EcoEKY: Green News from Eastern Kentucky

from the (Pikeville) Medical Leader:

EKSC to construct permanent exhibit: Governor OKs $400,000 grant for energy-themed project

By: Mary Music - mary.music@pikevillehospital.org, Staff Writer
Published: 05/16/2008

PRESTONSBURG — The Eastern Kentucky Science Center is a step closer to constructing a new interactive energy exhibit after Governor Steve Beshear recommended his approval of a $400,000 grant.

Beshear and Tony Wilder, the commissioner of the Governor’s Office for Local Development, toured the center on May 6 with students and teachers from Jackson Independent Schools. Area officials were also present, including former Governor Paul Patton and his wife, Judi.

Beshear also announced his recommendation for the approval of a $400,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant that will fund the construction of Energy Transformations, a permanent interactive exhibit that will interest students in careers in science, technology engineering and mathematics. The Floyd County Fiscal Court has already allocated $100,000 in coal severance money for the exhibit.

In constructing the exhibit, the center hopes to decrease its dependence on expensive traveling exhibits and, promote interest in math and science. Once completed, the exhibit will be on display for half the year and then it will be stored on campus or leased to other institutions.

An advisory group consisting of center staff, teachers and volunteer patrons developed the concept for Energy Transformations. The Cincinnati Museum Center designed the initial exhibit concept in collaboration with the advisory group, the Floyd County Fiscal Court, Chesapeake Energy, Interstate Natural Gas and the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Corporation.

The exhibit pieces are workstations that explore aspects of different types of energy. Students who see the exhibit will learn what energy is, where it comes from, how it moves through systems, where energy is found, how it impacts the environment, were new energy sources can be located in the future and how to wisely use energy resources.

The East Kentucky Science Center draws in students from surrounding Kentucky counties and other states, he said. Each year, more than 10,000 people from over 22 Kentucky counties and 16 states visit the center.

The center opened in 1998 as a reaction to low student test scores in math and science, Beshear said.

“With the addition of a permanent Energy Transformations exhibit to the East Kentucky Science Center, we see the alignment of three key issues critical to Kentucky’s future,” he said. “First, improving the math and science skills of our children. Second, promoting the public’s understanding of energy production, supply, conservation and use. And finally, drawing additional tourism to this region.”

Appalachian Regional Commission grant applications are submitted to the Governor’s Office of Local Development for review. The grants can not be awarded without a recommendation from the governor. No project activity can begin until the ARC gives final federal approval.

During the Governor’s visit to the science center last week, the Pikeville Rotary Club donated $5,000 to the center’s student access program. Dr. Seema Sachdeva, president of the Pikeville Rotary Club, said her daughters visit the center and come home “beaming” about what they learned.