Brit Mott

A 10-year vision has become a reality for business leaders and community members who worked tirelessly to open the newly renovated Frisco Discovery Center. The $3 million museum is home to a black box theater, the Frisco Association for the Arts, and the interactive Sci-Tech Discovery Center, where, currently, Math Midway is adding up to be a success. Because the community was an important part of the equation, a VIP appreciation event was held in their honor on October 14.

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"It has taken 10 years of research, development, outreach, elbow grease, and a little luck for Sci-Tech Discovery Center to get in this facility," said Executive Director Erica Yaeger. "We are grateful for the support from the City of Frisco," she added.

Frisco's Assistant City Manager Ron Patterson accepted the Thinking Cap Award on behalf of the City of Frisco. He was given a cap with a small flashing light atop and wore it proudly as he acknowledged the architects and engineers who relied on math, science and technology to create a museum advocating these same essential fields. "And they did a good job putting an artistic touch to it," he noted.

Yaeger said, "In addition to the money the Frisco Community Development Corporation spent on renovating the facility, they have become champions of the Sci-Tech vision. Ron spent a tremendous amount of time learning about our needs so they could provide an environment that would help us meet them."

From the beginning, the Junior League of Plano has played a pivotal role in this endeavor. "They were the original visionaries," said Yaeger. "They have continued to provide both financial and volunteer support over the years. This was a celebration of their vision as well."

At the reception, guests mixed and mingled over cocktails and a fraction of a meal (hors d'oeuvres). Of course, some attendees were found playing in the Math Midway exhibit…learning about chromatography, getting dizzy on the no-left-turn maze, or riding a tricycle on 12 corners (the wheels are three squares).

Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the liquid nitrogen explosion. After a small demonstration on the effects that liquid nitrogen has on a balloon, the task was to blow up a plastic water bottle after immersing it into a trash can full of liquid nitrogen. The goggles were placed and the infamous "Do not try this at home" was recited. Three … two … one …

The audience waited.

And waited.

Nothing.

We shrugged our shoulders. We turned off our cameras. We sighed. It was a dud. Or not …

BAM!

Math Midway runs through January 16, 2011.