At SCI, please do touch the science in themed experience platforms dedicated to exploring questions and identifying the science that surrounds you.
Science is Where You Find It 
When Things Get Moving *
Current Science and Technology Stage
Iowa Technology Showcase
Who Are We?
Why the Sky?
Star Theater
Digital Production Studio
Small Discoveries
What on Earth?
WHO-TV Weather Studio
Principal Hall
Science is Where You Find It
Science is Where You Find It encourages visitors to recognize science in their everyday lives and see themselves and those around them as everyday scientists. Science is Where You Find It will be the first destination for most SCI guests, where “visitors” become active participants, ready to stretch and strengthen their skills. Activity areas include Bathroom Microbiology, Kitchen Chemistry, Classification Closet, Simple Mechanics and Physics in the Field.
When Things Get Moving
When Things Get Moving has previously housed seven activity areas connected by an overarching theme of a “Construction Site" emphasizing how things work, fit, and move together. It has also housed the Current Science and Technology Stage, a dynamic live program space featuring the most up-to-date news about science and technology, and the Iowa Technology Showcase, featuring inventions or new technologies developed in Iowa.
After several weeks under construction, When Things Get Moving has now re-opened to the public! The experience platform has a "scenario" or theme "Toying with Science" where you can explore brand-new exhibits! Make and launch your own rocket, maneuver a ball through a giant wall of pulleys, levers and gears, tackle the ultimate domino obstacle course and work together to build a freestading arch! Plus, check out improvements to some of SCI's iconic exhibits that have been favorites for years!
Who Are We?
Participants become scientists in a sophisticated research vehicle stationed in Washington, D.C. and investigate other people from various parts of the country as well as international peoples and cultures. Participants will better understand themselves by getting to know other cultures and places. Activities include What’s Inside?, Heart Beats, Virtual Arm Wrestling, Color My World, In Your Genes, Iowans Revealed, Meet Stuffee and the Wellmark World Theater.
Why the Sky?
Imagine living with a star! Discover how our sun, just another star in the vast Milky Way Galaxy, has piqued human imagination for thousands of years. Find out about other distant suns: faraway stars that create the constellations and patterns in our familiar night sky. Peer through telescopes and examine the ‘stuff’ that powers our Sun. Activity areas include The Culture of a Star, Plasma Globe, COSMIC JUKEBOX®, Viewing the Night Sky, Black Hole Visualizer, News in Space Demonstration Area, Build Your Own Telescope and the Gravity Well.
Immediately adjacent to Why the Sky? is the Star Theater, one of SCI’s three unique and innovative theaters. The Star Theater features as many as eight different operating modes to showcase programs about everything from the night sky you’ll see in your own backyard to unique planetarium shows created by SCI participants and presented on the 50-foot dome.
Also part of Why the Sky? is the Digital Production Studio presented by Allied Insurance/ Nationwide Foundation. Here the science of the stars comes to life as SCI planetarium and space science specialists sit and work on upcoming shows and computer programs that will bring the next space experience to life. Participants are encouraged to interact with SCI’s knowledgable team of experts to learn more about what it takes to create the programs and activities within Why the Sky?
Small Discoveries
Small Discoveries is specifically designed for families with children seven and younger but open to all. Focused play through familiar, Iowa-themed activities build early learning and family skills for asking and answering questions. High-value interactives let young visitors exercise and expand their current skills and offer opportunities for interaction with other children. Parents actively assist their children and discover various skills are strengthened through different activities. Activity areas include Iowa Icons, Toddler Town, Ball Play, A World of Wonder - a Soybean Sorter, and Bubble Bay.
What on Earth?
What on Earth? takes visitors into a re-created Iowa landscape to explore climbing, caving, and digging, and engage in examining and testing minerals, finding and identifying fossils, and classifying plant and animal species. Activity areas include Home Base Field Station, Iowa Habitats, Field Stations, Digging Through Time, Rooftop Garden, and Ant Farm.
What on Earth? is also the location for the WHO-TV Weather Studio where Channel 13 meteorologists will broadcast the weather live from SCI each weekday at noon and 5pm. Channel 13 meteorologists also perform live programs several times a week at SCI. When the meteorologists are not on the air, participants are encouraged to ask questions about forecasting the weather and Iowa’s unique climate and weather patterns.
Principal Hall
The Science Center of Iowa is committed to bringing the most up-to-date and innovative experiences to life at SCI. This 4500 square foot platform will be available to host traveling exhibits, science fairs and other large format special events that will complement the themed experience platforms and open even more opportunities for participants to explore.