture of pulp and paper at the Espanola mill.Other activities
Science North, which was opened in
1984 , also owns and operates Sudbury'sDynamic Earth facility, an earth sciences exhibition which is home to theBig Nickel , one of the city's most famous landmarks. FromJanuary 22 ,2001 toMay 10 ,2003 , the Big Nickel was temporarily located on the primary Science North grounds while Dynamic Earth was under construction.Science North's former science director,
Alan Nursall , is also a correspondent for the Canadian science newsmagazine series "Daily Planet", which airs onDiscovery Channel Canada and CTV. The institution's original science director, David Pearson, returned to the position in 2007.Science North has also worked extensively with the city's
Laurentian University , both on scientific and environmental research and as a partner in the university's graduate program inscience communication .External links
* [http://www.sciencenorth.on.ca/ Science North]
* [http://www.sciencecommunication.ca/ Science Communication]
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