A Message from the President and Board of Directors Chair

Dear Friends,

Our mission at the Great Lakes Science Center is more critical than ever. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are today's buzzwords because we must interest and educate our young about science and create science-literate citizens who will contribute to solving the very real problems the world faces. Economic and social development rely on science and technology. The Great Lakes Science Center has brought a new awareness to our community of current key issues such as advanced energy, freshwater, STEM education, biomedical technology and space science. The past two years have seen us further our mission in dramatic and subtle ways.

A key component in furthering the mission is to introduce audiences to science in a non-intimidating way. It's achieved when visitors don't even realize they are learning because they are having so much fun.

This seemingly simple, yet perfect, combination of fun and education fuels our growth. Ticket sales grew in fiscal year 2008. During the same year, Summer Camp grew more than 62 percent and expanded to four locations across Northeast Ohio. Membership sales grew 30 percent as well.

Response from our supporters is equally as strong. More than $4.4 million in capital campaign funds were raised for projects to build a solar array, connect the Steamship William G. Mather Museum to the Great Lakes Science Center and plan for major exhibition re-development.

We have leveraged our strengths - both in mission and support - to further capital projects and programming efforts, including:

• Building the fourth-largest solar array in the state as an addition to the iconic wind turbine.
• Completing the capital campaign to construct an all-weather connector between the Great Lakes Science Center and the Steamship William G. Mather Museum. The ribbon cutting for the connector was held on October 22, 2009.
• Expanding Summer Camp programs both at the Great Lakes Science Center and at offsite community locations.
• Scheduling and implementing a robust schedule of traveling exhibitions.
• Co-producing an OMNIMAX film raising awareness of Great Lakes issues.
• Partnering with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to host MC2STEM high school freshman class