FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Samer Naji, SDUSD
snaji@sandi.net
(619) 548-3388
Carolina Barraza, ODI
carolinabarraza2@gmail.com
(619) 200-5017
New Science Education Center to Open in City Heights
Ocean Discovery Institute and the San Diego Unified School District celebrate the
Grand Opening of the Living Lab.
WHAT: The City Heights community, Ocean Discovery Institute, San Diego Unified School District, and local leaders will celebrate the reclamation of a blighted urban canyon with the grand opening of the Ocean Discovery Institute’s Living Lab.
WHEN: Sunday, October 7
12:00 – 2:30 pm
WHERE The Living Lab located at 4255 Thorn St. San Diego, CA 92105
VISUALS: Tours of the new Living Lab facility; a drumline parade; community members visiting food and activity booths; a brief speaking program involving local elected officials, San Diego Unified leadership, and Ocean Discovery Institute leadership and members; a ribbon cutting ceremony.
BACKGROUND:
San Diego Unified School District has partnered with Ocean Discovery Institute to build the Living Lab, a state-of-the-art, LEED platinum certified science education center in the heart of City Heights. On Sunday, October 7th, this Living Lab will open its doors with a Grand Opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony, ushering in a new era of discovery for City Heights youth.
The Living Lab will be a place where over 10,000 San Diego Unified students from City Heights and their families can engage in tuition-free hands-on experiences both during and after-school. It will provide students and teachers with unmatched access to scientific materials, state-of-the art technology, outdoor classrooms and unique mentorship opportunities. For years to come, this facility will inspire youth from one of San Diego’s most underserved communities to make discoveries and unlock their potential.
“Students will come here and see this facility and they will know when they walk in the door that they can do science and they can be a scientist,” said Shara Fisler, Ocean Discovery’s executive director.
Guests at the Grand Opening celebration will be able to explore the new facility and learn about opportunities to get involved. Food will be provided by Rubio’s Coastal Grill and there will be interactive, hands-on activities for the entire family. Those interested in attending the Grand Opening event can RSVP online at www.OceanDiscoveryInstitute.org.
About the Living Lab
Designed by renowned architect Rob Wellington Quigley, the Living Lab will be a 12,000 square foot, LEED-platinum certified education center, strategically located in City Heights within walking distance for thousands of local students.
The Living Lab will be more than just a building. It will be a place where:
- Students and teachers explore STEM concepts during and after school
- Youth define their college and career aspirations
- Families engage in science and conservation activities relevant to their daily lives
- Scientists from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and other partners conduct research alongside students
- An entire community is transformed through science and conservation
Built in partnership with the San Diego Unified, the Living Lab will enable Ocean Discovery to reach 10,000 students attending district schools in City Heights, increase quality and frequency of Ocean Discovery Institute programming, and expand the role of families, teachers, and mentors. The partnership with San Diego Unified will provide district students with more than 70,000 hours per year of standards-based, curriculum-aligned science education during the school day and unique hands-on experiences after school and on Saturdays. Most importantly, the Living Lab will encourage City Heights students to further explore science and conservation as they grow their educational and career goals.
“With this collaboration, a community has reclaimed a blighted canyon in an inner-city watershed and seized an opportunity to bring hands-on science education to City Heights,” said Cindy Marten, Superintendent of San Diego Unified School District. “Partnerships like this take teaching and learning to a whole new level in San Diego Unified and throughout our community.”
About Ocean Discovery Institute
Founded in 1999, Ocean Discovery Institute is a San Diego-based education organization that utilizes ocean science to engage youth from urban and underserved backgrounds and empowers them to transform their lives, their community and ultimately our world as scientific and environmental leaders.
Ocean Discovery Institute is a national model for preparing individuals, from the most underrepresented groups and fastest growing demographic in the nation, to become leaders in science and conservation – leaders who will develop the solutions needed for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Ocean Discovery Institute’s unique approach and exceptional outcomes has earned national recognition as a recipient of the Presidential Award for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring.
Learn more at www.OceanDiscoveryInstitute.org.
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