Science
Dr. Steven Snyder with Mythbusters
FLEET SCIENCE CENTER
A World of Possibility
B Y BR I ANNE BR OWN
T
he Fleet Science Center, in Balboa Park, is
passionate about engaging the community in the
wonder of science. With their goal to connect
people of all ages to the power of science to
create a better future, representatives from the
Fleet Science Center can often be found in the community doing
just that. Leading their charge is CEO Dr. Steven Snyder, a vocal
proponent of bringing together organizations to embrace what he
calls “radical collaboration.”
Such collaboration can be seen in programs like Two Scientists
Walk Into a Bar™, where local bars host scientists in casual
conversation with pub patrons. The Fleet also partners with
educators to directly support STEM education in schools
throughout Southern California. Additionally, the Fleet’s 52
Weeks of Science program is active in the Barrio Logan and
Clairemont communities.
These collaborative initiatives are aligned with Snyder’s
commitment to take science outside the walls of the Fleet
18 GBSAN.COM | APRIL 2018
and break down barriers to STEM education. “By providing
opportunities and resources for STEM education to the community,
we can help people connect with the power of science right in their
own neighborhoods,” Snyder shares with Giving Back Magazine.
But within the walls of the Fleet are also numerous opportunities
for hands-on learning. The newest exhibition, MythBusters: The
Explosive Exhibition , showcases the museum’s appeal: within
days of its opening, already more than 5,000 people had visited the
exhibition. The Fleet connects nearly 500,000 visitors annually to
the power of science (and over two million during Snyder’s tenure
as CEO), earning the science center the accolade of being the
most-visited museum in Balboa Park.
To celebrate, the Fleet is hosting its annual gala - Busting the
Myths of Wine - on June 2. This fundraising event supports the
Fleet’s mission and will feature an evening of fine wine paired with a
delicious multi-course dinner.
www.rhfleet.org