The Lawrence Hall of Science

The public science center of the University of California, Berkeley.

Our Impact:
A Timeline

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Since our opening in 1968, our science center has drawn crowds.

In the past decade alone, the public has made over 2.5M visits to The Lawrence.

1968: The Lawrence Hall of Science, named in honor of Ernest Orlando Lawrence, opens to the public.

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“The Hall, as was Lawrence, is centrally concerned with the youth, with science, and with the future.”

– Nobel Laureate Glenn T. Seaborg,
at the opening Ceremony 1968

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Beyond the walls of our science center, our work reaches over 12M young people per year.

Our programs extend to other spaces for learning.

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Over 55 million people have experienced our planetarium programs, offered at 220+ planetariums nationwide.

1973: We develop the first participatory planetarium, where visitors are invited to ask questions and contribute ideas.

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Our curriculum has far-reaching effects, too. Over 200 million learners have used our materials in all 50 states.

Throughout our work, we focus on educational equity. The Lawrence Hall of Science has fueled generations of underrepresented youth in STEM learning.

1977: We introduce programs to address bias in math and science education.

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“Expanding Your Horizons,” a program we designed to introduce girls to STEM careers, now serves 25,000 girls annually.

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The Lawrence has long provided the public hands-on access to innovative technology

1978: Through the Friday Project (FRID), The Lawrence Hall of Science is one of the first institutions to offer public access to computers.

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Today, learners anywhere can get hands-on with our apps, which have reached more than 2 million downloads.

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1983: The National Commission on Excellence in Education publishes “A Nation At Risk,” a searing report outlining the deficits in math and science education in U.S. schools.

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Our work meets a need—identified decades ago, and still relevant today—for high-quality STEM education.

It’s why we’re continually innovating. In the past decade, over 7,500 teens have participated in extended-learning STEM programs.

2010: Engineering gets hands-on at our new Ingenuity Lab. Tomorrow’s inventors start today, designing, building, and testing their ideas with the support of UC Berkeley students, staff, and volunteers.

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25% of K-12 students use our learning materials each year.

2016: The Lawrence joins the Museums for All initiative, offering free admission to EBT cardholders.

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And our outreach vans take STEM learning on-the-go and have traveled over 6 million miles.

Science starts at The Lawrence Hall of Science, and there’s no telling how far we’ll take it.

2021: From our science center to our website, The Lawrence has a new look and feel, making it more relevant, accessible, and ready to inspire tomorrow.

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