Why You Should Visit The Lawrence Hall Of Science At UC Berkeley

When visiting the Hall, there are a number of permanent exhibits to explore. First, the Science on a Sphere exhibit features an interactive globe displaying live scientific data from around the world, including weather patterns, ocean temperatures and currents, climate change, day and night views, and tsunami and hurricane patterns. There is also a seismograph, connected to the UC Berkeley Seismographic Station, showing earthquakes around the world.

For a more local perspective, visit the outdoor science park, Forces That Shape the Bay, which covers the history of earthquakes in the Bay Area and how they still affect us today. Move on from there to get to know some of the various species in the world at the the Animal Discovery Room, where children come to learn about animals, as well as the Insect Zoo, featuring hermit crabs, Indian walking sticks, a tarantula, and hissing cockroaches. Plus, you can check out Pheena the Fin Whale, a life-size model of a whale.

To explore more science and technology-based learning, check out Math Around the World, which features interactive math games that are played around the world, including options like Hex, Kalah, Game Sticks, and Shongo Networks. Alternatively, check out Nano, an exhibit that explores the entire field of nanotechnology, from the latest researchers, consumer products, computer games, and hands-on activities. Next, visit the various interactive labs on-site, including the Ingenuity Lab, which offers a monthly engineering challenge, and the KidsLab, available for children of kindergarten age and younger.

Next, get astronomical at the Holt Planetarium. The planetarium offers interactive programs that are intended to inspire audience participation, with 25 minute shows engaging visitors by asking them to find constellations, exoplanets, and more. For more astronomy, visit Sunstones, an astronomical sculpture made of granite that stretches 18 feet high, designed so that viewers can see the northern and southern settings of the sun at the solstices, in addition to other astronomical events.

Finally, be sure to visit the Ernest O. Lawrence Memorial, dedicated to the Nobel Laureate from whom the Hall derives its name. Lawrence received the first Nobel Prize ever awarded to the University of California, or in fact any American public university. The exhibit includes a film about Lawrence’s life, a set of electrodes from one of the first cyclotrons, and a Nobel Prize display. Originally, the real medal was displayed on-site, but it went missing in 2007. A student was arrested for allegedly stealing the medal, which was ultimately recovered. Today, the display features a replica of the Nobel Prize in its display case.
By Courtney Holcomb