Celebrating Community Science Together at The Lawrence

Science is people-powered. 

On May 17, the Lawrence Hall of Science made that idea official — opening its newly reimagined Community Lobby with “Together @ The Lawrence,” a ceremony honoring Community Science Heroes and Ohlone Science Diplomats whose work, and whose stories, now live at the heart of the space.

“This new Community Lobby reflects a larger vision for The Lawrence — one where science is deeply connected to people, culture, place, creativity, and everyday life,” said Rena Dorph, Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science, during opening remarks. “At the heart of it all is a simple idea: science is people-powered.”

The redesigned lobby features exhibits and stories rooted in the East Bay, highlighting researchers, educators, artists, families and community leaders whose work reflects science as something shaped through collaboration, culture and lived experience. 

Among the honorees was Dolores “Auntie Dottie” Lameira Galvan — elder and matriarch of her East Bay Ohlone community — recognized for her lifelong work teaching and sharing Ohlone tradition, land stewardship, and the living knowledge of her elders.

Also recognized was 11th-grade student Aidan Ahmed, whose work focuses on developing STEM learning tools and expanding access through technology and AI.

“I’ve worked a lot throughout my childhood, and even as I’ve gotten older, trying to serve the community,” Ahmed said. “Being recognized among all these other people who make such a big impact is really cool. Being featured here means when other kids and people come here, they can be inspired by these stories and maybe inspired to make their own initiatives to help other people.”

Science Hero Victor Bojorquez, a member of the tappenekšekma Ohlone Science Diplomats program, was honored for helping co-create exhibits and experiences that connect Ohlone knowledge, culture and science.

“To me, it’s mainly recognizing the perseverance that not just myself, but the whole tappenekšekma team went through,” Bojorquez said. “We did make an impact, and we shed some light on culture and tradition. We did something that mattered to us and that can maybe matter to other people and teach them something they can walk away with.”

Brothers Jonathan and William Zhang were also recognized for their work expanding access to science communication through multilingual storytelling and educational tools. During the ceremony, presenter and Public Experience Design Lead Michelle Rodriguez highlighted Jonathan’s work through the Polyglot Initiative, which promotes science communication in multiple languages.

“We believe in connecting people through language and culture,” Jonathan said. “Language is not just practical communication, but understanding. That’s why we promote stories in English, Spanish, Chinese and most recently, American Sign Language, so people can understand each other better, see each other and hear each other.”

William said the recognition reflected the importance of building connection through shared understanding and representation.

“Culture shouldn’t bring people apart,” he explained. “We should focus on all our differences, and that should bring us together and unite us. It’s really exciting to have our work shown, and we can continue to expand and show more people the work we’re doing.”

Other honorees included Emma Wang, Janet Barnes, Jenny Hartigan, Teresa Barnett, Leonor I. Rebosura, Dr. Signe White, Annette Chan, Saul Cuevas-Landeros, and Blanca O. Hernández.

The event also featured the unveiling of yuutka — the Chochenyo word for “place of the acorn” — an interactive installation co-created with Ohlone youth from the tappenekšekma Ohlone Science Diplomats program. The exhibit centers Ohlone knowledge, intergenerational learning and relationships to the land, and officially opened with a ribbon-cutting led by Ohlone youth diplomats, community leaders and partners — counting down in Chochenyo, the first language of the East Bay: Kaphan… Uthin… Himmen.

The celebration closed with a community gathering in Forces that Shape the Bay featuring Ohlone-forward breakfast items from the ‘ammatka Cafe, as guests explored the transformed space and the stories behind it.

The lobby is officially open to all visitors. Come find your story in it.