Science museum closing this weekend

<p>After years of declining attendance and contributions, the Science and Technology Museum of Georgia is suspending operations this weekend.</p><p>Leaders of the museum, known as SciTrek, say they will reopen it at an undetermined site as a "science education center" that would depend less on static exhibits and more on training students and teachers in the latest science curriculum and techniques.</p><p>Museum leaders said the new project would cost $3 million to $4 million.</p><p>SciTrek has been a draw for school field trips since opening in 1988. In 2003, about 150,000 people attended.</p><p>The current SciTrek museum, next to the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center in downtown Atlanta will close on Saturday. About 22 full-time and 18 part-time employees will lose their jobs.</p><p>The city, which leased the exhibition hall to SciTrek for $1 a year, has been working with a local developer to build a mixed-use project around the civic center.</p><p>SciTrek has struggled financially for years, although its recent tax forms show a balanced budget of about $2.6 million. About 70 percent of its financial contributions came from local businesses, with the rest from city and state government.</p><p>Lewis Massey, a former Georgia secretary of state, took over SciTrek in December 2000, when it was losing up to $100,000 a month. He succeeded Gwen Crider, who resigned in September 2000 after leading the institution since 1997.</p><p>Massey led efforts to raise $1.7 million to acquire a NASA-sanctioned Challenger Learning Center, which was expected to invigorate the museum's tired exhibit profile and boost attendance when it opened in January 2003.</p><p>After Massey's departure, Scott Coleman, a high-tech veteran and venture capitalist, took over as president and CEO in December 2003. He stepped down as SciTrek president this month but remains co-chairman of the SciTrek board.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x285593c)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/8/162551