African-American Scientists Honored with Exploration Place Outdoor Display

WICHITA, Kansas – In collaboration with The Kansas African American Museum, Exploration Place is once again celebrating Black History Month with a large-scale outdoor display.

Each night during February, Exploration Place will honor African-American scientists by projecting giant portraits onto the side of its iconic island building. The display will be freely viewable from the path along the Arkansas River. Visitors also may take in the display from inside Exploration Place on Thursday nights, when the museum is open until 8 p.m. Admission is not required to view the display from the Exploration Place promenade.

Changing weekly through the month, the display will honor:

• Week 1: George Washington Carver (1864 – 1943) was an agricultural scientist who rose to prominence in the early 20th century and discovered more than 300 uses for peanuts.
• Week 2: Jedidah Isler is an astrophysicist and an advocate for diversity in STEM who works for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
• Week 3: Ed Dwight is a military test pilot who was selected as an astronaut trainee in the 1960s and since has had a prolific career as a sculptor.
• Week 4: Alice Ball (1892 – 1916) was a chemist who developed a significant treatment for leprosy, a highly stigmatized disease during her lifetime.

“We’ve had great community feedback on this display over the past three years,” said Adam Smith, Exploration Place President and CEO. “Our building is a great canvas for celebrating the accomplishments of African American scientists.”

Added Denise Sherman, executive director of The Kansas African American Museum: “Our hope is that our community will use this opportunity to recognize the positive impact of African-American scientists on our world.”

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About Exploration Place
The mission of Exploration Place, Kansas’ premier science center, is to inspire a deeper interest in science and technology through creative and fun experiences for all. Exploration Place is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and through 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings. For general information, visit www.exploration.org. For more information about African American scientists, visit www.exploration.org/bhm or www.tkaamuseum.org.