Amazing Two Year of Wide-Eyed Wonderment at The Mind Museum

I was invited to celebrate with the Philippines’ first world-class science destination - The Mind Museum for their second anniversary last March 22. It was my 4th time to be there, and the place still blows my mind everytime I go around the museum.

Everytime I go there there's always something new to explore. I guess that's one of the reasons why people keep on coming back and would want to experience the amazing journey again and again.

The celebration took place at the special exhibit hall. Some booths we're set up and I was curious what those were for.

Two of The Mind Museum's pillars joined us that afternoon for a chat and some sharing on what the museum has been up to for the past 2 years and plans for the coming months. Mr. Manuel Blas II, Managing Director and Ms. Maria Isabel Garcia who's the curator of of the Mind Museum.

The museum has inspired more that half a million and more people are still visiting The Mind Museum since it launched in 2012. Students, families and the kids at heart have witnessed science and nature roaming, talking, exploding, and flying, be it thru the exhibits, or the museum’s educational programs. Mr. Blas shared "The museum has earned a long list of regocniitions local and international within its two years of existence. Earned a GOLD LEED certigication from the US Green Building Coundil for being a paragon of modern, environmentally-sustainable architecture. Its most recent honor is an award dubbed as the "Oscars" of the themed entertainment industry around the world. The THEA Award given by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) for this year's "Outstanding Achievement" citing that the museum "expands science into a fully experiential world,” and that “the thematic thread and artistic treatments throughout is what makes this project extraordinary by any standards”. Awardees include the Disney Parks, Cirque du Soleil and Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. This is a proud moment for the Philippines for having the first science museum in Asia to receive such recognition in the entire 20-year history of the TEA."

Ms. Garcia, the curator shared that this year, patrons can expect more awesome exhibits, shows and activities presented in a whole new level. For instance, one can now catch three planetarium shows, the newest being “Back to the Moon for Good”, narrated by actor Tim Allen. The stunning visuals and compelling narrative highlights the history of exploring the moon, and an inside look into the teams vying for the US$30 million Google Lunar XPrize, the largest incentivized prize in history. The Mind Museum premiered the show last February, alongside select planetariums around the world that are authorized to feature it. 

They also have a lot really awesome summer programs like..

Crime Scene Investigation 101 where kids can learn how to gather & analyze evidence from a crime scene. 

Junior Mind Mover Program - which will expose young minds to the work of scientists in museums, from creative science communication to demonstrating experiments; or

Marine Science Camp, where marine biologists from the California Academy of Sciences take the explorers to a closer underwater look into the coral reefs of Anilao, Batangas! 

There’s also Soccer Science, a soccer game training and a science workshop rolled in to one.

Ms. Garcia added "There are also the staple features such as monthly science parties called “MindBursts”, and free science conversations with rock star scientists from here and all over in “Cafe Scientifique”. "

After the short talk, they informed us that there was this simple game, an amazing race type where we need to get a couple of stickers scattered around the different areas of the museum. Not just get, but there were some challenges. Both fun and educational!

It was kind of nice to go around the museum again even though it was quick because of the game but it was amazing and exhilarating. 

I remember last year, one of my personal favorite is when the museum hosted the beautiful exhibit like the Da Vinci-The Genius exhibit. 

Here's me on my Instagram posts around the museum. Playing around with the crime scene and checking out the atom gallery.

Oh and to share, by end of April, a portion of the museum’s second floor will be housing a special exhibition for a limited run. Launched in Singapore last 2013, “The Apocalypse Project – Imagined Futures” explores possible creative lifestyles under climate change. One area will display Climate Change Couture for the future. 

One thing’s for sure. There’s always something new and exciting waiting around the corner at The Mind Museum. Happy 2nd anniversary Mind Museum!

Know more about The Mind Museum by visiting:

Website: www.themindmuseum.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/themindmuseum

Twitter: www.twitter.com/themindmuseum

Instagram: @themindmuseum

Tumblr: http://themindmuseumblog.tumblr.com