Information
Landmark: Calgary Science CentreCity: Calgary
Country: Canada
Continent: North America
Calgary Science Centre, Calgary, Canada, North America
Overview
In Calgary, Alberta, the TELUS Spark Science Centre-better known locally as the Calgary Science Centre-buzzes with hands-on exhibits, from tinkering in a maker space to touching a real meteorite, making it a fun, educational spot for visitors of every age.With interactive exhibits you can touch and lively programs that spark the mind, it draws people in and fuels curiosity about science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).TELUS Spark Science Centre sits at 220 St. George’s Drive NE in Calgary, tucked beside the Calgary Zoo and nestled in the green sweep of Nose Creek Valley.Tucked right in the heart of the city, it’s easy for locals to drop by and for visitors to find-just a short walk from the main square.History: Back in 1967, the doors opened to what was then called the Science Centre of Calgary, where visitors first wandered among gleaming exhibits and curious displays.In 2011, after teaming up with TELUS-a telecom company that helped pay for fresh paint and new exhibits-the centre took on its new name: TELUS Spark.Architects packed the new facility with bold, inventive features, creating an immersive space where visitors can explore science and make discoveries-like touching a meteorite or peering through a giant telescope.TELUS Spark’s mission is to spark curiosity and wonder about the world-like feeling the cool, smooth surface of a meteorite and imagining where it’s been.It works to bring science and technology within reach through a mix of exhibits and programs that spark curiosity and keep things fun, especially for families and school groups-think hands-on experiments and bright, buzzing displays.At TELUS Spark Science Centre, you can wander through permanent galleries, explore ever-changing exhibits, and even join seasonal events where you might build, touch, or tinker with something new.Visitors are invited to dive in-touch, try things out, and discover by getting hands-on.One.At TELUS Spark, one standout is the Brainasium-an outdoor interactive park where visitors can dive into science by climbing, balancing, and exploring under the open sky.The park invites you to explore ideas like balance, force, motion, and gravity, whether you’re watching a pendulum swing or feeling the pull of a climbing rope.Features: You’ll find giant games you can walk around, a zip line whizzing overhead, climbing walls, and hands-on installations that draw kids and adults alike into exploring physics and engineering under the open sky.Number two.At the Creative Kids Museum, little ones can dive into arts and crafts, explore interactive exhibits, and get messy with sensory play-all in a space built to spark their imagination.At the museum, kids dive into hands-on art, engineering, and science projects-painting bright swirls, building quirky contraptions-that spark curiosity and sharpen their problem‑solving skills.Number three.At BodyWorks, visitors explore human biology up close, from the steady thump of a beating heart to the intricate pathways of the nervous system.Visitors can dive into the nervous, digestive, and cardiovascular systems through hands-on displays and detailed models, pausing to trace a heartbeat or follow the path of a nerve impulse.Key features in this gallery include vivid body scans, hands-on organ models you can turn over in your palm, and games that reveal how everyday choices shape your health.School groups flock to this exhibit to explore health, study anatomy, and see how the human body works-right down to the steady thump of a beating heart.Number four.The Living Lab is a one-of-a-kind space where science and tech lovers roll up their sleeves to help researchers test fresh ideas-like trying out a prototype that hums softly on the workbench-and see how they hold up in the real world.Visitors can jump into hands-on experiments, then share their thoughts on cutting-edge projects while working alongside others in a lively, open space.Project examples include trying out new tech, offering ideas for greener innovations, and joining scientists in active investigations-sometimes right there in the lab, with the hum of equipment in the background.Five.At the Energy and Sustainability exhibits in TELUS Spark, visitors explore how energy works and how it ties into the environment-like seeing a solar panel quietly feeding power to a tiny, glowing bulb.Visitors can explore interactive displays that bring renewable energy, the carbon cycle, and climate change to life-like watching a wind turbine’s blades spin as you learn how it works.The museum features technology for solar energy, wind power, and alternative fuels, inviting visitors to step up and explore hands-on displays of sustainable living.Number six stands alone, small and sharp like a black mark on white paper.At TELUS Spark, the HD Digital Dome Theatre stands out as a main attraction, wrapping visitors in a 360-degree show that feels like drifting through a sky full of stars.People often use it for astronomy shows, documentaries, and science films, giving visitors a chance to soar past glittering stars, dive into black holes, navigate solar systems, and discover other wonders of our universe.With its cutting-edge tech, the theatre pulls you in with crisp, dazzling visuals and rich surround sound, making it the perfect place to explore the wonders of space.At TELUS Spark, you’ll find hands-on programs and lively events designed for kids, teens, school groups, and families alike.These programs pull visitors in with more than the exhibits, letting them handle real tools and uncover richer stories behind the science.First.The museum hosts lively workshops for kids, teens, and adults, giving them a chance to dive deeper into science-like building a tiny rocket or testing magnets firsthand.These workshops dive into subjects like coding, robotics, chemistry, and environmental science, giving participants the chance to roll up their sleeves and explore through hands-on, guided activities.Each summer, the museum hosts science camps where kids dive into themed activities-building robots, tackling engineering puzzles, and exploring the world of environmental science.Step two’s simple-mix up your sentence lengths so some are quick and punchy, while others stretch out with a bit more detail.TELUS Spark makes a fantastic spot for school groups, with hands-on exhibits that spark curiosity the moment you walk in.The museum offers custom educational programs that match Alberta’s curriculum, from hands-on science experiments to local history lessons you can almost touch.These programs usually mix interactive exhibits, guided tours, and hands-on experiments-like peering through a microscope-to help kids explore everything from biology to physics.Teachers can tap into resources that help them plan ahead and follow up afterward-everything from sample lesson outlines to quick discussion prompts-to get the most out of the visit.Three.All year long, TELUS Spark brings the place to life with special exhibits and public events-science festivals buzzing with energy, inspiring guest speakers, and hands‑on installations you can touch and explore.At these events, you might hear an expert break down a complex idea, watch a 3D printer hum to life, or join an activity that lets you work side by side with pros in technology, medicine, and engineering.A crowd favorite is Science in the Cinema, where you catch a science-themed movie-maybe a thriller set in a research lab-and then stick around to talk with experts about the ideas woven into the story.TELUS Spark stays open most of the year, but its hours shift with the seasons-winter evenings, for example, often wrap up earlier.Before you go, check the museum’s official website for up-to-date hours, including any changes for holidays.The museum charges an admission fee for general entry, though you can get a discount-say, a few dollars off-if you qualify.
