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| - I'm a professional chemist, and I love all things science, even for fun. My mom and I made a quick trip down to Calgary for the Starfleet Academy Experience at Telus Spark, and I bought the full admission to check out the center. I love the Telus World of Science in Edmonton, and was expecting (hoping?) for something similar, but I was pretty disappointed. Also - who charges for parking at place like this? I have never seen this before, it's a little ridiculous. Despite being in a beautiful new building with loads of windows and lovely open display areas, there is so little content to the exhibits, it's astonishing. The upstairs galleries have interactive play areas, but at least 30-40% of them were broken or missing pieces. They also do nothing to actually teach about science. "Play with Circuits" - great, but why don't you try having something that teaches about electricity, or instructions on how to assemble the few broken pieces that are there into something interesting. There were sections to play with sand or play with air currents, but no educational basis to them, and no value for adults. While some may argue that science centers are geared toward kids, I have been to many across the US and Canada that are able to teach good fundamental principles while being entertaining for adults but still accessible to younger ages.
My mom and I tried to have fun in the Suncor gallery, but literally none of the displays we tried worked, except for stirring large vats of bitumen vs. crude oil vs. glycerin to demonstrate differences in viscosity. Working in the oil industry, I get this, but the display really missed the mark to explain what viscosity is, and why it is important. We did a show in the domed theatre, but it was even a bit off, with the dome more like a half egg-shell, and chairs that are impossible to recline without significant force. A third of the text on the screen was upside down, but the seats all face only one direction (theatre style) so I don't know why this was the case. The only part of Telus Spark that was nice was the outdoor playground. There are lots of fun things to climb on for kids, and some fun funky chairs and outdoor art installations for adults.
I have to add one star because the building itself is so spacious and welcoming, and I enjoyed our lunch in the cafeteria, as well as the Starfleet traveling exhibit. It seems that Calgarians have figured it out though, the place was pretty empty on a rainy cool Saturday; if it was worth visiting it would have been a zoo.
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