Dakota Science Center History & Community Engagement
The Dakota Science Center develops outreach STEM education using a community engagement design.
2022 – Plant Wildflowers Initiative
HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and PBS Nature launched a nationwide education initiative to highlight pollinator diversity and spark local efforts to support wild pollinators. In association with World Wildlife Fund and Air Wick® Scented Oils, the initiative goal was to get people all over the country to plant their own one square foot of native wildflowers. The Dakota Science Center coordinated a year-long set of community educational programs.
2022 – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
The Dakota Science Center partnered with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to hold a BioBlitz at the Red River Recreation Area, East Grand Forks, MN. A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. Led by Catherine Johnson, Park Ranger, participants of all ages learned techniques for observing and collecting plant and animal data within a designated area and time frame.
2022 – Blue Whales Project
SK Films, HHMI tangles Bank Studios Oceanic Films and the California Science Center developed the Blue Whales project with funding from the National Science Foundation. The Blue Whales project is part of the STAR Library Education Network (STAR_Net). The Dakota Science Center partnered with the Grand Forks Public Library to provide inquiry-based activities based on the exhibit themes for both school visits and public events.
2020 – Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
The Dakota Science Center and the Grand Forks Public Library received a grant from the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation to develop an in-house STEAM activity cart program. Library staff were trained to assist patrons with the numerous inquiry-based activities in the cart.
2020 – present University of North Dakota Department of Atmospheric Sciences Weather Station
The Dakota Science Center has partnered with the University of North Dakota Department of Atmospheric Sciences to maintain a weather station at Heritage Village, East Grand Forks, MN. Data from the weather station can be accessed online by educators and the general public. Educators use the data collected locally and the larger data set housed at University of North Dakota to teach computer skills such as programming, coding, problem solving, data analytics, communication of results, computation, file/data management, file/data organization and troubleshooting.
2020 – North Dakota Space Grant Consortium
The Dakota Science Center partnered with Heritage Village, East Grand Forks, MN to install an outdoor Planet Distance exhibit. Funded by the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium, the exhibit consists of posts proportionally spaced to demonstrate the distance of planets from the sun. Each post provides information about the planet and a teacher guide was developed by the Dakota Science Center.
2019 – present NASA Astro Camp® Community Partners Program
The Dakota Science Center and the Grand Forks Public Library have partnered to provide a NASA Astro Camp each summer. The camp brings current NASA STEM Engagement and Science Mission activities to elementary students.
2019 U.S. National Library of Medicine
Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness exhibit
The U.S. National Library of Medicine, in consultation with American Indians, Alaska
Natives, and Native Hawaiians, has created the Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness exhibition. The exhibition examined how wellness and illness are interconnected with cultural life. Stories drawn from both the past and the present examined how the determinants of health for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are tied to community, the land, and spirit. The Dakota Science Center coordinated bringing the exhibit to the Grand Forks Public Library. Dr. Donald Warne, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences Indians into Medicine Program (INMED) provided a presentation followed by discussion. INMED is a comprehensive education program assisting American Indian students who are preparing for health-related careers. University students from the Recruitment/Retention of American Indians Into Nursing program provided health STEM activities for a family event.
2019 American Library Association
Thinking Money for Kids exhibit
Thinking Money for Kids, an initiative of the American Library Association and the FINRA Investor Foundation strives to teach children and their parents, caregivers and educators about financial topics in a way that is both meaningful and fun. The Dakota Science Center coordinated bringing the exhibit to the Grand Forks Public Library. Financial literacy inquiry-based activities were developed for the exhibit.
2018-2019 Space Science Institute - National Center for Interactive Learning
The National Center for Interactive Learning at the Space Science Institute developed the Discover Space exhibition with major funding from the National Science Foundation. Discover Space is part of the STAR Library Education Network (STAR_Net). The Dakota Science Center partnered with the Grand Forks Public Library to provide inquiry-based activities based on the NASA StarNet Discover Space exhibit themes for both school visits and public events.
2018 National Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors of Excellence! award
North Dakota – Dakota Science Center
“The Dakota Science Center partners with the National Weather Service Grand Forks office numerous times a year to provide a quality hands-on weather, water, and climate education to young and old alike. In the past year they have hosted or co-hosted Super Science Day/Earth Day activities, the Grand Forks Area Water Festival, the Science Café’ (at the local library), and various area Science Fairs and STEM activities. They continue to work closely with the National Weather Service Grand Forks office and the University of North Dakota Atmospheric Sciences Department to promote weather preparedness & awareness, as well as a positive learning environment for the youth of the area”
2018 – present NASA Digital Earth Watch
The NASA Digital Earth Watch Network supports environmental monitoring by citizens, students and community organizations through digital photography and satellite imagery. Citizens provide photos of a location that scientists compare to a satellite image of the same location. This comparison process is called ‘ground truthing’ and helps scientist calibrate satellite remote sensing data. The ground photos aid in satellite imagery interpretation. The Dakota Science Center works with communities to develop Digital Earth Watch trails.
2018 – present Grand Forks Public Library Storytime with STEM
The Dakota Science Center collaborates with librarians to develop STEM activities that complement chosen books.
2018 Camp Invention
Camp Invention® is designed to help students create, collaborate and gain confidence through building prototypes and solving real-world problems. The Dakota Science Center, Grand Forks Public Library, and University of North Dakota College of Engineering and Mines partnered with the Grand Forks Air Force Base for a nationally accredited, standards-aligned STEM summer camp program.
2017 Dream Big: Engineering Our World film event
A MacGillvray Freeman Films Production; in partnership with the American Society of Civil Engineers; presented by the Bechtel Corporation
The film took middle school and high school students on a journey of discovery from the world’s tallest building to a bridge higher than the clouds. Along the way, they witnessed how engineers are shaping the world of tomorrow. Sponsored by the University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines, Dakota Science Center, KLJ, and Moore Engineering Inc.
2017 – present Science‐Technology Activities and Resources Library Network
The Dakota Science Center and the Grand Forks Public Library joined the Science‐Technology Activities and Resources Library Network (STAR Net). STAR Net focuses on helping library professionals build their STEM skills by providing “science-technology activities and resources” (STAR). The Dakota Science Center provides training to use STEM resources.
2017-2019 Hour of Code
The Grand Forks Public Library hosted the annual Hour of Code event. The Dakota Science Center facilitated training both formal and informal educators for the event.
2017 Community Builders Catalyst Award
This award recognizes leadership action that has a significant impact on a community project of regional need. The Red River Regional Council presented the award to the Dakota Science Center for the development of a geoscience community education program.
2017-2019 NASA @ My Library
The Dakota Science Center and the Grand Forks Public Library joined the NASA @ My Library program. The Space Science Institute’s National Center for Interactive Learning, in partnership with the American Library Association, Cornerstones of Science, Lunar and Planetary Institute, and Education Development Center, leads the NASA@ My Library program. The NASA @ My Library initiative engages public audiences nationwide in informal and lifelong learning with the excitement of NASA exploration and discovery.
2017-2018 Space Science Institute - National Center for Interactive Learning
The National Center for Interactive Learning at the Space Science Institute developed the Discover Earth exhibition with major funding from the National Science Foundation. Discover Earth is part of the STAR Library Education Network (STAR_Net). The Dakota Science Center partnered with the Grand Forks Public Library to provide inquiry-based activities based on the NASA StarNet Discover Earth exhibit themes for both school visits and public events.
2017 Grand Forks Air Force Base
The Dakota Science Center organized a STEM camp for elementary students with special needs; sponsored by a federal grant.
2017 Library Benefactor of the Year
This award recognizes significant contributions made to libraries in North Dakota. The North Dakota Library Association presented the award to the Dakota Science Center for its ongoing training of librarians statewide.
2017 State Historical Society of North Dakota
Prairie Churches in the Red River Valley exhibit
The Dakota Science Center coordinated bringing the exhibit to the Grand Forks Public Library.
The photographic exhibit, "Prairie Churches", is a more than decade-long effort by members of Preservation North Dakota, the State Historical Society of North Dakota, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to record the rural churches of North Dakota. Often the first community structure built, these landmarks represent the hopes and dreams of settlers who sought to forge a new future for themselves and their families.
2017 North Dakota Humanities Council
The Dakota Science Center coordinated a public community presentation and discussion about the electoral college. Dr. Douglas Munski, University of North Dakota Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science explained how geographic data influences the electoral college and how the Electoral College benefits a rural state like North Dakota. Dr. Burin provided an overview of the academic essays in the book Picking the President: Understanding the Electoral College (Edited by Eric Burin).
2017 – MakerSpace an Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) summer camp
EFMP supports the continuum of care for all eligible sponsors and their family member in order to improve the quality of life for families that support a member with special medical and/or educational needs. EFMP is a Department of Defense mandated enrollment program designed to support individual, family, and unit readiness. The Grand Forks Air Force base partnered with the Grand Forks Public Library and the Dakota Science Center to provide a summer camp for children with special needs.
2016-2019 Verizon Foundation
The Dakota Science Center and the Grand Forks Public Library received a grant from the Verizon Foundation to provide STEM training to librarians. Participating libraries became members of the Dakota Science Center STEM network.
2016-2020 Gateway to Science Advisory Council
The Gateway to Science organization was incorporated in 1994. Gateway to Science and the Bismarck Community Bowl began the planning for a building in Bismarck in 2014. The Gateway to Science statewide advisory council members were recruited from eight regions in the state and represented STEM-related industry, education, and the public sector. Council members advised Gateway to Science on its growth as a statewide resource for informal STEM education. With the opening of the Gateway to Science building the advisory council was retired.
2016 Three Sisters Community Garden
The Dakota Science Center coordinated a North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant. The Grand Forks County Health Department, Amazing Grains Co-Op and the University of North Dakota American Indian Center partnered for a summer family program that shared the Native American heritage of companion garden planting. The Dakota Science Center provided the curriculum.
2016 Red River Regional Council
The Dakota Science Center partnered with the Red River Regional Council, the Pembina County Historic Preservation Commission, and the Walsh County Historic Preservation Commission to establish the Pembina/Walsh Historic Geotrail of historic sites in both counties.
2016 National Science Foundation
Maize – Mysteries of an Ancient Grain exhibit
The Dakota Science Center coordinated bringing the exhibit to the Grand Forks Public Library, a public community presentation and discussion led by the Natural Resource Conservation Service and a family STEM day focused on corn. The Maize – Mysteries of an Ancient Grain exhibit explored the science of how maize evolved over thousands of years to become one of our most significant crops.
2016-2017 –State of North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Educational Engineering Institute
North Dakota State College of Science, Mayville State University, University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines, Red River Valley Education Cooperative, and the Dakota Science Center partnered to develop a STEM teacher professional development summer program. The program was funded by a Mathematics and Science Partnerships grant to meet the
No Child Left Behind Act requirements.
2015 Citizen Science Grid
The Dakota Science Center provided lesson plans for the Citizen Science Grid a Student Engagement and Workforce Development project aimed at educating North Dakota's K-12 decision-makers and students on the impact that a scientific computing education will have on each student's ability to achieve success in his or her chosen career field.
2015 SciGirls®
The Dakota Science Center hosted 2 engineering classes just for girls, based on the PBS SciGirls® curriculum: 1 elementary level and 1 middle school level class.
2015 Center for Regional Climate Studies (CRCS)
Through computational modeling and simulation, the Center for Regional Climate Studies aims to understand how global climate impacts North Dakota agriculture in the areas of field hydrology, general land use, biomass production (which affects chemical feedstocks), and human behavior. The Dakota Science Center developed an outreach educational program for the center.
2015 – present National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™ initiative is the NOAA effort to formally recognize NOAA partners who are improving the nation’s readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against extreme weather, water, and climate events. The Dakota Science Center is a NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™.
2015 C.S. Mott Foundation's Afterschool Networks
The C.S. Mott Foundation's Afterschool Networks foster partnerships and policies to develop, support and sustain high-quality afterschool and expanded learning opportunities for children and youth. Working with a broad range of stakeholder groups these statewide afterschool networks develop systems to support academic, social, emotional, and physical outcomes for youth. The North Dakota Afterschool Network and the Dakota Science Center are stakeholders.
2015 Science and Math Informal Learning Educators (SMILE) Pathway
The SMILE Pathway collects the best educational materials on the web for those who teach school-aged kids in non-classroom settings. The Dakota Science Center partnered with SMILE Pathway to provide educational resources.
2015 American Library Association
Dust, Drought, and Dreams Gone Dry exhibit
The Dakota Science Center coordinated bringing the exhibit to the Grand Forks Public Library. Public community presentations included: 1) Dust Bowl and Human Migration: Dr. Douglas Munski, University of North Dakota Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science 2) Dust Bowl Meteorology: Dr. Matthew Gilmore University of North Dakota Department of Atmospheric Sciences and 3) Women in the Dust Bowl: Drs. Laura & Douglas Munski. Dr. M. Gilmore and Dr. D. Munski provided context prior to the public showing of the Dust Bowl film by Ken Burns.
2015 – American Library Association
Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War exhibit
The American Library Association Public Programs Office collaborated with the National Constitution Center on the traveling exhibit, “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War.” The traveling exhibition was funded by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to the National Constitution Center. The Dakota Science Center coordinated a set of community educational programs to augment the exhibit. The exhibit was moved to Heritage Village, East Grand Forks, MN for the Heritage Days weekend. Students from the University of North Dakota Department of History served as guides for the exhibit at both locations. Historical interpreters assumed the characters of President Lincoln and his wife Mary. The Mayor of Grand Forks, ND and the Mayor of East Grand Forks, MN held special events to welcome the couple to their cities. The interpreters provided presentations throughout the Heritage Days event.
2014 – present National Youth Science Camp®
Operated by the National Youth Science Foundation® the National Youth Science Camp is a residential science education program that honors and challenges two graduating high school science students from each state. Scientists from across the nation present lectures and hands-on science seminars and linger to interact informally with student delegates. The Dakota Science Center serves on the application review panel.
2014 Marketplace for Kids
Marketplace for Kids works to encourage youth to explore entrepreneurship and self-employment skills through the recognition and development of their innovative ideas, inspiring them to use creative thinking processes, and to also utilize effective problem-solving skills. The Dakota Science Center provided an inquiry-based STEM session.
2014 – present North Valley Career and Technology Center
Walsh and Pembina Counties, North Dakota
The Dakota Science Center has partnered with the 21st Century Community Learning Center based at the North Valley Career and Technology Center, Grafton North Dakota to provide teacher support for inquiry-based learning. The 21st Century Community Learning Center program provides academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.
2014-2017 Dakota BioCon
The National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) awarded North Dakota EPSCoR and South Dakota EPSCoR research funding to be used by North Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota, South Dakota State University and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The Dakota Bioprocessing Consortium (DakotaBioCon) was established to conduct collaborative research and develop a K-12 outreach education program. The primary goal of DakotaBioCon was research collaboration that would produce economically viable renewable replacements for existing petrochemicals. Dr. Alena Kubatova, University of North Dakota Chemistry Department designed the Beyond Crude Oil workshop for middle and high school students to experience biobased chemical and fuel research. The Dakota Science Center worked with University of North Dakota College of Engineering and Mines faculty and graduate students to develop the You’re Hired Engineering Camp; a week-long summer school program to teach students about renewable replacements for existing petrochemicals.
2013 Environmental Protection Agency
An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 grant allowed the Dakota Science Center to conduct a final field test of the Communicating Climate Change project in middle school classrooms. The final version of the curriculum was posted on the Dakota Science Center web site, shared with the North Dakota Teacher Center Network, and used for library and summer school programs.
2013-2016 NASA Spaceflight Explorers
Dakota Science Center became a member of the NASA Spaceflight Explorers joint education initiative from NASA’s Johnson Space Center Education Office and Space Center Houston. The goal of this program was to promote NASA human space exploration and STEM content to students, teachers, and the general public.
2013 – present Globe Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE)
NASA, NOAA, National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of State
An International Environmental Science and Education Program, GLOBE improves student understanding by taking measurements, analyzing data, and participating in research with other students and scientists engaged in cutting-edge Earth Systems Science research. The University of North Dakota is a GLOBE Partner institution, with Atmospheric Sciences as the lead department. Dr. Matt Gilmore is the Department of Atmospheric Sciences GLOBE Partner Coordinator. The Dakota Science Center is the outreach education facilitator for the program.
2013-2017 Science Olympiad Team
The Dakota Science Center sponsored the Grand Forks Home School Science Olympiad Team. Science Olympiad functions much like an athletic team, requiring preparation, commitment, coaching and practice throughout the year. Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 23 team events in each division. Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation. Teamwork is a required skill in most scientific careers today, and Science Olympiad encourages group learning by designing events that forge alliances.
2013 Grand Forks Air Force Base Youth Center
The Dakota Science Center designed interactive STEM exhibits for the youth center; sponsored by an Alerus Bank Connect to the Community grant.
2013 Cornell Lab of Ornithology
2013 – present National Alliance for Broader Impacts
The goal of the network is to create a community of practice that fosters the development of sustainable and scalable institutional capacity and engagement in broader impacts activity. The Dakota Science Center participates in the network.
2013 Engineering Day
The University of North Dakota College of Engineering and Mines, North Dakota State University Extension 4H and the Dakota Science Center developed an Engineering Day event. The Dakota Science Center provided engineering curriculum for Grades 3-8.
2013 – 2017 Science Café
In a world of ever-expanding technology and science issues citizens need have an opportunity to learn about STEM in their community. The Dakota Science Center and the Grand Forks Public Library hosted the Science Cafés to share STEM with the public. STEM professionals shared their career, research, or topic of expertise with the public. The 30-45-minute presentations were followed by discussions.
2012 – North Dakota State Library
The Grand Forks Public Library and the Dakota Science Center received a North Dakota State Library Innovative Partnership Grant that was used to develop new summer STEM programming.
2012-2016 4H National Youth Science Day
The Grand Forks, ND 4-H Coordinator and the Dakota Science Center partnered to provide a public science event for youth based on the USDA 4-H curriculum.
2012-2014 Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
The University of North Dakota Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) partnered with the Dakota Science Center and the Grand Forks Public Library to implement a national IEEE grant. The university students worked with Dakota Science Center master teachers to develop activity kits for the library after school and summer programs.
2011 – present Project Learning Tree
The Dakota Science Center provides Project Learning Tree teacher workshops. Project Learning Tree is an award-winning K-12 environmental education program. The program is designed to 1) increase understanding of natural resources, 2) stimulate critical & creative thinking skills, and 3) develop the ability to make informed decisions. The National Sponsors are the American Forest Foundation and the Council for Environmental Education. The North Dakota Forest Service is the State Sponsor.
2011 – present International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF)
The University of North Dakota College of Engineering and Mines is host to both the North Dakota Northeast Regional Science and Engineering Fair and the North Dakota State Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF affiliated fairs). The Dakota Science Center serves on the planning committees for the regional and state science and engineering fairs.
2011-2017 Educational Engineering Summer Institute
A collaborative partnership between 1) Mayville State University Division of Education & Psychology, Division of Science & Mathematics, 2) University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines, 3) West Fargo School District STEM Center, 4) Red River Valley Education Cooperative and 5) Dakota Science Center gave K-12 teachers the opportunity to work alongside practicing engineers and STEM specialized instructors. Teacher training culminated in the development of new lesson plans tailored for their classrooms along with the creation of a demonstration kit. Sponsored by a Mathematics & Science Partnership grant.
2010-2019 Grand Forks Public Library STEM Kids
The Grand Forks Public Library has formed a partnership with the Dakota Science Center and the University of North Dakota College of Engineering and Mines in order to provide Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities to library patrons. STEM Modules developed by the Dakota Science Center are available to the public for in-library use. Dakota Science Center teachers wrote, reviewed, and edited lesson plans for each module. The lesson plan format includes grade level, instructional time, material list, objectives, teacher's introduction to the material, student instruction, skills, and vocabulary. The lesson plans accompanying each module allow caregivers to teach the sessions with minimal support from the Dakota Science Center or library staff.
2010 – present Grand Forks Public Library Garden Club
The Garden Club is a hands-on learning opportunity, open to all ages. The club is meant to spark interest in gardening, nutrition, and the environment.
2010-2012 Communication Climate Change
The University of North Dakota implemented the Communicating Climate Change program which was funded by the NASA Global Climate Change Education program. This program provided regional undergraduates with an internship opportunity in the summer of 2010 to learn about the fundamentals of climate change and to complete guided scientific inquiry using observational and model data. The interns created web casts to share with middle school aged students. The internship program concluded with presentations to the community by each of the undergraduate research groups. The second phase of the program began in the fall of 2010. Curriculum was developed to complement the undergraduate-produced webcasts. The curriculum was field tested by middle school teachers during the 2011/2012 school year.
2010-2019 North Dakota STEM Network
The North Dakota STEM Network sought to support a collaboration for providing all students high-quality experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics related fields. As a North Dakota STEM Network member, the Dakota Science Center organized the 2016 Collaborative STEAM Conference in partnership with the North Dakota Council of Teachers of Mathematics and Science Teachers Association.
2010 MAT-ME Camp
The University of North Dakota College of Engineering and Mines hosted the camp for high school students who worked on image and sound processing projects using MAT-Lab software. The Dakota Science Center provided program evaluation services and logistics.0
2010-2020 Girl Scouts Dakota Horizon Council
The Dakota Science Center helped provide STEM activities for the Dakota Horizon Council.
2010 Winterfest
The Dakota Science Center developed an environmental education outdoor program funded by the Grand Forks Office of Urban Development.
2010-2018 U.S. Council for Environmental Education Growing Up Wild
2010 FIRST® Tech Challenge Robotics
The Dakota Science Center partnered with the North Dakota University System Valley City campus STEM Center to provide a regional workshop for high school educators. Teachers learned to design, build and program robots using the FIRST® platform.
Dr. Matthew Gilmore, University of North Dakota Atmospheric Sciences Department wove the project into the radar meteorology course he taught and fellow faculty Dr. Leon Osborne and Dr. David Delene brought other classes into the fold. Data from the university radars was compared to ground measurements taken by K-12 students and data gathered by university’s Citation weather research aircraft. With the Dakota Science Center serving as liaison, university staff worked with students at nine elementary, middle, and high schools and one other university (Mayville State) to gather ground measurement data for SNOwD UNDER. The student observers were trained in placing and using snowboards (flat plates that are swept at regular intervals to obtain precise accumulations). Middle and high school students also melted the collected snow to calculate its density.
2009 School Butterfly Garden as an Outdoor Classrooms
Schroeder Middle School, Grand Forks, ND
The butterfly garden has the shape of a butterfly in flight. Life Science, Social Studies, English, and Art classes use the garden as an outdoor classroom. Families visit the garden on the way to the nearby Kelly Playground.
2009-2010 Beyond Earth
Beyond Earth was a project funded by the National Science Foundation that weaves science concepts with stories told and written from indigenous cultures. Stories and cultural narratives are an essential component to learning, providing an imaginative context for understanding astronomy. Beyond Earth involved dynamic interplay of the wisdom of indigenous cultures with creative hands-on astronomy inquires to promote an interest and understanding of science. The Dakota Science Center, the University of North Dakota Physics Department and the University of North Dakota Teaching and Learning Department partnered to develop a teacher workshop and middle school summer camp that traveled across the state.
2008 Crime, Science and Inquiry (CSI)
CSI was developed by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in partnership with Rice University’s Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning. The Dakota Science Center was a partner in the evaluation of the draft curricula.
2008-2010 Experience Engineering Camp
The Dakota Science Center partnered with the University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines to provide a weeklong high school course of inquiry-based learning in multiple engineering disciplines.
2008 – Education Public Access Resource Center
The Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium includes the Education Public Access Resource Center specifically to assist educators with geospatial teaching. The Dakota Science Center provided geospatial workshops for teachers.
2008-2011 Heritage Village Community Classroom and Wood Shop
The Dakota Science Center partnered with the Heritage Foundation to build a community education facility at the Heritage Village. The Wood Shop building was donated to the Heritage Foundation by Curtis Amundson. The wood shop equipment was provided by a Department of Education grant. Additional grant funding was secured to add a 30’ classroom space with a kitchenette. The Wood Shop and Community Classroom are available for youth organizations, community organizations, and educators to use.
2007-2015 First Night
First Night was an alcohol-free event for the entire family. The Dakota Science Center provided hands-on STEM activities each year.
2007-2008 Brain Academy
The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Therapeutics provided a summer camp for middle school students.
2007-2008 National Night Out
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods more caring places to live. The Dakota Science Center provided hands-on activities for families.
2007 – present University of North Dakota College of Engineering PowerOn!
The Sustainable Energy Research Initiative (SUNRISE) in association with the Dakota Science Center established PowerOn!, a multi-dimensional learning model that engages K-5 students more fully in STEM. University students take the PowerOn! programs to elementary schools.
2007 – present Grand Forks Public Library STEM Programs
The Grand Forks Public Library Children’s Department began a partnership with the Dakota Science Center in 2007, to develop STEM programming at the library. The University of North Dakota College of Engineering and Mines joined the partnership in 2011. University of North Dakota STEM departments participate in the programs. The Dakota Science Center assists with grant writing, project development, exhibit program design, and educator training.
2007 – present Grand Forks Public Library STEM @ My Library
STEM @ My Library events are done in partnership with the Dakota Science Center. They run for about an hour and are focused on a central theme. Educators, university students, faculty, and volunteers share STEM education with children. Hands-on activities and a topic-related handout and book/DVD list are provided. The activities are parent-directed so that parents can do the activities with their children. Volunteers are available to help inspire children to take interest in STEM fields.
2007 Community Partner Civic Engagement Award
The Dakota Science Center was presented the Community Partner Civic Engagement Award by the University of North Dakota, Center for Community Engagement. The award is given to a nonprofit organization that has demonstrated an exemplary relationship with and support of one or more academic programs, faculty and students.
2006 – present Coalition for Conservation and Environmental Education
The Dakota Science Center is a member of C2E2 North Dakota, which facilitates communication, cooperation, collaboration and coordination among the varied environmental education programs in the state. The mission of C2E2 is to: "Promote excellence in environmental education by providing support, resources, and networking opportunities to North Dakota's community of educators."
2006-2019 Super Science Day
Through multiple partnerships the Dakota Science Center developed a regional family event with hands-on activities for youth. Super Science Day was a registered National Environmental Education Week event that occurred in April. A partnership with the Parent Information Center (Grand Forks Public School District), the City of Grand Forks and the Grand Forks Park District allowed Super Science Day to be a free family event for children in grades 1-6. Hands-on science, engineering, technology and math (STEM) activities were provided by university faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, student organizations, government agencies and adult volunteers. The Boy Scouts held their Scout Show as part of Super Science Day.
2006-2011 Hands-On Learning Fair
The Hands-On Learning Fair for families with pre-school children was part of Super Science Day from 2006-2011.
2006 Earth Day Network
The Dakota Science Center is an Earth Day Network partner. The Earth Day Network launched the Billion Acts of Green® campaign in 2010: an International Movement to Protect the Planet and Secure a Sustainable Future. A Billion Acts of Green® inspires and rewards simple individual acts that reduce carbon emissions and support sustainability.
2005 – present National Environmental Education Week
The Dakota Science Center is a National Environmental Education & Training Foundation (NEETF) National Environmental Education Week partner.
2005 Art & Science of Dog Mushing
The Art & Science of Dog Mushing was an after-school program for middle school students taught by Nancy Yoshida: Reach for the Sky Kennels.
2005-2007 North DakotaView
The Dakota Science Center provided Global Information System (GIS) teacher training at the North Dakota University System Mayville, Lake Region and Grand Forks campuses; sponsored by North DakotaView. North DakotaView is led by the University of North Dakota Department of Geography. As a member of the AmericaView Consortium North DakotaView is dedicated to promoting remote sensing and geospatial technologies within North Dakota. The Association of North Dakota Geographers provided continuing education credits for the teachers.
2005-2008 Bugs, Botany and Butterflies
A Grand Forks Public School District summer camp for elementary students.
2005-2020 University of North Dakota American Indian Association Time Out Wacipi
The University of North Dakota, American Indian Science and Engineering Society (A.I.S.E.S.) strives to increase the involvement and representation of American Indians and Alaskan Natives in the STEM fields. Each year the Dakota Science Center joined AISES to provide STEM activities at the Time Out Wacipi Family Science Night.
2005 Nature Discovery Day
The Dakota Science Center partnered with the University of Minnesota Crookston, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department to train university student volunteers. The Nature Discovery Day provided family agricultural and environmental science activities developed by the Dakota Science Center.
2005 – present Young Scientists and Engineers Academy
A summer program focused on hands-on learning in STEM fields. Hosted by the University of North Dakota College of Engineering and Mines. Morning sessions are designed for grades 5-7 and the afternoon sessions are designed for grades 1-4. Academy participants work in lab settings to complete activities in a variety of science, engineering and technology disciplines. The Dakota Science Center assists with program planning.
2005 – present Northern Sky Astronomical Society
The Dakota Science Center has partnered with the University of North Dakota Northern Sky Astronomical Society (Department of Physics & Astrophysics) and the Heritage Village (East Grand Forks, MN) to provide community astronomy programs.
2005 School Butterfly Garden as an Outdoor Classrooms
South Point Elementary and Central Middle School, East Grand Forks, MN Situated on the Southwest corner of the school property the garden has 3 components: the butterfly garden, the native prairie, and the bird sanctuary. Bordering the middle school is the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 30-acre prairie restoration area.
2005 Art Wise
The mission of ArtWise is to give children in the Greater Grand Forks area opportunities to explore their unique abilities through the visual arts. The Dakota Science Center developed a set of 3 Science in Art activity booklets that are rotated in a 3-year cycle.
2004 – present Boy Scouts of America
The building on Cottonwood Street was sold. The exhibits were donated to the Gateway to Science Museum in Bismarck, ND the Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji, MN and the Air Force Base Youth Center in Grand Forks, ND. The Dakota Science Center office was moved to the Boy Scouts of America building at 1701 Cherry Street, Grand Forks, ND. The basement of the building was renovated to store both Dakota Science Center and Scout programming supplies. The Dakota Science Center partners with the Scouts for STEM education. The curtailment of building overhead expenses allowed the Dakota Science Center to apply its funding resources extensively to STEM programming.
2004-2021 Museum Informal Ed Alliance
The Dakota Science Center was a member of the Museum Informal Ed Alliance. 2021 NASA restructured its education-related activities in order to streamline and maximize the services it offered within allocated fiscal resources. The Dakota Science Center participated in the Museum Informal Ed Alliance until it was restructured.
2004 – present International Observe the Moon Night
The Dakota Science Center has partnered with Northern Sky Astronomical Society and Heritage Village to facilitate the annual event.
2004 Science‐Technology Activities and Resources Library Network (STAR Net)
NASA STAR Net is a hands-on learning network for libraries and their communities across the country. STAR Net focuses on helping library professionals build their STEM skills by providing “science-technology activities and resources” (STAR) and training to use those resources. The Dakota Science Center facilitates STAR Net exhibits coming to North Dakota libraries by assisting with proposals, curriculum, and staff training.
2004-2019 NASA Digital Learning Network
NASA's Digital Learning Network™ provided free, interactive programs to educators so that students could learn more about the universe beyond through videoconferencing and webcasts. 2019 NASA restructured its education-related activities in order to streamline and maximize the services it offered within allocated fiscal resources. The Dakota Science Center participated in the network until it was restructured.
2004 – present Grand Forks Air Force Base
The Dakota Science Center partners with the Grand Forks Air Force Base for STEM programs including exhibits with hands-on activities for the base youth center, FIRST® robotics, STEM Starter camp, NASA@My Library and Camp Invention. The Dakota Science Center is an authorized vendor with the Griffiss Institute which provides access to US Air Force grants.
2004 – present Arbor Day
The Dakota Science Center serves on the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Arbor Day celebration planning committee.
2003 – present FIRST® Robotics
The University of North Dakota College of Engineering and Mines and the Dakota Science Center are the FIRST ® North Dakota partners. The Dakota Science Center, the Grand Forks Public Library, and the Heritage Village (East Grand Forks, Minnesota) have partnered to create the Greater Grand Forks Robotics Club. The Greater Grand Forks Robotics Club includes: FLL® Explore (ages 6-10 / grades 2-4), FLL® Challenge (ages 9-16 / grades 4-8), FIRST® Robotics Competition (high school grades) and the off-season summer program. FLL® extends the FIRST® concept of inspiring and celebrating science and technology to children using real-world context and hands-on experimentation. With the help of LEGO® MINDSTORMSTM Robotics Invention SystemTM technology, young participants build a robot and compete in a friendly, FIRST®-style robotics event specially designed for their age group.
2002 PBS Rough Science
The Dakota Science Center provided educational opportunities to the community that supplemented the Public Broadcasting Service Rough Science television series. Funded by a grant from the WETA PBS station the Dakota Science Center was the designated Rough Science site in North Dakota.
2001-2003 Science in the Circle of Life
The Science in the Circle of Life Native American cultural summer science camps were implemented with a Howard Hughes medical Institute grant. Native American middle school students were given the opportunity to study science topics within their cultural framework.
1999
The old Presbyterian Church on Cottonwood Street, Grand Forks was purchased by the Dakota Science Center. The building was remodeled to house office space, exhibits and classrooms. Although the decision to purchase the former church appeared to be a sound and strategic investment, the ever-increasing cost of maintenance made the financial situation untenable particularly the need to replace an antiquated heating/cooling system. Having an absence of capital resources that could underwrite the needed repairs or the purchase of another building the board determined it was more cost effective to return to on-site outreach programming.
1998 – present Museums in North Dakota
The Dakota Science Center is a member of the Museums in North Dakota organization. The purpose of this organization is to promote and facilitate cooperation and communication among museums, museum workers, and related organizations; and to improve professional standards within the museum field in North Dakota.
1997
The office was moved from City Hall to the University of North Dakota (UND). Outreach programs continued. On campus exhibits were developed. The North Dakota Articles of Incorporation organization name was changed to the Dakota Science Center.
1997 US Department of Education
The Dakota Science Center, in collaboration with the Grand Forks Public Schools, and 14 other partner organizations across the state, received a $4.5 million, five-year Technology Innovation Challenge Grant by the US Department of Education to develop on-line interactive educational software. The project, "Nature Shift! Linking Learning to Life," developed online educational modules to be used by rural schools.
1996
The city of Grand Forks, North Dakota provided office space at City Hall. Outreach programs continued.
1996 Math Equity Program
Summer camps for middle school aged Native American Girls were provided under the Math Equity Program (a partnership between American Indian Science and Engineering Society and Girls Incorporated).
1996 – present North Dakota State Water Commission Project Wet Water Festival
The Dakota Science Center hosts an annual Water Festival to help youth in the region understand the vital importance of water resources to our region’s future. Topics addressed include water chemistry, watersheds, water quality, ground water, physical properties, history, water ecosystems, water conservation and erosion. In May, 4th grade students and teachers attend a 2 ½ hour morning or afternoon session. Each session consists of four in-depth water presentations. From July 4, 1996-July 4, 2017, the Dakota Science Center also provided a summer family water festival. Project Wet, a national foundation that promotes water education, has recognized the Dakota Science Center Water Festival as a Project Wet site.
1996-2017 Sertoma
From July 4, 1996-July 4, 2017, the Dakota Science Center provided a summer family water festival in conjunction with the Sertoma community 4th of July event.
1994 (8/2/1994)
The organization was incorporated as the Children's Science and Technology Education Foundation (CSTEF), a 501c3 educational foundation.
1993 Operation Smart
Bush Foundation funding (1993-1996) allowed the organization to become a pilot site for Operation SMART; a Girls Incorporated program. An after-school program was provided at the Lincoln Golf Course Club House, science festivals were hosted by the Columbia Mall, family-oriented classes were provided, and field trips were organized.
1991
The organization was known as the “Brainy Bunch”. Women provided hands-on science and math activities for girls.