Pacific Science Center Celebrates 50 Years of Science on Wheels

Seattle, WA — January 8, 2024 — Pacific Science Center (PacSci) celebrated the 50th anniversary of its statewide outreach program Science on Wheels today on its historic campus. Speakers included PacSci President and CEO Will Daugherty; King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci; Amazon’s Community Engagement Manager Dean Allsopp; and PacSci Board member Neal Black. Last year also saw Science on Wheels add electric vehicles to its fleet.

Science on Wheels is PacSci’s statewide mobile outreach program that travels across Washington to build excitement for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through interactive and hands-on educational experiences. Last year, PacSci delivered its outreach programs including Science on Wheels to libraries, community centers, and schools in 27 of Washington’s 39 counties. 73% of the recipients were in low-income schools, where PacSci delivered those programs for free, thanks to generous support from the community. PacSci’s goal is to provide STEM education to every K-8 low-income school in Washington for free.

Amazon has been a leading partner in relaunching the program. Amazon has provided multiple years of funding through Amazon Future Engineer, the company’s global philanthropic education program, to help spark curiosity in tens of thousands of students through interactive science education workshops, live demonstrations, virtual programming, and whole school experiences at no cost to low-income schools and families.

“Education changes lives, and at Amazon we invest in programs to help children, higher education students, and adult learners unlock their potential,” said Dean Allsopp, Community Engagement Manager at Amazon. “That’s why we’re proud to support the Pacific Science Center’s Science on Wheels program, which brings hands-on science education to underserved students across the region. Amazon’s donation to Science on Wheels is part of our broader commitment to empowering learners of all ages, and providing the resources they need to foster curiosity and explore their passion.”

PacSci’s high-impact educational STEM programs are designed to support science standards. The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) leading support is helping expand free Science on Wheels and Digital Discovery Workshops to low-income elementary schools in every school district across Washington.

“Science on Wheels provides enriching experiences in science to our youngest learners, specifically targeting students who historically have had less access to these types of experiences,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “My team and I are also excited to support PacSci’s transition to no- and low-carbon emissions vehicles.”

Science on Wheels began during the 1970s energy crisis, when students could no longer visit PacSci on school field trips due to prohibitive gas prices. PacSci educators responded by loading exhibits into station wagons and traveling across the state. Science on Wheels grew into one of the largest STEM outreach programs in the country. 50 years later, the program is still growing strong.