Mobile Discovery Center Visits the District
by Kelly Reisig
Discovering the wonders of science and math comes in many forms and can be accomplished in a variety of ways. The National Science Center’s Mobile Discovery Center (MDC) van will be visiting several schools throughout the Scottsbluff Public Schools District. The first stop on the tour was Bluffs Middle School. Students and teachers alike were immersed in the excitement of hands-on science.
Housed in an 18-wheeler van and staffed by U.S. Army military and Department of Army civilian personnel, MDC van presentations show young people that studying science, technology and math can be exciting and fun as well as essential to their future.
The MDC van combines two functions … a classroom and an exhibit hall … into one facility. As a classroom, it features hands-on science demonstrations designed to be fun and informative and to involve the visitors in the demonstrations. And as an exhibit hall, it showcases small interactive exhibits and displays. A 50-minute MDC presentation consists of hands-on, interactive science demonstrations. Normally 6 sessions are conducted each day, and each session accommodates from 35-40 students.
Mobile Discovery Center programs are made possible by a partnership between the U. S. Army and the National Science Center, Inc. To find out more about the programs and services offered by the National Science Center and its mission to excite America’s youth about math, science and technology, visit their website at:www.NationalScienceCenter.org.
