Da Vinci Science Center Opening its Year of Innovation with Tech City Oct. 5

The Da Vinci Science Center (DSC) opens its Year of Innovation on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, as it premieres the traveling Tech City exhibition and its visitors take part in the second annual Global Cardboard Challenge.

The Da Vinci Science Center’s newest regional workforce initiative promotes the skills that drive all scientific and technical careers – including creativity, collaboration, process skills, and problem-solving abilities. The project includes Tech City and other traveling exhibitions, the opening of several new permanent exhibits, and a year-long series of Year of Innovation Public Programs. Programs and details will be announced on the web throughout the year atwww.davincisciencecenter.org/innovation.

Tech City’s playful series of challenges introduces visitors to the design and creation processes that generate innovative products and ideas. Sponsored in part by City Center Lehigh Valley, Tech City also introduces DSC characters Julie and Zach, who will highlight how engineers around the world are meeting similar challenges. Exhibit challenges include keeping a city safe from a major flood, building structures that keep people safe when a big earthquake hits, adjusting the timing of traffic lights to make drivers’ commutes shorter, and creating a hot new track in a small sound studio.

Tech City appears through Jan. 26, 2014, and will be included with regular admission or membership entry. The Center is open for visitors Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday from 12-5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door or on the web atwww.davincisciencecenter.org/tickets.

Air Products serves as Premier Sponsor of the Year of Innovation. Avantor Performance Materialspresents the series of Year of Innovation Public Programs. Additional Year of Innovation sponsors include ATAS International, Inc., B. Braun, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Follett Corporation.

The Global Cardboard Challenge opens the Year of Innovation Public Program series on Oct. 5, 2013, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Kids will enjoy building awesome toys and other creations using cardboard, recycled materials, and their imaginations. Created by the Imagination Foundation in Los Angeles, Ca., the first Cardboard Challenge in 2012 included more than 270 events in 41 countries around the world. The Da Vinci Science Center event is sponsored by ATAS International and Crayola and will be included with visitor admission.

The Center will continue its Year of Innovation Public Programs with its first Hack-O-Lantern Contest from Oct. 12-14, 2013, and a National Manufacturing Week Celebration on Oct. 12, 2013, sponsored by Dream It. Do It. Pennsylvania. The Hack-O-Lantern Contest lets visitors enjoy making Jack-O-Lanterns like never before with a variety of items, including power tools, on Oct. 12-13, for judging on Oct. 14. Pumpkins will be provided free while supplies last from Grim’s Greenhouse. The Hack-O-Lantern contest also is sponsored by Ai Orthodontics.