GSK Science in the Summer–Back for 2025!
GSK supported and in collaboration with The Franklin Institute's curriculum, the 2025 program will focus on Health Sciences.
The program, in its 39th year, has reached an estimated 23,400 nationwide!
Are you an organization looking to host a summer science camp? Look no further! North Museum of Science and Nature connects organizations looking to host a summer camp at their location with Science in the Summer curriculum, materials, and training.
Last year 902 area students, ranging from Pre-K through grade 12, completed GSK's (GlaxoSmithKline's) Science in the Summer™ program! That was a record number of attendees, increasing the impact of this already popular seasonal program.
This summer's theme will be "Health Sciences," and it will offer students the unique opportunity to step into the shoes of real scientists and engineers, engaging in exciting hands-on activities that bring the world of health science to life. Students will discover different career paths, from dietitian to orthopedic doctor, and develop their scientific thinking skills in a fun and interactive way.
Download the Health Sciences Overview
This program is made possible by a generous grant from GSK and with curriculum developed by The Franklin Institute.
The North Museum, GSK, and the Franklin Institute are longtime collaborators on the Science in the Summer program, which primarily targets students in grades 2 through 6, with an emphasis on reaching those from underserved communities and lower income households.
"Thanks to GSK and the Franklin Institute we were able to reach over 900 students last summer,” says Kate Wilson, Senior Manager, Visitor & Volunteer Services. “This free program offers a hands-on look at various STEM careers which many students did not even know existed! Now they might want to pursue those paths in the future. This is an opportunity some of the members of our community would not normally have access to due to financial and other constraints. We look forward to offering this program each year, and can't wait for 2025!"
As a leader in STEM education and advocacy, the North Museum is proud to present GSK's Science in the Summer™ program to the community for many years, and is deeply grateful to GSK for their ongoing commitment to enriching the community through the utilization of and access to quality STEM education programs, and the exceptional curriculum provided by the Franklin Institute.
If your organization has an interest in participating in GSK's 2025 Science in the Summer™ program, presented by the North Museum, please contact Kate Wilson, Senior Manager, Visitor & Volunteer Services at 717.358.4116, kwilson@northmuseum.org.
The Art Gallery is Open Through May 2025
“Further and Again: Sustainability in Visual Culture” and “The Millport Artists Project”
Millport Conservancy and North Museum ask, how do sustainability practices shape visual communications?
The Art Gallery on the third floor is open! Works of art from 11 Lancaster county and regional artists will be on display and available for purchase through the end of May.
Art and science come together in simultaneous exhibits “Further and Again: Sustainability in Visual Culture” and “The Millport Artists Project,” both on display in The Art Gallery at North Museum from March 13—May, 2025. All members of the public are invited to the exhibit opening March 13 at 6:30pm, followed by a conversation with the artists at 7pm. Enjoy fellowship and light fare as we discuss how sustainability practices shape visual communications.
- Take the steps or elevator to the third floor
- Sign the guest book
- Reach out to our Art Gallery and Visual Arts Program Coordinator, Sheri Hansen, to purchase
“Further and Again” asks artists, when we create with repurposed materials or ideas, how do those materials or ideas carry forward their prior purpose into these new works? Does literal and figurative reuse have the potential to reveal a rich depth of meaning and connection that would otherwise remain undiscovered? Seven artists explore their relationship to the lifecycle of materials, process, and meaning in their works. Participating artists include: Bonnie Mae Carrow, Paula Cahill, Kirstin Fisher, Sheri Hansen, Katherine Hess, Mimi Shapiro, and Dganit Zauberman.
“The Millport Artists Project” began with a visit by participating artists to the Millport Conservancy in Lititz, PA, in Autumn, 2024. They were asked to make artwork about what they discovered there. This experience produced a combination of works made in response to their time spent at Millport working indirectly through sketches, or en plein air. Shown alongside each artist’s existing studio works to provide context, some pieces are still in production. Come back often to uncover what the Conservancy has unleashed in these artists’ everyday practice—from the studio to the open air! Participating artists include: Doug Anderson, Stacy Caldwell, Sheri Hansen, Marisa Smith Alberts, and Jason Ward.
The Art Gallery is always open to the public when the museum is operating, Wednesday-Sunday at 400 College Ave. Part of North Museum’s A.L.E. (Adult Learning and Engagement) program, works of art from 11 Lancaster county and regional artists will be on display and available for purchase through the end of May.
Interested in participating in our gallery events, or purchasing art? Contact Sheri Hansen, Art Gallery and Visual Arts Program Coordinator at SHansen@NorthMuseum.org.
2025 Science Fair Winners Announced
NEARLY 200 STUDENTS COMPETED, 2 CHAMPIONS ON THEIR WAY TO ISEF
Photography by @anneoftheforest and Soliman Photo & Video
Nearly 200 students from 23 schools in Lancaster and Lebanon counties gathered at Millersville University on Thursday to show off their science projects at the North Museum Science & Engineering Fair. The students were vying for a chance to compete against 1,500 of their peers from around the world in May at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio. The fair’s junior division had 125 student competitors, while the senior division had 57. The regional competition, which North Museum hosts annually at MU, is one of six fairs associated with the international competition, and the top two projects in the senior division proceed to the world stage at no cost to the students.
For more, go to LancasterOnline.com.
(LANCASTER) March 13, 2025—North Museum congratulates all the students who competed at the 72nd annual North Museum Science and Engineering Fair, presented by Arconic Foundation! Our heart-felt thanks to the judges, coordinators, teachers, sponsors and all who make this fair a STEM success! Congratulations Ansh Dwivedi, Grand Champion, and Ethan Albright, Senior Division Champion, for winning top honors! They have both earned a place at the ISEF to compete with 1,700 of their peers from around the world! North Museum is honored to pay for registration, fees, travel, and accommodations for its two Champions.
For all senior and junior division category winners, visit our Science and Engineering Fair Winners Page.
2025 Grand Champion
Ansh Dwivedi, Warwick High School, 12th Grade
Category: Chemistry, Energy, & Materials Science
Senior Division Champion
Ethan Albright, Hempfield High School, 11th Grade
Category: Earth & Environmental Sciences
Senior Division Reserve Champion
Ella Strickler, Elizabethtown Area High School, 12th Grade
Category: Earth & Environmental Sciences
Junior Division Champion
Alden Hendricks, Lancaster Country Day School, 8th Grade
Category: Plant Science
Junior Division Reserve Champion
Jermaine Edwards, Lancaster Country Day School, 8th Grade
Category: Earth Science
Photography by: Soliman Photo & Video
Watch: Total Lunar Eclipse, North Museum Astronomer Answers Questions
March 13, 2025. Cole Penkunas, resident astronomer at North Museum of Nature and Science in Lancaster Pennsylvania, explains what you can expect from this week's total lunar eclipse on WGAL8. What did he have to say about the Blood Worm Moon in March, 2025?
North Museum's Planetarium has live shows every month! View the Calendar to see the next available Nigh Sky Tour.
Two Exhibits Open in The Art Gallery
The Art Gallery Hosts Two Simultaneous Exhibitions in March
Millport Conservancy and North Museum ask how sustainability practices shape visual communications.
(LANCASTER)—March 13, 2025
Art and science come together in simultaneous exhibits “Further and Again: Sustainability in Visual Culture” and “The Millport Artists Project,” both on display in The Art Gallery at North Museum from March 13—May, 2025. All members of the public are invited to the exhibit opening March 13 at 6:30pm, followed by a conversation with the artists at 7pm. Enjoy fellowship and light fare as we discuss how sustainability practices shape visual communications.
“Further and Again” asks artists, when we create with repurposed materials or ideas, how do those materials or ideas carry forward their prior purpose into these new works? Does literal and figurative reuse have the potential to reveal a rich depth of meaning and connection that would otherwise remain undiscovered? Seven artists explore their relationship to the lifecycle of materials, process, and meaning in their works.
Participating artists include: Bonnie Mae Carrow, Paula Cahill, Kirstin Fisher, Sheri Hansen, Katherine Hess, Mimi Shapiro, and Dganit Zauberman.
Art Gallery and Visual Arts Program Coordinator Sheri Hansen says,
“Artists are resourceful thinkers, constantly recontextualizing what they know with something new to evolve their ideas forward. Reuse and sustainability have been present in conversation in the arts for decades now, making artists natural leaders on experimenting around this topic. Imagining something discarded with fresh eyes is an endlessly fun and hopeful lens through which to view our everyday world. To transform something with only your action and intention is a very primal way to express oneself to others.”
“The Millport Artists Project” began with a visit by participating artists to the Millport Conservancy in Lititz, PA, in Autumn, 2024. They were asked to make artwork about what they discovered there. This experience produced a combination of works made in response to their time spent at Millport working indirectly through sketches, or en plein air. Shown alongside each artist’s existing studio works to provide context, some pieces are still in production. Come back often to uncover what the Conservancy has unleashed in these artists’ everyday practice—from the studio to the open air!
Participating artists include: Doug Anderson, Stacy Caldwell, Sheri Hansen, Marisa Smith Alberts, and Jason Ward.
Hansen continues,
“This [Millport] show allows the viewer to discover the differences in ways of thinking from one artist to the next. All started with the same intention to make work inspired by this beautiful and wild place, but the variety of the works collected here foreground the creativity and individuality of each maker’s studio conversation.”
The Art Gallery is always open to the public when the museum is operating, Wednesday-Sunday at 400 College Ave. Part of North Museum’s A.L.E. (Adult Learning and Engagement) program, works of art from 11 Lancaster county and regional artists will be on display and available for purchase through the end of May, 2025.
Fall Fest Benefits Millport Conservancy and the Run
North Museum’s Fall Fest at Millport Conservancy
Benefits Lititz Run and Trail restoration
Family event Saturday, November 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(LITITZ, WARWICK TOWNSHIP)—Families are invited to explore Millport Conservancy’s natural wonders on Saturday, November 9, as the North Museum of Nature and Science and Millport Conservancy present Fall Fest. This fifth annual collaboration between two local non-profits is a fundraising event to support Millport Conservancy’s efforts to restore the Lititz Run stream through soil erosion control, wetlands restoration, and stream management and the North Museum’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education programming. The Conservancy’s 75-acre refuge for native wildlife and plant species includes Lititz Run, where preservation efforts have resulted in healthy, wild reproduction of both rainbow and brown trout, which can be found year-round in its waters.
Located at 737 E. Millport Road, the family-friendly event is filled with activities for children of all ages:
-Archeological Treasure Dig Pit
-Atomic Selfie Station
-Live Reptile Petting Zoo
-Nature Walks and Crafts
-Face and Pumpkin Painting
-Environmental Science and Sustainability Activities for STEM Sisters
-Bird Club Activities
-Veterans’ Recognition
-Food Truck by Gourmet Julie's Way
-Tasting Room for 21+ by Compass Mill Tap House, Meduseld Meadery, Stoll and Wolfe
-Distillery, Vine Bar, and more!
“Millport Conservancy relies on the generosity of donors to help us protect and preserve the land, the water resources and our heritage.” said Lynn Wohlsen Myers, Executive Director of Millport Conservancy and the daughter of the Conservancy’s founding couple. “Through the success of fundraising efforts like Fall Fest, the Conservancy will continue to be a treasured resource of educational and recreational experiences for students and the public.”
“Having partnered together successfully for the last five years, the North Museum is thrilled to hold Fall Fest at Millport once again in our joint effort to raise funds for the restoration of Lititz Run Creek." said Andrea Rush, North Museum CEO. "Our enduring alliance fortifies the missions of both organizations and accelerates our collective impact on the community."
In honor of Veteran’s Day, all Veterans, Active Service Members and First Responders will be admitted free of charge.
Fall Fest 2024 sponsors include Listrak, Marysia & Salvatore Dina, The Sheaffer Family, Univest, American Crane, Richard Clark, Ph.D. & Sepi Yalda, Ph.D., First National Bank, Gibbel Kraybill & Hess, LLP, Land Studies, Landis Homes, Sauder’s Eggs, Tiger’s Eye, Dr. DiComo & Family and Walters Services, Inc.
Registration Open for North Museum Science & Engineering Fair
Registration Opens for North Museum’s Science & Engineering Fair
Lebanon County school teachers and students invited to join 73-year-old competition!
(LANCASTER)—Registration for participation in the North Museum’s Science and Engineering Fair (NMSEF) is now open for Lebanon County teachers and adult sponsors. For the first time in its 73 years, the Science and Engineering Fair, presented by the Arconic Foundation, is open to Lebanon County school students in addition to the students of Lancaster County’s 20 schools, resulting in a forecasted record-setting number of competitors. All student registrations are free of charge and open to students in grades 6 through 12 from public, private, charter, online, parochial, and home schools. The competition will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at Millersville University.
Teachers and students in grades 6 through 12 are encouraged to note these submission deadlines: Now through October 21, 2024, teachers may confirm their intent to participate. Students may submit their registration form from October 1 through October 21, 2024. Teachers/adult sponsors are advised to directly assist students as they complete the registration form. North Museum will also offer support to all educators wishing to assist students in finding a project, developing a research plan, and supporting student research.
The inclusion of Lebanon County students marks the NMSEF’s expansion to a regional fair, joining Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg’s Capital Area events as Pennsylvania’s four regional science and engineering fairs. As one of six fairs in Pennsylvania affiliated with the world’s largest pre-college competition, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the NMSEF’s top two students’ projects from the senior division earn a place at the ISEF to compete with 1500 of their peers from around the world. The North Museum pays for registration, fees, travel and accommodations for its two Champions. Lebanon County has no similar competitive science and engineering event.
“The North Museum is thrilled by the generosity of the Arconic Foundation, and their ongoing commitment to supporting access to STEM education opportunities for students in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties,” says Scott Downs, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships. “We continue to be grateful for the financial support we receive from the many sponsors of the NMSEF, as well as the outstanding contributions from our judges, volunteers, and participating teachers and students.”
Presenting sponsor Arconic Foundation’s $50,000 grant will have a crucial impact on central PA’s student scientists. Businesses interested in sponsorships may contact Scott Downs, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships. Community volunteers are also needed to assist at the event and may contact sciencefair@northmuseum.org.
North Museum’s resident astronomer, Cole Penkunas, commented,
“As a former Warwick High School student, the NMSEF was the pinnacle of my STEM education each year. The competition was formidable and prepared me for the demands of thesis fulfillment at The Pennsylvania State University, where I focused my research on very massive stars, particularly luminous blue variables, Wolf-Rayet stars, and their possible link. I’m excited to see what the young scientists in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties will bring to the competition this year!”
North Museum’s Shallow Seas Available for Traveling Exhibit
North Museum’s Shallow Seas Available for Traveling Exhibit
First exhibit fully curated from North Museum’s collections
(LANCASTER) SEPT 29, 2024—From the North Museum’s 250,000+ objects in its collections, a new main exhibit brings forward its cache of marine-based treasures as Shallow Seas, now through May 31, 2025. Highlighting animal and plant life found in the sunlit waters around the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, the 1,500 square-foot exhibit includes informational panels, collections’ objects, and opportunities to repurpose existing exhibit fixtures that combine to be an exhibit that the North Museum is offering as a traveling exhibition.
Through the exploration of three marine habitats—the Caribbean Sea, Coastal Atlantic, and Arctic Ocean—specimens of sea life, shells, and plants depict life that is present in each ecosystem, and how each has evolved traits to survive and sometimes thrive in their environments.
“There are over 100 different marine species represented in this exhibit across a wide span of the animal kingdom, making Shallow Seas a great entry point to the interconnected nature of our marine habitats, appealing to all students who have an interest in our oceans,” said Molly Wolanski, North Museum’s exhibits and collections manager. “While visitors will be more familiar with species like hermit crabs, sharks, and corals, they will also encounter lesser-known species like the arrow crab or blood olive (related to a cowrie).”
The self-directed exhibit features signage and bold graphics presented in both English and Spanish. Dozens of items such as the jaws of a Great White Shark, a Narwhal tusk and walrus skull add the three-dimensional experience to the dynamic panels.
"Designing these panels has allowed us to share North Museum’s treasured collection in a fun, engaging way,” said creative director Jon Derk. “By embracing bilingual storytelling, we’re excited to connect with every visitor and invite them to experience the rich stories of our oceans and how we are connected to them. The way this exhibit is designed to travel will allow other museums the ability to customize the panels to fit their own unique collections and floor space.”
Inquiries regarding the traveling exhibition should be directed to Jon Derk at jderk@northmuseum.org or 717.358.4149.
“Shallow Seas marks a new milestone in exhibition development as North Museum’s first exhibit that is curated entirely from its collections,” said CEO Andrea Rush. “We are excited to share this experience with other museums’ visitors, as they will be immersed in the fascinating ecosystems of sunlit waters from the Caribbean to the Arctic and learn how we can work together to limit further damage to these resources.”
Visitors explore how these ocean habitats are connected through ocean currents and migratory species, as Shallow Seas explores the fragility of these systems and the threats they face in a changing world and warming ocean. An optional collaborative artwork project allows visitors to lend their creative touch to the exhibit by enhancing an ever-evolving coral reef with underwater life that can be colored and added, making the experience informative and appealing to all ages.
Now in its 72nd year, the North Museum of Nature and Science impacts thousands of central Pennsylvania students and their families annually through its education initiatives in the Museum, in the community, and at home. Programs include field trips, early childhood education programs, summer camps, STEM Sisters, the Science and Engineering Fair for middle and high school students, and many other educational programs designed to create access to free and reduced-cost STEM learning opportunities and strengthen the foundation of youth in the Lancaster community and beyond. For more information on Sponsorships and Giving, please contact Scott Downs, Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships at sdowns@northmuseum.org or 717-358-7188.
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GSK Science in the Summer–Record Success
Students became “Space Scientists” during GSK’s Science in the Summer™ at North Museum in collaboration with the Franklin Institute.
The program, in its 38th year, has reached an estimated 23,400 nationwide!
The North Museum congratulates 902 area students, ranging from Pre-K through grade 12, who completed GSK's (GlaxoSmithKline's) Science in the Summer™ program this past summer, presented by the North Museum of Nature & Science. The number of attendees was a new record this year, increasing the impact of this already popular seasonal program. This summer's theme was "Be a Space Scientist," and it offered students the unique opportunity to step into the shoes of real scientists and engineers, engaging in exciting hands-on activities that brought the world of space exploration to life. Students discovered different career paths, from Astrobiologist to Spacesuit Designer, and developed their scientific thinking skills in a fun and interactive way.
The program was made possible by a generous grant of $20,000 from GSK, with curriculum developed by the Franklin Institute.
We would also like to thank our outstanding community partners for working with our team on successful outreach and implementation:
- The Mix at Arbor Place
- Project Purpose
- Lebanon County Library
- Janus School
- Boys & Girls Club
- North Museum
A combination of trained educators, made up North Museum staff members and volunteers from our partner organizations, presented 27 programs over the summer.
The North Museum, GSK, and the Franklin Institute are longtime collaborators on the Science in the Summer program, which primarily targets students in grades 2 through 6, with an emphasis on reaching those from underserved communities and lower income households.
Through its success at the museum, Science in the Summer programming was adapted and modified to be inclusive for students in Pre-K and grade 1, as well as those in middle school and high school.
"Thanks to GSK and the Franklin Institute we were able to reach over 900 students this summer,” says Kate Wilson, Senior Manager, Visitor & Volunteer Services. “This free program offers a hands-on look at various STEM careers which many students did not even know existed! Now they might want to pursue those paths in the future. This is an opportunity some of the members of our community would not normally have access to due to financial and other constraints. We look forward to offering this program each year, and can't wait for 2025!"
As a leader in STEM education and advocacy, the North Museum is proud to present GSK's Science in the Summer™ program to the community for many years, and is deeply grateful to GSK for their ongoing commitment to enriching the community through the utilization of and access to quality STEM education programs, and the exceptional curriculum provided by the Franklin Institute.
The theme for GSK's 2025 Science in the Summer™ program will emphasize Health Sciences.
If your organization has an interest in participating in GSK's 2025 Science in the Summer™ program, presented by the North Museum, please contact Kate Wilson, Senior Manager, Visitor & Volunteer Services at 717-358-4116, kwilson@northmuseum.org.
Dr. Nitin Tanna competed at the Lancaster County Science Fair as a 7th grader; now, he's a judge
"When Dr. Nitin Tanna and his family moved to Lancaster in 1972, Tanna was a fourth grader, and his primary concerns were developing his English speaking skills and adjusting to the unfamiliar environment he could come to call home. Tanna and his family moved to Lancaster as Ugandan refugees; he spoke Swahili and Gujrati. But Tanna did much more than improve his English in those first few years in America. By the end of seventh grade, he’d have a second place award from the Lancaster County Science Fair and a blossoming passion for scientific inquiry...."