Science North

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Science centre in Sudbury, Canada

title: "Science North" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["museums-established-in-1984", "museums-in-greater-sudbury", "crown-corporations-of-ontario", "science-museums-in-canada", "raymond-moriyama-buildings", "butterfly-houses", "1984-establishments-in-ontario"] description: "Science centre in Sudbury, Canada" topic_path: "geography/canada" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_North" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Science centre in Sudbury, Canada ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox museum"]

FieldValue
nameScience North
native_nameScience Nord
native_name_langfr
logoScience North Logo.svg
imageScience North Construction and Concept 1980.jpg
image_size250px
captionScience North in 2022
coordinates
established
location100 Ramsey Lake Road
Sudbury, Ontario
P3E 5S9
typeScience centre
accreditationCanada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums
architect
ceoAshley Larose
ownerGovernment of Ontario
website
::

| name = Science North | native_name = Science Nord | native_name_lang = fr | logo = Science North Logo.svg | image = Science North Construction and Concept 1980.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Science North in 2022 | coordinates = | established = | location = 100 Ramsey Lake Road Sudbury, Ontario P3E 5S9 | type = Science centre | accreditation = Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums | architect = | visitors = | ceo = Ashley Larose | owner = Government of Ontario | website =

Science North () is a science museum in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. It contains object theatres, an IMAX theatre, a planetarium, and exhibition halls across four levels with a variety of hands-on permanent exhibits focused on technology, ecology, geology and the geography of Northern Ontario.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Science_North_August_2023.jpg" caption="Science North from Ramsey Lake"] ::

The plans for what was to become Science North were unveiled in 1980, and the centre opened in 1984. The plans were designed by architect Raymond Moriyama in association with Townend, Stefura, Baleshta and Nicholls. It received the Governor General’s Medal for Architecture in 1986. Science North opened on June 19, 1984 with an official opening ceremony held in October that was presided by Elizabeth II during the 1984 royal tour of Canada.

Exhibits and attractions

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/-31-07-2019-_-Science_North-Sudbury_CA-14-Phill_Natal(50854429806).jpg" caption="The rock tunnel connecting the two buildings"] ::

Science North consists of two snowflake-shaped buildings on the southwestern shore of Ramsey Lake. The buildings are connected by a rock tunnel, which passes through a geological fault. This fault line was not known to be under the complex when the site was originally selected, and was only discovered during construction. Inside the main starwell, a 20-metre fin whale skeleton, recovered from Anticosti Island, hangs from the ceiling. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/-31-07-2019-_-Science_North-Sudbury_CA-19-Phill_Natal(50854517177).jpg" caption="The F. Jean MacLeod Butterfly Gallery"] ::

The F. Jean MacLeod Butterfly Gallery is located on the second level. The gallery is a glass-enclosed butterfly house containing approximately 400 butterflies from 30 different tropical species. The third level covers the ecosystems of Northern Ontario, with displays covering regional ecology. The exhibits include aquariums and enclosures with frogs, turtles, snakes, porcupines and flying squirrels. The third level previously housed beavers as 'animal ambassadors', including Drifter from 2004 until 2020 and Kash from 2016 until 2023. The fourth level covers technology, housing displays on astronomy and the human body.

Outdoors

The Jim Gordon Boardwalk connects Science North to Bell Park along the western shore of the Ramsey Lake. The William Ramsey cruise boat departs from the dock at the boardwalk, and runs from June to September. Formerly called the Cortina, it was renamed the William Ramsey in 2014 for the surveyor for whom the lake was named.

Auditoriums

Science North houses an IMAX Theatre with laser projection, opened in 1994. The theatre was converted to 3D in 2009. Within the rock tunnel is the Vale Cavern auditorium. The auditorium is used for temporary exhibits, press conferences, film screenings, and other events. In June 2009, an 8-metre dome planetarium with 36 seats was installed. The Discovery theatre, located in the centre of the third and fourth levels, hosts live science shows cover topics ranging from fire to sound. The Climate Action Show, narrated by Rick Mercer, opened in 2003 and was updated in 2022.

Education

Science North employs a team of science communicators known as 'Blue Coats' for their blue lab coat uniforms. Blue Coats provide interpretive and educational experiences for visitors, present shows at the Discovery Theatre, and lead events and tours.

The Science North Production Team produces object theatres, multi-media presentations and large format film productions for science museums and educational facilities around North America. The team's productions include the 2023 documentary film Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope, which won a Canadian Screen Award for sustainable production at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards in 2024.

Science North has worked with Laurentian University on scientific and environmental research, including as a partner in the university's graduate program in science communication. Science North runs science education day camps for children throughout the year in several Northern communities covering a wide range of scientific topics.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Science North engaged in several programs to promote COVID-19 vaccines to youth, families and young adults. The museum received a $50,000 CAD grant in July 2021 from the Government of Canada for a project titled “Promoting Vaccine Confidence across Northern Ontario.” It was awarded through a grant program called “Encouraging Vaccine Confidence in Canada” jointly administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Science North also received a $500,000 grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada's Immunization Partnership Fund to target vaccine hesitant individuals through virtual and in-person activities including podcasts, webinars, digital content and events, museum exhibits and workshops.

References

References

  1. Loverseed, Helga. (1987-05-09). "Impressive science museum symbolizes the new Sudbury". [[The Globe and Mail]].
  2. Immen, Wallace. (1984-06-20). "Science centre an open laboratory". [[The Globe and Mail]].
  3. Immen, Wallace. (1987-05-09). "Canadian North to be centre theme; Nickel mine, wildlife to be shown". [[The Globe and Mail]].
  4. Gilhula, Vicki. (2021-02-17). "Memory Lane: From predicting your height to the trading post, Science North is written on our brains". Sudbury.com.
  5. "Governor General's Medals in Architecture".
  6. Cherry, Zena. (1984-10-05). "Queen opens Science North at Sudbury fete". [[The Globe and Mail]].
  7. (1983-09-29). "Museum to show whale skeleton". [[The Globe and Mail]].
  8. Pickard, Arron. "New resident porcupine calling Science North home". Sudbury.com.
  9. (2020-03-18). "Science North's Drifter the beaver dead at age 20". [[CBCS-FM.
  10. (2023-11-21). "Science North's resident beaver is moving to a new facility". [[CBCS-FM.
  11. Stradiotto, Laura. (2005-06-23). "Boardwalk is Sudbury's 'piazza'". [[The Sudbury Star]].
  12. (2014-05-29). "Sudbury's Cortina cruise boat now called 'The William Ramsey'". [[CBCS-FM.
  13. (1994-05-04). "Sudbury IMAX". [[The Globe and Mail]].
  14. Hobbs, Pam. (1984-08-11). "Face to face with nature at Science North". [[The Globe and Mail]].
  15. (2022-07-18). "Science North officially opens Climate Action Show". Sudbury.com.
  16. Migneault, Jonathan. (2024-06-19). "Science North celebrates its 40th anniversary". [[CBCS-FM.
  17. (2023-10-03). "Despite environmental challenges, Jane Goodall says there are reasons for hope".
  18. Vlessing, Etan. (2024-04-04). "Devery Jacobs, Lamar Johnson to Receive Honorary Canadian Screen Awards".
  19. (1999-07-10). "Discovery Camp coming". [[Timmins Daily Press]].
  20. (2021-01-12). "Sudbury series to discuss COVID-19 misinformation". [[The Sudbury Star]].
  21. (2021-07-26). "Encouraging vaccine confidence in Canada - Competition Results".
  22. (2021-03-03). "NSERC - Encouraging vaccine confidence in Canada".
  23. [[Public Health Agency of Canada]]. (2022-10-12). "Immunization Partnership Fund".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

museums-established-in-1984museums-in-greater-sudburycrown-corporations-of-ontarioscience-museums-in-canadaraymond-moriyama-buildingsbutterfly-houses1984-establishments-in-ontario