News & Updates

A young child wears an astronaut helmet created during camp while children and their camp leader construct helmets in the classroom.

Winter Camps at The Lawrence

Register now for Winter Camps at The Lawrence. Campers in grades 1–5 will either dig into the mysteries of the…

October 17, 2024

Behind the Science: an Interview With Our Biotech Design Lead

Get to know our Biotech Design Lead in this Behind the Science interview!

Champagne Supernova

Join us for Champagne Supernova, the brightest party in the galaxy, on October 10, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

local sixth-grade teachers visit Bayer as part of The Lawrence's Exploring Biotech program
October 3, 2024

Students and Teachers Explore Cutting-Edge Biotechnology at The Lawrence and In Their Communities

When you think of biotechnology, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Medicine? Genetically modified plants? Biotech can be…

Michelle Rodriguez
September 19, 2024

Behind the Science: an Interview With a Public Experience Design Lead

Michelle Rodriguez Public Experience Design LeadShe/HerFrom El Cerrito, CA Michelle has worked at The Lawrence for over 9 years. What…

A parent helps a child across stepping stones at a park, with another child watching as the sun sets in the background.
September 4, 2024

Fall Events at The Lawrence

Check out our slate of special fall events and mark your calendars so you don’t miss out!

Students in a classroom are working on a SEPUP activity about the moon.
August 29, 2024

SEPUP Middle School Curriculum Earns “All-Green” Rating from EdReports

‘Issues and Science’ designated as high-quality instruction.

Tim Hurt working on a science project with a kid.
August 22, 2024

Behind the Science: An Interview with a Data Science Educator

Get to know Tim Hurt, our Computational Science Education Lead, in this Behind the Science interview!

A woman with curly hair and a blue headband smiles as she watches a boy in a red shirt examine the contents of a brown paper bag in a brightly lit classroom.
August 8, 2024

Behind the Science: An Interview with our Early Childhood Science Specialist

Get to know Cássia Izaac, our Early Childhood Science Specialist, in this Behind the Science interview!

A student writing in a nature journal.
July 25, 2024

California Educators Want More Environmental Learning, but Need Additional Support

A new report examines how much environment-based education is happening in California classrooms and outdoor spaces.

July 11, 2024

Behind the Science: An Interview With Our Head of Youth STEM Pathways

Get to know Emily Weiss, our head of youth STEM pathways, in this Behind the Science interview!

A Teen Research Program participant practicing using a pipette
June 27, 2024

Summer is for Teen Scientists at The Lawrence and on Campus

With Summer Camps and Teen Research Programs underway, check out photos and discover a day in the life of a program participant and a summer camp intern.

Planetarium Specialist Ellen Thompson sitting at her desk
June 13, 2024

Behind the Science: An Interview With Our Planetarium Specialist

Get to know Ellen Thompson, our Planetarium specialist, in this Behind the Science interview!

Kids playing on the Sunstones sculpture at The Lawrence
May 29, 2024

Summer Events at The Lawrence

Check out our slate of special summer events and mark your calendars so you don’t miss out!

Shira Baskind, associate director of elementary camps, holding a chinchilla
May 15, 2024

Behind the Science: An Interview With Our Associate Director of Elementary Camps

Get to know Shira Baskind, our associate director of elementary camps, in our first Behind the Science interview!

Group photo of the Climate Ambassadors at The Lawrence
May 2, 2024

Climate Ambassadors Study Soil Health and Biodiversity in The Lawrence’s Backyard

In Climate Ambassadors, a cohort of passionate teen scientists gained valuable science investigation and communication skills.

Three youth are conducting a science experiment with dry ice and wearing safety glasses.
April 18, 2024

Summer Science Spectacular: Dive into Discovery in The Lawrence Summer Camps!

Summer Camps at The Lawrence are all of your young explorer’s favorite things about our science center rolled into one long action-packed experience filled with experiments, discovery, and fun!

A boy interacting with Pulse
April 4, 2024

Sun, Earth, and Fire: Expressing Creativity With Science

A crowd gathers in our Forces That Shape the Bay outdoor exhibit, buzzing with anticipation. They’re admiring a giant 8-foot sculpture made of metal, shaped like a human heart, complete with anatomically correct chambers and blood vessels.

A boy using a microscope in the Hands-on Biotech exhibit
March 21, 2024

Paint by Numbers and Zoom in on Life in Hands-on Biotech

Visitors to The Lawrence can get an introduction to biotechnology and its current and potential uses in our Hands-on Biotech exhibit!

Scholars in the Manufacturing and Design Academy, Kennedy High School, Sacramento City USD .
March 7, 2024

College and Career Collaborative Network Drives Equitable Transformation of Public Education Systems

The College and Career Alliance Support Network (CCASN) works with collaborative partners to transform public education systems and build pathways to college and careers.

A child walking near the fountain on the plaza at The Lawrence
February 21, 2024

Spring Events at The Lawrence

Check out the full schedule of events and mark your calendar for a sensational spring!

A student conducts a science experiment during Summer Camp.

Summer Camps at The Lawrence 2024

Register now for Summer Camps at The Lawrence. Campers in grades 1–6 invent toys, explore the universe, investigate animal behaviors, and more!

Three teens participate in a Lawrence Hall of Science Teen Research Program
February 8, 2024

Teen Research Programs Help Students Find Their Path to a Career in Science

Through our Teen Research Programs, a socio-economically diverse group of Bay Area middle and high school students visits labs, kindles their curiosity, and discovers that they, too, can pursue a degree or career in STEM.

New Years Eve Celebrations at The Lawrence
January 11, 2024

Colorful Confetti Cannons Complete Captivating Commemoration of 2023

Thanks to all members and visitors who came out to send off 2023 and start the new year with a bang!

The Lawrence supernova graphic with a collage of images from The Lawrence
December 21, 2023

Look Back at an Exciting Year of Discovery, Exploration, and Science Fun!

Take a look at the top stories of the year, and get ready to make 2024 another thrilling year of science fun!

Two scientists from UC Berkeley presenting their research to an audience in Spanish
December 14, 2023

Ciencia en Español: Sharing Science With Oakland’s Spanish-speaking Community

Next summer, Science at Cal is expanding its Caminos events to make them even more accessible, engaging, and relatable to the Spanish-speaking patrons of the Oakland Public Library.

A child explores the Virtually Human AI exhibit
November 29, 2023

Virtually Human Explores What it Means for AI to Act Like a Human

A new exhibit at The Lawrence aims to demystify the latest technology and engage visitors’ curiosity about how AI works.

Products from our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide arrayed on a shelf in the Discovery Store
November 15, 2023

Holiday Gift Guide: Toys, Books, and More From Our Discovery Store!

Because we know what engages children, we’ve put together a list of science kits, books, crafts, and more that make excellent gifts or stocking stuffers.

A child observes a turtle in the Animal Discovery Zone.
November 1, 2023

Reptile Revelry: Celebrating the Reopened Animal Discovery Zone

On Saturday, October 21, visitors and members were among the first to experience the new Animal Discovery Zone!

A Sunprint being made using a peacock feather
October 19, 2023

Solar-powered Photography: the Science & History of Sunprint® Kits

For nearly 50 years, kids and families have used Sunprint paper to flex their creativity, capturing everything from leaves to action figures in signature white and blue images.

An image of an annular eclipse
October 5, 2023

Discover the Science Behind the “Ring of Fire” Eclipse on October 14

On Saturday, October 14, a partial eclipse will be visible across a large swath of the country, including right here in the Bay Area!

A student is launching a model rocket during a science activity while two other students look on
September 21, 2023

Supporting Teachers With Field Trips, Classroom Workshops, and More!

Picture a school gymnasium, except instead of kids playing dodgeball, it’s filled with the sights and sounds of discovery. The gym is transformed into a miniature science center!

A man and two kids outside looking at an augmented reality planet
September 6, 2023

Explore Outer Space With DIY Solar System, Our Newest Science App!

What’s it like to pilot a robotic rover on another planet? What would it take to design and build a…

Sunstones at The Lawrence Hall of Science
August 23, 2023

Upcoming Fall Events at The Lawrence and In Your Community

As summer turns to fall, The Lawrence has big plans to keep the science fun going. Join us throughout this…

The Outdoor Nature Lab
August 4, 2023

A Garden in Bloom: Reflecting on One Year of the Outdoor Nature Lab

In the year since it opened, thousands of visitors have explored nature in our backyard, searching for birds, learning about pollinators, and so much more. This week we’re looking back at what’s changed and what we’ve learned together, and looking forward to new experiences and ways to discover the wonders of the outdoors in the future.

Lucy sculpture on display at the National Museum of American History
July 27, 2023

Sculpture from The Lawrence on Display at the Smithsonian

Thanks to a generous donation and a new museum exhibition, a piece of The Lawrence has made it all the…

Making Music Exhibit: Two youth are exploring math and music

Making Music: Math and Science Out Loud

In our latest exhibition, nurture your inner musician as you discover the math of music and the science of sound. 

A Lawrence Hall of Science volunteer showing a group of girls a butterfly identification card in the Outdoor Nature Lab
July 13, 2023

The Lawrence to Conduct First-of-its-kind Environmental Literacy Study

The Lawrence will conduct a first-of-its-kind landscape study to assess the state of environmental instruction and education across California.

A Blue-tongued Skink
June 28, 2023

Caring for Our Animals During an Extreme Home Makeover

The ADZ team works hard to care for the many mammals, reptiles, and other critters in our animal colony. Soon, both staff and visitors alike will have more room to work with thanks to exciting renovations happening right now!

A boy and a girl looking at a computer screen
May 31, 2023

New Grant Integrates AI Ethics with Tech Learning

When you hear “artificial intelligence” (AI), the first thing that probably comes to mind are popular generative programs like ChatGPT…

A trapeze artist performs at The Lawrence during Science Fun Days

Summer Science Fundays

From June 10 through August 12, join us every Saturday for fun-filled events featuring special guests and new activities. 

A woman interacts with a cardboard prototype of an exhibit as part of the Making Music exhibition
May 18, 2023

Talking Shop: Behind the Scenes of Making Music, Our Upcoming Exhibition

Deep in the bowels of The Lawrence Hall of Science is a place where few visitors have set foot. As…

A family building a miniature roller coaster using recycled materials during a Build, Engineer, Invent science festival.
May 3, 2023

New Partnership Brings Hands-on Science to San Leandro and San Lorenzo

Have you ever designed and built your own miniature roller coaster using recycled materials? How about experimenting with hydraulics? Young…

Sunstones at The Lawrence

Summer Camps 2023

Want happy campers? Registration is open for young scientists from first through sixth grade to explore hands-on science. 

A Mother and child look out over The Lawrence's panoramic view of the San Francisco Bay.
April 19, 2023

The Lawrence to Co-Develop Mixed Reality Exhibits with Ohlone Youth

A new project by The Lawrence and its partners, funded by a $1.29 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, aims to center Ohlone culture, using mixed reality technology to create immersive science experiences.

Easter Egg Roll at the White House
April 6, 2023

Exploring the Physics of Flight at the White House

UPDATED: The Lawrence Hall of Science stirred some science “egg-citement” when it returned to the White House Easter “EGGucation” Roll…

A group of Taiwanese students observing a globe.
March 23, 2023

Staff Promote and Teach The Lawrence’s Ocean Literacy Curriculum in Taiwan

An ongoing curricular project at The Lawrence improves students’ and educators’ understanding of the global impact the ocean’s health has on our planet.

Students from the YESS program are building solar suitcases.
March 8, 2023

Girls Build Solar Generators for International Schools with The Lawrence

Youth Engaged in STEM Service (YESS) is a four-year project that began in 2020 to develop and study the impact of two different science-focused summer camp experiences for black and brown teen girls in their communities.