Harsco Science Center
Learning Worlds





The Gateway
Enter the world of science and the arts. The gateway of Harsco Science Center is filled with moving sculptures, such as Dancing Trees and Kinetic Sculpture 122, that illustrate scientific principles through exploration of the arts.

Health and Wellness
Examine the most sophisticated piece of equipment of all—the human body. Explore the composition and care of the human body through The Gallery of Anatomy, The Five Senses, Medical Technology, and Wellness exhibits. This gallery also contains exhibits related to DNA, medical imaging, diet, medicine and disease.

Big Science Theatre
Home of our nationally acclaimed in-house troupe of professional actors.
Click here for a full description of programs.

Environment and Ecology
Investigate the forces that shape the natural world through exhibits that focus on our local environment, such as the Susquehanna watershed, as well as those dealing with global issues. Exhibits on the seasons, weather, erosion, natural resources and geology cover all the bases—interactively.

Mathematics in Nature and Art
This is not the usual math quiz… it’s an array of brain-expanding challenges. Try taming the bouncing ball of chaos, building a globe of hexagons, and splitting your own face into symmetrical parts. Immerse yourself in a gallery that examines the mathematics that underlie the structure of the visible world. Exhibits, such as Math in Nature, allow students to discover the symmetry and pattern found in starfish and snowflakes, and learn how ratios and mathematical sequences describe the structure of sunflowers and classical Greek temples.

Physics
Study the world of fantastic forces in this gallery that covers human movement, mechanical energy, levers, and handcranked machines through exhibits such as Backstage Science, Simple Machines, and Force and Motion. This gallery also
includes the National Science Foundation-funded exhibit Bodies in Motion, which explores the physics of dance, athletics, and more!

Light and Color
Light up your world in the region’s most complete gallery on the nature and uses of light. From color blending and X-rays to microwaves and lasers, hands-on exhibits, such as Newton’s Prism, Fiber Optics, and Light at Work, offer a greater
understanding of waves, particles, and their effect on the human eye.

Sound and Music
Explore the art and science of sound, the basic principles of sound and acoustics, and the many applications of sound in science and industry. Exhibits include The Physics of Sound and Sound at Work.

Kids’ Hall
This learning area is designed especially for early learners of kindergarten age and younger. Interactive exhibits explore color, contraptions, theater and art. Children have opportunities to stage puppet shows, build mobiles, construct gizmos and make music.

Limited-Engagement Exhibits
The Science of Aliens
Through November 18, 2007
Investigate the possibility of life on other worlds through over 50 interactive exhibits in the largest and most spectacular traveling exhibition ever hosted by Whitaker Center. The Science of Aliens blends our eternal fascination about life on other planets with the work of leading scientists to imagine alien worlds and creatures, exploring the very real possibilities for alien life.

The exhibition is divided into four zones. Alien Fiction explores our fascination with alien life in literature, films and television; Alien Science investigates real but extremely weird creatures that thrive on Earth; Alien Worlds features two fictional but scientifically plausible planets created by leading scientists from around the world; and Alien Communication examines the search for alien intelligence and attempts to communicate with alien civilizations. Presented by Capital BlueCross and M&T Bank.

Animal Grossology
January 19–April 27, 2008
While animals can be cute, sometimes they’re also icky… sometimes yucky… and sometimes downright GROSS! Based on the best-selling children’s book by Sylvia Branzei, Animal Grossology lets your students get up close and personal with some impolite but very important aspects of animal biology.

Animal Grossology is a large exhibit offering 14 interactive modules, each with multiple activity stations, including:
• “Party Pooper” puts students’ dookie detective skills to the test and explores what scat can tell us about an animal’s biology and behavior.
• “Blood Sucker Blow-Up” lets students find out why ticks, mosquitoes and leeches want to suck their blood, and how to protect themselves from these pests.
• “Pellet Purge” challenges students to uncover what an owl had for dinner and provides insight into ruminants, flies and hairballs.
• “The Slime Game” illustrates the importance of slime to many creatures, from facilitating movement to digestion and defense.
• “Sense the Scents” tests students’ abilities to match a scent with the animal
that made it and then explains what the animal was communicating through
the scent.

This exhibit may be gross, but it also communicates key biology concepts and
healthy habits to students in a uniquely effective way. Click here to download Animal Grossology pre- and post-visit classroom activities. Special admission
fees apply (click here for pricing); ask the School Reservations Associate or check the website for more details.



The exhibits and programs listed reflect available information at the time of printing; all information is subject to change.

Whitaker Center reserves the right to photograph visiting student groups for promotional purposes unless you tell us otherwise. Please tell the School Reservations Associate if you do not wish your group to be photographed during your visit or designate your preference on the School Reservations Request form.

Click here for grade-appropriate Exhibit Explorer question banks. Exhibit Explorer question banks and CD ROMs with pre- and post-visit activities are also available by contacting the School Reservations Office at school_services@whitakercenter.org or (717) 214-4644.