Science Center of Iowa Teams Up with Doodle 4 Google™ 2012

Will host Doodle Event Feb. 25, display finalists' artwork this summer

For Immediate Release — Tuesday, January 31, 2012

DES MOINES, IA: The Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater (SCI) announced today that it will support Doodle 4 Google™ 2012 by encouraging students throughout the state to participate in the competition and by exhibiting the State Finalists’ doodles in a local exhibition this summer.

Doodle 4 Google is one of several efforts by Google to encourage and celebrate the creativity of young people by asking students to create their own Google doodle. The 2012 theme is “If I could travel in time, I’d visit...”

To kick off the Doodle 4 Google competition, SCI will host a Doodle Event on Saturday, February 25. Students and families are invited to interact with local artists and create their own artwork from 12:00-4:00 p.m.

“Doodle 4 Google pairs well with SCI’s mission to be a creative learning environment for the community,” said Art Wittmack, SCI President & CEO. “We are excited for the opportunity to encourage imagination and originality, and we look forward to showcasing the artwork of Iowa’s finalists this summer.”

Doodle 4 Google gives students a blank canvas to harness their curiosity and imagine the past, present and/or future anywhere in the world. After all doodles have been submitted to Google by March 23, a team of Googlers and then guest judges -- such as Katy Perry, Phineas and Ferb creator and executive producer Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, and recording artist Jordin Sparks -- will help choose the top doodles. Then on May 2, Google will give the final vote to the public, and one winner from each grade group will be chosen by a public vote. First prize will be awarded to the winning doodler on May 17, and their doodle will be showcased on google.com on May 18.

Details on the exhibition of Iowa’s Doodle 4 Google finalists’ artwork will be announced this spring. SCI also plans to host additional Doodle Events in conjunction with the competition and exhibition. Learn more about Doodle for Google, the Doodle Events and the finalist exhibition at www.sciowa.org/doodle.

About the Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater

The Science Center of Iowa is a 110,000-sq. ft facility devoted to lifelong learning, featuring dynamic experience platforms and daily interactive demonstrations with SCI staff for visitors to explore and experiment. By placing the power of learning in the hands of the visitor, the programmatic emphasis is not on "what" to learn, but "how" to learn. SCI also features the 175-seat John Deere Adventure Theater for live performances, the 50-foot domed Star Theater for planetarium shows and the 216-seat Blank IMAX Dome Theater for engaging films. SCI’s Iowa Learning Center cultivates ties to formal education through educational resources for educators and students, the NAEYC-accredited SCI Preschool, as well as a statewide outreach program.