Museum of Science and Industry

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, CHICAGO COMPLETES $205 MILLION SCIENCE REDISCOVERED CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Generous donors help MSI improve science education and inspire future generations  

CHICAGO (Feb. 17, 2011) — The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) has exceeded its goal of raising $205 million by closing its Science Rediscovered capital campaign at $208.8 million. Science Rediscovered was the Museum’s most ambitious fundraising effort since opening its doors in 1933, and it is helping the Museum achieve its vision to inspire and motivate children to achieve their full potential in the fields of science, technology, medicine and engineering. The campaign supported four key areas: $87 million for bold and transformative exhibits;

$49 million to create the Center for the Advancement of Science Education and support the city’s year-long Science Chicago public-awareness campaign; $27 million for improved guest experiences; and $42 million to ensure the Museum’s financial sustainability by growing the Annual Fund and endowment.

The success of the campaign was made possible in large part by the extraordinary generosity of Abbott and the Abbott Fund, The Allstate Insurance Company/ The Allstate Foundation, The Boeing Company, BP America, Mr. and Mrs. W. James Farrell, David and Juli Grainger and The Grainger Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Mary Ann and Barry MacLean, Pritzker Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Wanger.

More than 70 percent of the campaign was funded by the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “We are overwhelmed and humbled with the unprecedented support and dedication we have received from our Trustees and others,” said David R. Mosena, president and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry. “This phenomenal accomplishment is especially meaningful in light of this difficult economy and demonstrates just how committed these visionary leaders are to improving science education.”

Science Rediscovered was chaired by W. James Farrell, and co-chaired by Barry MacLean and William Osborn. During the campaign, Chairmen of the Board of Trustees were William Goodyear (December 2004 – June 2008) and Robert S. Morrison (June 2008 – present).

“Our sincerest thanks go out to the nearly 5,000 donors who made financial contributions to Science Rediscovered and the many more who participated in supporting this important effort,” said Mr. Farrell, campaign chairman.  “The tremendous response we received reaffirms our direction in making quality science education a top priority and is a testament to this institution’s ability to be a creative leader in the field.”

While the Science Rediscovered campaign is complete, MSI will have ongoing funding needs to sustain and grow educational programs, exhibitions and the endowment. “This campaign has positioned the Museum to look for and develop more opportunities that have an impact on this country’s science future,” said Mr. Mosena. 

Science Rediscovered provided funding for the following:

Center for the Advancement of Science Education (CASE)
Through Science Rediscovered, the Museum has taken a leadership role in improving science education by creating and expanding the Center for the Advancement of Science Education. The Center’s programs are designed to empower teachers, engage the community, and excite students and Museum guests. Since 2005, we have reached over 2,500 teachers with courses that improve their science teaching. We have inspired more than 500 teens to consider science careers through our Science Minors and Science Achievers youth development programs. Over 12,000 young children have had access to science in their neighborhoods through our network of after-school Science Minors Clubs. And in the past five years, nearly 80,000 students have explored science through hands-on learning labs as part of their Museum field trip, and more than 1.6 million students have visited the Museum on a field trip. In addition, our daily live science experiences invite guests to participate in science like never before.

Exhibits
World-class exhibits continue to be one of the most powerful ways to engage kids and families in science.  More than 80 percent of the Museum’s current exhibits are either brand new or have been re-energized with fresh content and technology.  Notable renovations have been made in places such as the Henry Crown Space Center, Farm Tech, The Coal Mine and the Transportation Gallery.

New exhibitions include Fast Forward: Inventing the Future about today’s visionaries and the innovative ideas they are working on to shape and improve our lives. YOU! The Experience, at 15,000 square-feet, celebrates the mind, body and spirit—challenging us all to improve our personal health.  And in March 2010, MSI opened Science Storms, a two-story exhibit about the chemistry and physics of natural phenomena—complete with indoor lightning, rainbows and a 40-foot tornado.

MSI is also committed to adding more new experiences in the future on topics such as energy, nanotechnology and exploration.

Guest Experience
In MSI’s daily live science experiences, Museum guests can now participate in a range of science activities, from immersive lab activities to facilitated discussions of current science news. Highlights include starring in a play about the digestive system, learning about vision while dissecting a cow’s eyeball, diagnosing and treating health conditions using state-of-the-art medical technology and more. These experiences are offered every day, at no additional cost, to Museum guests.

The Museum also was able to make significant improvements to its historic building, which included remodeling and adding all new eco-friendly restrooms, cleaning the limestone facade and creating new way-finding signage.

Financial Sustainability
The Annual Fund helps serve the Museum’s day-to-day needs and keeps its vision alive. Through the campaign, MSI continued to build that base of ongoing support, which is important as it adapts to the added requirements of new exhibits and programs recently developed. A strong endowment is also of critical importance to the Museum’s future, providing income for core budget areas and greater financial stability and growth, allowing the Museum to implement long-range plans.  MSI sought to significantly increase its endowment, and protect it through recent economic volatility, through both direct and testamentary gifts as part of the Science Rediscovered campaign.

About MSI
The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) is the largest and most interactive science Museum in the Western Hemisphere and serves an average of 1.5 million guests annually, including more than 300,000 school children on field trips, the most of any Chicago museum. MSI offers thousands of fun and interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind, world-class experiences to inspire the inventive genius in everyone. Through its Center for the Advancement of Science Education, the Museum also aspires to a larger vision: to inspire and motivate children to achieve their full potential in science, technology, medicine and engineering, and it reaches thousands of students and teachers through additional special programs, learning labs and educator courses, including a Master’s of Science Education degree program in partnership with the IIT.

The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) offers thousands of fun and interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind, world-class experiences to inspire the inventive genius in everyone. Through its Center for the Advancement of Science Education, MSI also aspires to a larger vision: to inspire and motivate children to achieve their full potential in science, technology, medicine and engineering. Come visit and find your inspiration! MSI is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and regular hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum is supported in part through the generosity of the people of Chicago through the Chicago Park District. For more information, find MSI online at msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414 or (800) GO-TO-MSI outside of the Chicago area.

Press Materials

• Science Rediscovered Campaign Close Press Release (PDF)
  

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