Eureka! McConnell Science Museum

Background Statement

EUREKA! was founded by retired physicist John McConnell to address local deficiencies in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through inquiry-based, hands-on activities for students and training for teachers. EUREKA! has evolved from its earliest beginnings as a singular volunteer effort by John McConnell at Wingate Elementary School. Over a period of nine years, John volunteered his time to teach scientific principles to kids through hands-on demonstrations that he created. The effort quickly became a traveling road show as John carried the hands-on demonstrations from school to school in the trunk of his car, often visiting students over 100 miles from Grand Junction to meet his ever-increasing audience. After reaching about 5,000 students per year from his car, John asked Mesa Valley School District 51 for brick-and-mortar space for a math and science center, which they granted. In 2018, the center moved to Colorado Mesa University and is currently housed in the Confluence Hall Engineering Building, rebranding as EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum.

For the past 20 years, EUREKA! has engaged students, teachers and the general public in meaningful STEM learning. We know from experience that students’ enthusiasm for STEM subjects is enhanced when they can participate in engaging, hands-on activities. If this enthusiasm is sustained throughout pre-college education, students will have greater opportunities to select college and professional careers in STEM fields. We also know that when teachers have the resources to bring those hands-on experiences into the classroom they are far more likely to inspire an ongoing interest in these subjects for their students.

Through hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, and teacher resources, EUREKA! strives to instill wonder in each student by contextualizing the world we live in through meaningful STEM concepts. Whether the student is making geometric bubbles, working with gears, or playing with electromagnets, they are always moved to ask "why?" and "how?". These questions initiate the process of critical thinking that leads the student to develop a hypothesis, test that idea, and draw conclusions based on observation.

Today, EUREKA! provides STEAM after-school programming for four elementary schools and one high school, offers math and science tutoring for primary and secondary students, and operates a handful of preschools; AmiGOs, a mobile bilingual preschool, Nest, a STEAM-focused preschool , and STREAM, a preschool at the upcoming Confluence Center of Colorado. EUREKA! offers science programming to all ages, including a 55+ group who travel and explore scientific content all over the globe! EUREKA! still follows John McConnell's original model of field trips and STEAM Camps for students who aren't in school, including 12 weeks of summer STEAM Camps. EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum’s sole mission is to develop a passion and respect for science education, which over the course of the last 20 years, has successfully done so.