PLAYA VISTA, CA – May 29, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The Saint Louis Science Center will host what will be the first of numerous Community Science Days and ongoing hands-on science activities and exhibits it has developed for museums and science centers across the country. The free, family-fun events will give visitors a unique opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the science and technology related to super-efficient vehicles. The national education program, developed by the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE and the Saint Louis Science Center, and funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, aims to engage students and the public in learning about advanced vehicle technologies and generate excitement about the energy-efficient vehicle options of the future. Museums will offer activities for visitors young and young at heart to participate in the “Under the Hood” science demonstrations, exhibits, and interactive presentations.
“The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE national education program is a call to action to promote and inspire awareness,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation. “We are at a pivotal moment where new technologies and innovation are essential to the continued growth and global development of our country.”
“The Saint Louis Science Center is proud to be a partner to the X PRIZE,” said Doug King, President of the Saint Louis Science Center. “We have worked together on many X PRIZE education programs over the years and, now, due to this generous grant, we are able to share the programs we develop with our Science Beyond the BoundariesSM network, reaching 100 museums around the country.”
The education program is a component of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE multi-million dollar competition that seeks to inspire a new generation of safe, viable and super fuel-efficient vehicles. The education program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of its commitment to inspire students and the public in learning about energy-efficiency to ultimately decrease the nation’s addiction to oil.
In addition to events and exhibits, the U.S. Department of Energy and Discovery Education have developed a comprehensive online knowledge center www.FuelOurFutureNow.com that offers resources for students, teachers and families to learn more about advanced vehicle technologies.
Various museums and science centers across the country will host ongoing exhibits and hands-on science programs for families. The California Science Center (Los Angeles, CA) and Saint Louis Science Center will debut the “Under the Hood’ hands-on science activity cart in June, followed in July by a 400-sq-ft interactive exhibit in Saint Louis, at the Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn, MI) and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (Portland, OR). Special Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE summer programs will be launched at the Discovery Museums (Acton, MA) and Discovery Center Museum (Springfield, MO). These are only a few of the museums participating. For a full schedule of events please email progressiveautopress@xprize.org This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
