More and Better Science Centers

…would be nice:

[I]t has become increasingly clear that schools can’t tackle the challenge alone. … Opportunities abound outside the classroom to learn about science, and to inspire a passion for it. Zoos and science museums, robotics clubs, science competitions, and online games are just a few of the options to engage American youths.

And makerspaces. Have we mentioned makerspaces?

Some of us at The BBSC have actually observed there to be a dearth of accessible and inspiring intellectual gathering places for both kids and adults alike.  Our own Pacific Science Center means well, but it’s dated and non-immersive.  Our Woodland Park Zoo is a nice place to visit, but the various exhibits are desperately lacking in contextual depth, causing them to rely far too much on novelty for exciting interest.  The Seattle Aquarium, while markedly more inspiring, suffers from a few of these same limitations. In our more cynical moments, we wonder whether the main difference between these places and the local shopping mall is that the mall’s hours are at least long enough that kids can actually go there after school.  And while not hour-restricted, the Google Science Fair is open only to 13-18 year-olds.  Science waits for no age!

What to do? What to do?