Telus World of Science (Edmonton)
| File:Telus World of Science Edmonton Logo.svg | |
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 Location in Edmonton
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| Established | July 1, 1984 |
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| Location | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Type | Space and Science Centre |
| Visitors | 530,000 annually |
| President | Alan Nursall |
| Website | telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca |
Telus World of Science is a broad-based science centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, operated by the Edmonton Space & Science Foundation. The centre is located on the southwest corner of Coronation Park in the neighbourhood of Woodcroft.
The centre first opened in 1984, as a replacement for the Queen Elizabeth Planetarium[1] located to the east that had operated as Edmonton's Planetarium since 1960 but had become limited by its 65 seating capacity. The City of Edmonton selected the Edmonton Space Sciences Centre as the City's flagship project commemorating the Province of Alberta's 75th Anniversary. The original building was designed by architect Douglas J. Cardinal.[2] When first opened, it was called the Edmonton Space Science Centre and then later it was changed to the Edmonton Space and Science Centre. In 2001, after a 14-million dollar expansion to the original building, the name was changed again to the Odyssium. On May 2, 2005, the center was renamed to the Telus World of Science - Edmonton after a $8.2 million, 20-year partnership with Telus.[3] The centre attracts over half a million visitors a year[4] and has Canada's largest planetarium dome theatre (the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre).
There are currently plans in the works for another expansion that would see the center triple in size. The expansion would include a new DVT (Digital Visualization Theatre), new galleries, a restaurant and, through a partnership with the University of Alberta, a research facility that would allow ideas to be tested and modified.[5]
Contents
Exhibits Galleries
Discoveryland
An interactive gallery that is designed to interest children between the ages to two and eight years. It consists of four main areas: WaterWorks, the Construction Zone, Discovery Den and Potters Corner. Some of the highlights include a giant piano, which you play by walking on the keys, a multi-level water table and a multitude of blocks.
Environment Gallery
The Environment Gallery has interactive displays about hydrology, ecology, meteorology featuring a Science On a Sphere projector, and Alberta's geology.
Health Gallery
The Body Fantastic room is an interactive carnival-style exhibition about the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Highlights include a multi-axis trainer and the Gallery of the Gross, which houses specimens of earwax, urine and other substances that the human body produces.
Robotics Laboratory
The Lego Mindstorms Centre is a 45 minute guided program in which guests program pre-built robots to perform various tasks and missions. It is only open to the general public during weekends and holidays. During the week it is used by school groups.
Space Gallery
The Space Place introduces visitors to astronomy and astronautics. Highlights include an actual moon rock, on long-term loan from NASA, that was collected during the Apollo program, a radio controlled replica of the Mars Pathfinder rover and a computer program that turns your face into an alien.
Kinetic Hall
This hosts small temporary exhibits that are included with a general admission. Currently, it is used for summer camps, school groups, and for various public and non-public events.
Feature Exhibit Gallery
This 1,500-square-metre (16,000 sq ft) gallery hosts large temporary exhibits that are not included with a general admission. Past exhibits have included Star Wars: Identities, Body Worlds & The Cycle of Life, Harry Potter: The Exhibition, and Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology.
Facilities
IMAX Theatre
A 275-seat theatre showing current educational movies shot in high resolution IMAX film reel. Telus World of Science features the original IMAX Theatre – the first one in western Canada. Images enhanced by a custom designed six-channel, multi-speaker sound system are projected onto a 13m x 19m screen. Admission to the IMAX theatre is not included with general admission.
Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre
The 250-seat large dome theatre that used to be used for laser show, and star shows. It was the largest one in Canada when the centre opened in 1984. In 2008 the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre changed its projection system and educational content to a full dome immersive video experience. The Telus World of Science Edmonton was the first planetarium and science centre in Canada to showcase this new technology for domed theatres. Admission to shows in the Star Theatre is included in general admission.
Science Stage
The Syncrude Science Stage features a staff member demonstrating science, typically involving flammable gases, dry ice, or electricity. A child from the audience will often be called upon to assist the demonstrator with an activity. The demonstrations are included with general admission.
DOW Computer Lab
This computer lab opened in August 1995 and relocated to its new location in April 2001 beside the Telus Robotics Lab. The DOW Computer Lab has various electronic teaching tools available - the computerized white board and the latest in software - and a high speed internet connection to each workstation. However, the computer lab can still be rented for special events and is used during the summer months for computer camps.
Observatory
There is an observatory outdoors, separate from the main building. It is free of charge, but it opens only when the weather permits, and it closes if the temperature is below -15 °C. It is equipped with seven telescopes, including a Meade 16" LX200, a 180 mm (7 in) Starfire refractor, and three solar telescopes all provided by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Edmonton Centre).[6]
Cafe and Gift Shop
The cafe sells a selection of fast food and sandwiches and has a concession for the IMAX theatre that sells popcorn and other snacks. The cafe provides catering services for functions. The gift shop is near the main entrance in the lobby of the building. It contains various science related toys as well as telescopes and as astronomy-related products.
Programs
Science in Motion Science in Motion is a feature at Telus World of Science-Edmonton that brings science programs and presentations to schools that are more than 100 km from the centre. Through experiments, demonstrations and hands-on activities Science in Motion makes science fun, dynamic and easy to understand. Science in Motion is a resource that meets the learning objectives set out in the Alberta science curriculum.
TransAlta Science Lab The TransAlta Science Lab is a fully equipped, hands-on, laboratory giving students an approach to science experiments that is both engaging and meaningful.
Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMA, CHIN, and Virtual Museum of Canada.
See also
References
External links
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