News

10.02.2007

MetLife Foundation Supports
Connecticut Science Center’s
Educational Labs with $100,000 Grant

MetLife Foundation has awarded the new Connecticut Science Center with a $100,000 grant to support the Center’s Connecticut River Watershed Laboratory.  One of four immersive classrooms in the Center, the “Wet Lab” will provide a range of cutting-edge technology and equipment that will allow school children and other visitors the opportunity to engage in hands-on scientific discovery about the river ecosystem.

“For every ‘wow!’ moment that our exhibits offer, our classrooms will offer an ‘aha!’ moment,” Center President Theodore S. Sergi said.  “The classrooms also provide the glue between the Center experience and the student’s own classroom, which will be further strengthened through pre and post visit materials.  MetLife Foundation's generous contribution will make it possible for us to deliver the kinds of programs intended to bring the science of the River to life.”

“MetLife Foundation has a long history of partnering with museums to support learning and development opportunities for people of all ages,” said Sibyl Jacobson, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation.  “Science museums, in particular, serve as excellent community and educational resources and are well positioned to provide an environment for intergenerational learning and exploration.  We are proud to support the Connecticut Science Center in their work to engage young people, older adults and families through programs that will promote discovery and build community.”

These classrooms will serve as state of the art life-long learning centers for visitors of all ages, and will be among the most versatile spaces in the Center, Sergi noted, and will be vital components of school field trips, offering educators the opportunity to expand on the exhibit experience through hands-on activities and technology. The classrooms will also be used to present special programming for general visitors during summer, weekend and evening hours. Teacher professional development workshops will also take place within the classrooms, as will seminars and programs for adult audiences.

“The Wet Lab will be a space where students and others learn about earth materials and the role of water in shaping the land, and will be challenged to find the balance in the ways humans live with and use the Connecticut River,” said Sergi.  For example, using water, sand, rulers, wood, and other materials, visitors will conduct an investigation into water flow and erosion by experimenting with the effects of slope and topography.  In other programs, visitors will see first-hand the animals and plants sustained by the Connecticut River, explore the unique geological components of the river valley, and test actual river water using simple analysis equipment to gauge the health of the river ecosystem.

The Science Center expects to annually serve over 75,000 school children from throughout the northeast.  The educational labs will supplement pre- and post-field trip materials and lessons delivered in the classroom, as well as on-site visits in the Center’s 10 galleries. 

About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to continue the company’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement.  The Foundation supports programs that improve education, promote health, encourage parental involvement and family engagement, help revitalize neighborhoods and stress accessibility and inclusion.  In recent years, a focus on Alzheimer's and aging issues has been added.  MetLife Foundation stresses education in all its programs.  Recognizing the vital role the arts play in building communities and educating young people, the Foundation contributes to arts and cultural organizations across the United States, with an emphasis on increasing opportunities for young people, reaching broad audiences through inclusive programming, and making arts more accessible for all people.  For more information about the Foundation, please visit its Web site at www.metlife.org

About the Connecticut Science Center
The Connecticut Science Center, now under construction in downtown Hartford, will spark creative imagination and an appreciation for science by immersing visitors in fun and educational hands-on, interactive experiences.  Visitors will experience 200 exhibits in 10 galleries and a range of topics, including space and earth sciences, physical sciences, biology, the Connecticut River watershed, Connecticut inventors and innovations, a children’s gallery, and much more.  Other visitor amenities include four educational labs, a 200-seat 3D digital cinema, function room, gift store and café, and ongoing events and lectures for all ages.

The Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing science education throughout the state of Connecticut, providing learning opportunities for students and adults of all ages, and engaging the community in scientific exploration.  More information is available at www.CTScienceCenter.org.

MetLife Foundation president & CEO Sibyl Jacobson (left) presents a check to Science Center president Theodore S. Sergi.  Tom Scarice, principal of Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford and host of the check presentation, looks on.  
 Click to see larger photo.