DETROIT (WWJ) - The planetarium at the Michigan Science Center is getting a major boost this year.
The Ballmer Group has given Mi-Sci a $2.6 million grant to upgrade the planetarium theater and associated space exhibits. Upgrades will include an improved 8K digital projection, state-of-the-art real-time science visualization capabilities and a seamless dome, all designed to create a new immersive and interactive learning space. The theater will also have new inclined seats and an updated audio system that they say will “propel guests through hyperspace to magnificent vistas and distant worlds.”
The exterior will remain as the improvements will only be interior.
“Space is much closer than you think, and you may one day have the opportunity to visit, Dr. Christian Greer, President and CEO of Mi-Sci, said. “But why wait?! This transformative grant from Ballmer provides us an incredible opportunity to take advantage of renewed public interest in space and use it as a relevancy gateway for enhancing public knowledge and improving K-12 STEM literacy. Although the Universe is vast, it’s not empty. It’s filled with mysterious worlds, countless stars, and unimaginable beauty. Our new ‘Hyperspace’ planetarium initiative will take your curiosity about what’s out there to its limits.”
The Michigan Science Center said these upgrades will allow them to continue their mission of advancing STEM learning for not only children, but the community as a whole.
Having children interested in space and aviation is something Greer says is important to their mission.
“One aspect of that work is inspiring curiosity in aviation, aerospace and space,” he said. “Mi-Sci’s Hyperspace Initiative is an internal program with three distinct themes, with big ideas representing two new interactive galleries and one new immersive planetarium theater interior upgrade. The grant from Ballmer Group will fund the latter.”
The use of interactive games, hands-on activities and real-world problem-solving scenarios give children a chance to develop many skills that will aid them later in life, such as creativity and critical thinking.
Greer said the center helps instill a positive attitude about learning by making different subjects more accessible and enjoyable.
The Ballmer Group was co-founded by philanthropist Connie Ballmer and her husband Steve Ballmer, who is a former CEO at Microsoft, founder of USAFacts and owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. He was born in Michigan and graduated from Detroit Country Day and Lawrence Tech.
The Ballmer Group’s mission is to improve the “economic mobility for children and families in the United States” by funding organizations and individuals who demonstrate the ability to reduce inequalities and reshape opportunities. They’ve invested in southeast Michigan, Washington state and Los Angeles County.
The work is scheduled to begin in November is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.