Free and Open to the public!
We are open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm. We have a lot of fun new interactive exhibits, so if you haven't visited in a while, it might be time again! In alignment with SUNY policies, masks are not currently required in our facility.
HOLIDAY HOURS 2023
We hope to see you this winter season! The Science Discovery Center will be CLOSED from December 22 to December 27, with regular hours resuming on December 28.
We will also be closed on Tuesday, December 2nd.
Feedback
Click the button below to send an email with any feedback or suggestions you may have for the Science Discovery Center!
Field Trips and Group Visits
The A.J. Read Science Discovery Center makes a great destination for a school field trip, especially for grades 3-5. We have a variety of engaging, hands-on STEM exhibits and demos, and the SUNY Oneonta planetarium is one of the most advanced in the region. There is no cost to visit us.
Planning Your Trip
The Center's exhibits are great for all ages, though most of our visitors are elementary and middle school students. In order to serve the public safely, we have changed our field trip policies.
- We only book one field trip or group visit per day.
- Visiting school groups are limited to 58 people (students, teachers, chaperones) because of stricter capacity requirements in both the Center and the Planetarium.
- Groups larger than 28 will be split into two sections and will rotate through the SDC and Planetarium.
A typical three-hour visit would include: free exploration time at the SDC, time to eat a packed snack/lunch (we have an indoor atrium garden that works well), and a live planetarium show.
To book a field trip or group visit, please click on the button below, complete and submit the form, and a staff member will contact you to confirm dates and details.
Accessible and Sensory Safe
We try hard to be accessible to all! Our building is a handicapped accesible building with reserved spots not far from the southeast door, closest to the Science Discovery Center. The SDC itself is also accessible, and people in wheelchairs have reported that our exhibits are easy to navigate. We have a number of demonstrations and exhibits that are accessible to those who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing. The SDC is often very quiet. We do not play music, and most of our exhibits do not produce loud noises. If you have a specific sensory or accessibility need, please feel free to contact us at sdc@oneonta.edu or (607) 436-2011 with any concerns or inquiries!
Give to the SDC
The A.J. Read Science Discovery Center is able to remain free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of visitors like you. If you enjoy the SDC or what we do, please consider giving a monetary donation at the link below.
About Us
SUNY Oneonta's A.J. Read Science Discovery Center is a free, hands-on museum for people of all ages and abilities. Our mission is to connect visitors to the joy and power of the scientific process through authentic, interactive exhibits, and to serve as the indispensable Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) resource for the SUNY Oneonta community and the wider region.
Open for Discovery:
Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
Contact:
(607) 436-2011
sdc@oneonta.edu
Anna Rutenbeck
Coordinator of Science Outreach Activities
anna.rutenbeck@oneonta.edu
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