Our Motivation and Approach
A National Passion Born by the Space Age
They built short-wave Heathkit radios and played with a best-selling toy of the time, Erector Set. They sometimes stunk up the house with Gilbert chemistry set concoctions. And they read about the planets, simple machines, and space exploration.
The kids of the Space Race era tinkered, dreamed, and watched the latest TV coverage of Mercury and Gemini launches. Then came the Landing on that July night of 1969.
Our nation was bathed in science and the promise of a great future. It birthed our nation's Greatest Generation of scientists and engineers, creating a country that led in science and technology.
But that era is over. We cannot rely on the inertia of our past.
Distractions challenge today's youth and our nation's ability to focus as it once had. Science education has ebbed, as has our understanding of how science works. The conditions that made us a leader no longer exist.
So what do we do?
A Solution to Today's Challenges
The Iowa Space Science Center (ISSC) believes it is the responsibility of next-generation science centers to fill the void and help reignite the sense of awe and discovery that imbued a whole generation of Americans. As is told elsewhere on this site, there is plenty of evidence that the need is acute.
The mission of the ISSC is to rekindle interest and fascination by telling the compelling stories of science discovery across the thousands of years over which science itself developed.
The ISSC proposes a comprehensive educational facility for Iowans and an exemplary national model to address urgent societal needs to:
Improve science literacy and public appreciation.
Assist K-12 science education programs.
Provide professional development for science teachers.
Help motivate youth toward science careers.
The ISSC Approach
Our mission is to improve understanding and appreciation of science. Space science was chosen as the "hook" or gateway to physics and math concepts for three reasons: First, it capitalizes on the popularity of space science, due largely to NASA's continuing legacy of excellence. Second, the history of space science extends thousands of years and conveniently parallels key events across the development of science. Third, it enables us to honor the legacy of James Van Allen, Iowa's most famous scientist, once heralded as "the nation's foremost space scientist".
The ISSC will be a national model for excellence as it goes beyond current outreach approaches and re-addresses how science is presented. It will encompass not only the "what" of science, but the "how" and "why", to show how science is a pinnacle expression of civilization and a very human venture. Stories of science that illustrate the excitment of discovery, will help frame content in ways compelling to patrons.
In addition to stressing the stories of science, the ISSC is committed to delivering science with passion and expertise. This necessitates a different kind of science-center model.
Explore our site!
The ISSC initiative is in its start-up phase. Please explore our website to get a feel for our vision for rediscovering science and a roadmap for getting it done. The menus at the left margin provide additional information for each page, while the main menu tabs cover key topics. Background information about the Iowa's unique role in space science and the challenges to science literacy are also provided.
We invite you to become part of this vital and exciting effort!
