EXPLORA News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum of Albuquerque (Explora) is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibition, The Science of Kindness in “Grandma’s Casita.”
The newly-unveiled exhibition takes visitors on an immersive journey through Grandma’s house. Grandma, a retired social scientist, world traveler, and proud New Mexican, gives guests in her home the chance to hear tales of kindness from around the world, participate in kindness experiments–like studying the ripple effects of kindness and exploring how facial features convey emotion–and read her research notes, demonstrating the scientific practice of studying kindness.
Activities give visitors the chance to observe, experience, and practice kindness; learn that kindness is a subject of scientific study in a range of disciplines, including neuroscience, psychology, sociology, and anthropology; understand that kindness has tangible benefits for individuals, families, communities, and the world; and increase the practice of kindness in their lives and encourage others to do the same throughout our community.
This exhibition is made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Fostering Character Through Children’s Museums initiative, in partnership with the Association of Children’s Museums. Explora is part of a cohort of over 20 museums across the country taking part in this multi-year initiative, which “aims to help children thrive during childhood and develop into engaged, responsible, and caring adults” (Association of Children’s Museums).
The new exhibition builds on earlier Explora work focused on the science of kindness, which was inspired and funded by The Jennifer Riordan Foundation and its partners, along with a planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Also as part of the Fostering Character grant, the Explora team will be traveling exhibition components to six partner museums around the state. Following “The Science of Kindness,” Explora will dive into “The Science of Teamwork” and “The Science of Perseverance” during the remainder of the five-year grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
About Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum of Albuquerque
Explora is a science center and children’s museum in Albuquerque with a mission of contributing to family and community prosperity by creating accessible opportunities for inspirational discovery and lifelong learning through interactive experiences in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Founded in 1995, Explora serves thousands of people of all backgrounds each year and is dedicated to improving New Mexico’s educational and economic outcomes. Please visit www.explora.us for more information.