Issue 17 | March 2022 |
Liberty Science Center has long been a Hudson County staple, introducing a love for science to generations of children—something it’s been doing for three decades. Now, the museum is once again in the spotlight with its newest project, SciTech Scity, a 30-acre innovation campus dedicated to creating the “City of Tomorrow”.
Explore Liberty Science Center
The complex broke ground in October 2021 and will launch in phases, with Phase I scheduled to open beginning in late 2023 through 2024. While this project is still a ways away, here is what we know—and what you can get excited for in the coming years:
- Edge Works, an eight-story incubation hub with a 40,000-SF conference center and tech exhibition gallery, and 60,000-SF of innovative space including research and development labs, co-working space, consumer testing facilities, and offices.
- Liberty Science Center High School, a magnet STEM high school operated by Hudson County Schools of Technology that will provide educational programming in Sustainable Engineering and Climate Science (Earth), Biological Sciences (Life), and Astrophysics (Space) to 400 students in Hudson County. Students will also be able to participate in mentorships with companies and scientists from Edge Works and Liberty Science Center.
- Scholars Village, which will provide housing for scientists, entrepreneurs, and graduate students in the SciTech community. Residents of this complex will also have the opportunity to enjoy cutting-edge technology within the residences, all developed on-campus.
- Public Commons, a four-acre outdoor activation and events space will host performances, concerts, farmers markets, science fairs, and more.
While SciTech Scity is definitely worth marking your calendar for, don’t wait until 2023 to visit the Liberty Science Center. Here are numerous other Liberty Science Center highlights you can enjoy as soon as today!
Exhibitions to Explore
Liberty Science Center offers an array of interactive exhibitions designed to make science fun and interesting for visitors of all ages. Check out the Wild About Animals exhibit to meet over 100 species of animals and learn about their habitats or explore Our Hudson Home to discover the important ecosystems and aquatic residents of the Hudson River.
For the littlest ones, PAW Patrol: Adventure Play allows kids to solve puzzles and challenges alongside their favorite PAW Patrol characters. In the Wobbly World exhibition, children aged 0-5 learn about balance, motion, and cause and effect while playing with—and on—a series of whimsical contraptions created by prominent toy designer Cas Holman.
In the Dino Dig Adventure exhibit, aspiring paleontologists can try their hand at a dig, as they uncover fossils from seven dinosaur species, buried in three expansive sand pits. As a bonus, you can find a great view of New York City from this exhibit, located outdoors on the second floor of the museum.
Don’t forget to look up when you arrive, or you’ll miss the Hoberman Sphere, an installation by artist and engineer Chuck Hoberman. Installed during LSC’s opening, this complex globe expands and contracts continuously, and has welcomed and fascinated visitors for years.
Liberty Science Center rotates exhibitions frequently, so be sure to check their website for the newest installations.
1. Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium
Liberty Science Center is home to the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, America’s largest planetarium. The 89-foot full-dome space features an 88-million-pixel screen, a lighting system that produces 281 trillion colors, and 30,000-watt digital sound speakers, all of which add up to a seriously spectacular planetarium experience. Current shows include Wonders of the Night Sky, Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity, One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure, and Laser Wonderland: A Holiday Lights and Music Show.
2. Weston Family Lab for Earth and Space Exploration
On the second floor of Liberty Science Center, you’ll find the Weston Family Lab for Earth and Space Exploration, an innovative exhibition and laboratory classroom space. The lab is home to Science on a Sphere, a six-foot digital globe developed by a team of researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This dynamic sphere updates with data directly from NOAA and NASA, allowing educators to demonstrate the impacts of events such as tectonic plate motion, tsunamis, and hurricane paths across the globe in real-time.
3. LSC After Dark
This beloved venue offers fun for all ages. On the third Thursday of every month, LSC opens its doors to young-at-heart adults (21+) for its LSC After Dark Series, an evening of dancing, drinks, and of course, science. Guests can groove the night away with a live DJ, enjoy themed cocktails or cuisine from a variety of local food vendors, and roam the museum exploring the interactive exhibits. Visitors can also catch a planetarium demonstration or themed laser show throughout the evening to round out the experience.
Membership Perks
For true science aficionados, Liberty Science Center offers a membership with great perks, including unlimited admission, discounted theater shows and premium exhibitions, gift shop discounts, exclusive members-only events, and reciprocal admission to 360+ additional science and technology centers around the world via the ASTC Travel Passport. With something new and exciting always in the works at LSC, members will have many reasons to visit!