South Florida Science Center and Aquarium

South Florida Science Center and Aquarium

Florida, USA
Established	1961
Location	4801 Dreher Trail North West Palm Beach, Florida
Coordinates	26°40′11″N 80°04′08″W / 26.66978°N 80.06878°W
Type	Science[1]
Website	South Florida Science Center and Aquarium

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA. It houses interactive science exhibits and includes an aquarium and planetarium.^[1] The center recently underwent a $5M expansion which included the addition of an 8,000 gallon Aquariums of the Atlantic display as well as an interactive Science on a Sphere exhibit.^[2] The mission of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium (SFSCA) is to open every mind to science through the strategic programming of interactive exhibits, engaging community-based camps and events. Founded in 1959 and formerly known as the South Florida Science Museum, the new SFSCA features more than 50 hands-on educational exhibits, an 8,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium featuring both local and exotic marine life, a digital planetarium, Conservation Research Station, Florida Exhibit Hall and an interactive Everglades Exhibit showcasing the richly diverse ecosystem that the Everglades water-environment supports. The South Florida Science Center is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach. To learn more visit sfsciencecenter.org or call [phone].

Aquarium

The Science Center’s new 3,000 square foot Aquariums of the Atlantic house some of Florida's most beautiful native fish such as Queen Angels, Pink Wrasse, sharks, and seahorses as well as some fish that have invaded Florida's habitat. The new aquariums take visitors through the depths of our coral reefs, interpret Florida's flora, fauna, and environments of the Gulf stream, coral reefs and the open ocean. Watch your loved ones as they stand in the center of our 6 ft coral reef tank and feel like the fish are swimming right across your body! Exhibits and tanks in the Aquariums of the Atlantic reinforce the importance of stewardship of these environments and the long-term effects humans have on the oceans and wildlife. As you walk into the aquarium the largest exhibit is our Shipwreck Cove, a 3,500 gallon predator tank teeming with grunts, sharks, a giant green moray eel, white fin remoras, lobsters and fierce barracudas. All of these treasures are swimming in and out of an eerie Florida sunken shipwreck. Another highlight of our aquarium is the 600 gallon around-the-world reef tank where you can pop up inside the tank to get an up-close and personal view of some of the most beautiful fish in the world! These species of fish hail from the Red Sea, Hawaiian Islands, Indo- Pacific and Atlantic Ocean.

Dekelboum Planetarium

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is home to the first and only public planetarium in Palm Beach County. The planetarium presents daily shows utilizing a traditional star projector, as well as full-dome digital video presentations on a variety of scientific topics.^[3]

Science On A Sphere

Science on a sphere(SOS) is a room sized, global display system that uses computers and video projectors to display planetary data onto a six-foot diameter sphere, analogous to a giant animated globe. Researchers at NOAA developed Science On a Sphere as an educational tool to help illustrate Earth System science to people of all ages.Animated images of atmospheric storms, climate change, and ocean temperature can be shown on the sphere, which is used to explain what are sometimes complex environmental processes, in a way that is simultaneously intuitive and captivating. SOS has been generously funded by the Quantum Foundation, who are unrivaled supporters of Science Literacy throughout the community.

Additional Exhibits

In addition to traveling exhibits such as Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition and Mazes, the Science Center is home to the following permanent exhibits: Conservation Station, Everglades Exhibit, River of Grass, Hurricane Simulator, over 50 brain teasers, interactive outdoor science trail. miniature golf and States of Matter.^[4]

Notes

1. MuseumsUSA. "South Florida Science Museum, West Palm Beach, Florida", MuseumsUSA website, 2007. Retrieved on November 07, 2007.
2. Palm Beach Daily News. "South Florida Science Museum to unveil $4.9M expansion", Palm Beach Daily News website, 2013. Retrieved on October 10, 2013.
3. https://www.sfsciencecenter.org/content/dekelboum-planetarium
4. https://www.sfsciencecenter.org/exhibits

External links

• South Florida Science Center and Aquarium Official website