To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum opened its new learning lab. Focused on engaging students in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – the Inasmuch Foundation Uncover-Discover Lab is an academic experience geared towards middle and high school students.
“From one of Oklahoma’s darkest moments has risen a place where light is now being brought by education and learning. This is a state of the art museum technology lab focusing on lessons learned in the Oklahoma City bombing. Hands on learning opportunities, such as these at the Museum, show children and young adults how STEM can be interesting, fun and practical,” said Natalie Shirley, Oklahoma Secretary of Education.
Bringing lessons learned from the 1995 bombing to the classroom, interactive experiences in the learning lab teach students about structural engineering and forensics by making them relevant to a generation not yet alive during the bombing. Built on the site of the April 19, 1995 bombing, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum honors those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever, and it stands as a symbol of the resilience of Oklahoma’s citizens.
The opening was covered by The Oklahoman and was attended by state education and museum officials as well as our own Amy Maddox, creative director and principal. “The most important thing that we can do in the museum industry in my mind is teach young people stories about our past because it very much influences our future,” said Amy at the opening. “Twenty years ago, these types of jobs saved lives here.”
As one of the designers behind the new learning lab, Cortina Productions is proud to have worked with the Inasmuch Foundation and the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum to bring this learning lab into creation. To see more of our work with the Memorial & Museum, please visit our project page.
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“State of the art student lab opens at Memorial Museum” – Christine Vantimmeren, OKC Fox
“OKC National Memorial & Museum opens learning lab” – Kyle Schwab, The Oklahoman