The Buffalo Museum of Science (BMOS) has played an important role in educating Western New Yorkers with a general understanding of science since it opened its doors in 1929. Today, the museum still contains most of the original exhibits and has had very limited updates over the past several decades. For future success, the BMOS needed an update to reflect current science, increase visitor engagement and expand its offerings to provide Western New York and beyond with a center for everyone—families, children, teachers—to learn about the latest innovations in science.

The overall transformation was estimated at $2MM to plan, develop and complete ten Science Studios: Explorations (early childhood), Biodiversity (animal life in our region), Life Sciences (health and wellness), Weather (climates), Energy (alternative energy and sustainable living), Cultural (anthropology and other cultures), an Insect Zoo (entomology and impact on our world), Transportation (how we move—from swimming to airplanes), Space (gravity and weightlessness) and Evolution (how we evolved from dinosaurs to today).

These updates would transform every corner of the museum and turn it into a modern, hands-on, interactive regional attraction inspiring wonder and excitement for people of all ages.

For the BMOS to secure additional local, regional and national funding, they needed to complete the planning stage estimated at $100,000. Biennially, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (CFGB) reviews proposals for the 21st Century Fund $100,000 grant. The Museum applied for the grant and became a semifinalist.

Ten semifinalists were narrowed down to four including the Buffalo Museum of Science, a national garden festival, a literary center and a human services center providing food and restaurant service education. 21st Century Fund members would award the grant based on each group’s final presentation and the ability to meet the strict guidelines and criteria established by the Fund.

The Buffalo Museum of Science had only five minutes to explain how the grant money would be used and respond to these questions:

1. Is the project innovative?
2. Does the project have an ongoing impact on its target audience and area?
3. Will the project be amplified with a broad/varied base of additional support?
4. Will the project develop resources for the region?
5. Will the Fund’s support act as a catalyst for the completion or significant advancement of the project?

SKM Group proposed a five-minute video presentation with a one-page handout that directly and specifically answered the questions posed by the 21st Century Fund. SKM Group wanted to use the power of video to inform but also to entertain and delight. An important goal was to have the audience, like us, get behind the project. SKM recommended the CEO/President interact with six children of varying ages. The children represented the future—the future of learning, the future of the museum and the future of the community. The tone was lively, fun and fast moving. The children posed questions throughout the video, the CEO/President provided the answers. While the children were the primary focus of the video, multigenerational and community benefits were also prominent and heavily emphasized throughout the script. During the course of the video, the camera moved around the museum and showcased a variety of recent traveling exhibits including Sesame Street and the Body World exhibit, both strong examples of future museum plans to develop hands-on, interactive science learning.

The audience was fully engaged—laughing and wide-eyed throughout the five-minute video. At the end they applauded and ultimately the Buffalo Museum of Science was awarded $100,000 to finalize planning and secure the additional funds needed to help them move ahead with the transformation of the museum. The BMOS anticipates that all ten Science Studios will be completed in five years, finalizing two studios per year.