Michigan Science Center to reopen Boxing Day

It's time to follow up on Detroit's Science Center is reopening; Professor Farnsworth pleased.  First, how did Noel Night go?  MLive has the answer.

Thousands crowd into Midtown, line up outside Detroit cultural fixtures for Noel Night

DETROIT, MI -- Thousands filed into long lines outside the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Public Library, the Cathedral Church of St. Paul and other Cultural Center fixtures Saturday for the 40th annual Noel Night.

Gridlock traffic and tight parking stretched into the city's New Center as people flocked to Midtown for countless free musical acts and art exhibits.

Looks like a success to me.  One of my New Years resolutions will be to go next year.  What about the Science Center?

"They even reopened the Science Center tonight," said Brandon Carter, 22.

Plans to permanently reopen the Michigan Science Center are set to be announced next week, but it was open for a sneak peek tonight.

WXYZ and the Detroit Free Press have the news.

Science Center to reopen

The Detroit Science Center is getting ready to reopen under a new name later this month.

What's missing from this report is what this means to the community other than the auto industry, but the Free Press article includes a broader perspective.

Located behind the Detroit Institute of Arts, the science center is widely viewed as a key cultural and educational asset in Detroit and its closure was an ugly black eye for a city built on the engineering achievements of the auto industry. Before closing, it attracted about 300,000 visitors a year.

“I was very disheartened when it closed,” said Commerce Township resident Kim Murray, who regularly took her two boys, now ages 7 and 9, to the center.

“I think it’s more important than ever that kids are immersed in science and technology. We know that jobs will be more competitive than ever, and I’m not sure what the schools do is enough. The science center gave kids access to that information in a fun and entertaining way. They’re getting more out of it than they realize.”

As a science educator, I have to agree with Murray.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention what the opening of the Michigan Science Center would mean for employment.

The board projects a 2013 budget of less than $5 million with a staff of about 45, including college and high school interns as docents interacting with visitors.
...
About two dozen employees have been hired so far, a few of whom previously worked for the center.

I've already used Professor Farnsworth for this story.  Time for this month's Nablopomo badge.