BC Science World

Science World is a hands-on science center Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We are a favorite family destination offering entertaining and educational experiences. In addition to the hundreds of interactive exhibits featured in our galleries, we are also home to the Alan OMNIMAX Theatre and the Science Theatre. The Alan OMNIMAX Theatre features magnificent science and nature films on one of the world's largest dome screens. The high definition Science Theatre shows spectacularly scenic presentations as well as live performing arts shows.

Our Mission Statement:

Science World is a vital, non-profit community resource that celebrates curiosity, creativity and the thrill of learning by promoting exploration of the arts, sciences and technology.

A Brief History of Science World 

The dream of establishing a science center in Vancouver began in 1977, under the leadership of Barbara Brink, the Junior League of Greater Vancouver and the City of Vancouver. A set of hands-on exhibits known as the "Extended I" were displayed in venues around the Lower Mainland prior to the opening of the Arts, Sciences &Technology Center on January 15, 1982. In six years, the temporary center at the corner of Granville and Dunsmuir attracted over 600,000 visitors. another 400,000 benefited from the center's outreach programs which traveled around the province. The demand for a permanent venue was clear; the only obstacles which stood in the way were finding a location and securing funding.

Following the 1986 World's Fair, an intensive lobbying campaign was launched to secure the landmark Expo Center building for Science World. With three levels of government backing its proposal, the Arts. Sciences and Technology Center succeeded in persuading the provincial government to designate the fair's famous golf ball" as the new facility. Thee announcement was made in September, 1987. A massive fund-raising campaign ensued, with donations from the federal, provincial, and municipal governments, the GVRD, the private sector, foundations and individuals contributing $19.1 -million to build an addit6ion to the Expo Center, redesign the interior and fabricate exhibits.

The public's first chance to see inside the new building came in the summer of 1977, with a four-month preview featuring Dinosaurs! A Journey through Time with White Spot. Over 350,000 visitors saw this blockbuster exhibition during its run. The center closed to complete its refurbishment and was permanently reopened with five new gallery's filled with hands-on exhibits and the largest OMNIMAX screen in the world on May 6, 1989.

Over the years. Science World has played host to many dignitaries and famous people. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 dedicated the Expo Center as "Science World. A science center for the people of British Columbia" in October 1987. Former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev participated in a student forum at the center prior to speaking at a fund-raising dinner for science World in March 1993. Dr. Stephen Hawking, the famous physicist, visited in June 1993 to talk with some 150 students with disabilities about how he manages his disability -- the life-threatening disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Alls).

In October 1994, Science World opened the award-winning Mine Games, a major exhibition about the impacts of mining on British Columbia. In November 1995, the 3D Laser Theatre was launched. This theatre was the second of its Kind in North America offering entertaining,eduucational 3D shows and was featured at Science World Until May 2000. In November 1996,the center entered its first title sponsorship agreement with Alan, renaming its OMNIMAX Theatre as the Alan OMNIMAX Theatre. In July 2000, the High Definition Science Theatre opened with the film Over Canada.

Over the years, Science World has hosted many popular exhibits and films. The center now develops many of its own feature exhibitions as well as acting as a co-producer of a number of OMNIMAX films. Among those exhibitions that Science World has created and now makes available to other science centers are Trivial Pursuit Palo Edition. Arithmetic's: Perfectly Perplexing Puzzles, and Thingamajigs: Celebrating Wacky Inventions. The Living Sea, which was nominated for an Academy Award, was produced in association with Science World, as was Super Speedway and Everest.

In September 1998, Science World became part of the Molson Indy Vancouver event. For the three-day event, the science center is transformed into a Race Technology Showcase and admission is restricted to Indy ticket holders. Science World will be part of the Molson Indy Vancouver event until 2001.

Science World is a non-profit organization which raises over 90 per cent of its annual operating budget. The balance of funds are generated through grants, donations and special fund-raising events.

Fast Facts About Our Unique Building;

The building was constructed for Expo '86 and served as the Expo Center. During the world's fair the pavilion housed the Futures Theatre. The film A Freedom too Move was featured in the Omnimax Theatre.

The Science World "golf ball" is actually a geodesic dome, the design of which was created by American inventor R. Buck Minster Fuller (1895 - 1983). Fuller patented 28 inventions in his lifetime; perhaps the most famous is the geodesic dome which was patented on June 29, 1954. One of the most famous geodesic domes in the world was the American pavilion at Expo '67 in Montreal.

The original architect was Bruno French; the architect for the additions made to transform the Expo Center into Science World was Beak Alexander.

The building contains four galleries (Main Gallery, the Sara Stern Search Gallery, and the Special Exhibitions Galleries). the science Theatre, and the Alan OMNIMAX Theatre, as well as a Gift Shop, White Spot Triple O's, and Administration Offices.