Carnegie Science Center Celebrates Earth Week!

Wed.–Sun., April 21–25

Blast off to space for a unique orbital view of our own beautiful blue marble – planet Earth! Join our passionate team of Earth advocates for a week-long adventure filled with environmental education, ecology exploration, and citizen science experiments! Explore the exciting lineup of on-site and virtual events and programs!

On-site experiences:

Included with General Admission!

Taste the Rainbow Live Show – See our Daily Calendar for show times!
Embark on an adventure full of colorful fruits and vegetables as you explore how your family can make healthy food options a part of your daily routine. Early learners will classify by color and identify edible parts of vegetables and fruits.

Mission to Planet Earth Planetarium Show – See our Daily Calendar for show times!
Blast off to space for a unique orbital view of planet Earth. Soar over oceans, fly over canyons and forests, and learn how observations from space help with conservation efforts on Earth.

Sensory Sensitive Science Hours – Fri., April 23 from 3–5 pm
Especially for children and adults who are on the autism spectrum or have sensory sensitivities. Exhibit lights and sound effects will be adjusted, and special Earth science-related activities will be added to foster a safe, welcoming, and most of all, fun, environment for all visitors.

On-site pop-up activities:

Select days, 10 am–2 pm – Included with General Admission

Ecology Exploration
Learn about Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant – a wildlife ecologist with an expertise in uncovering how human activity influences carnivore behavior and ecology.

Planting Demonstration
Explore what plants need to grow! In this experiment, learn about the circle of plant life and the importance of soil, water, and sunlight.

Seed Matching Demonstration
Discover one of the first items needed in a plant’s life cycle – seeds! With this fun matching game, work together to match fruit and vegetable seeds to the full-grown produce. Can you figure out which seed goes to which plant?

River Bingo
Explore the biodiversity of the North Shore on the Ohio River and interact with exhibits to compete a BINGO-style scavenger hunt! Perfect for families with young children.

Investigating Clouds
The water cycle doesn’t just happen in rivers – it also happens in the sky when water vapor condenses into clouds. Make a cloud in a bottle to learn how clouds form.

Water Purification
Almost 1 billion people do not have access to clean, safe, drinking water. Through chemical engineering, the processes of a water treatment plant can be replicated in areas where water treatment is difficult, expensive, or impossible. Watch as dirty water is transformed into clean, drinkable water in minutes.

Citizen Science
Get a crash course in iNaturalist, an app that allows you to record biodiversity anywhere in the world. Learn how to upload records of plants, animals, and fungi for the upcoming City Nature Challenge (April 30–May 3).

An Introduction to Composting 
Learn the process and get assistance with troubleshooting indoor and outdoor composting. See how a composting bin is set up and meet the worms used in home composting.

Oceanic Plastic and the Threat to Marine Life
Explore how plastic bags impact ocean life, including sea turtles and other jellyfish-eating animals. Can you tell the difference between plastic and food? Discover the sources of plastic pollution and learn about alternative products to reduce the plastic in aquatic ecosystems.

Earth Day Every Day with Native Plants & Ecological Landscaping
Learn about Native Plants and Ecological Landscaping with our friends at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden! Plus, check out the native plants display as you enter the Main Lobby, courtesy of Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.

Virtual experiences:

Follow Carnegie Science Center’s Facebook page to enjoy free, virtual events!

Lettuce Grow Together – Harvesting Lettuce and Making a Salad
Wed., April 21 at 11 am
Learn how to seed, grow, and harvest lettuce to make a delicious and nutritious salad with your friends at North Hills Community Outreach!

Bite-Sized Buhl
Thurs., April 22 at 10:30 am
Soar over our beautiful Earth with Buhl Planetarium’s Digistar 7 software. Learn about the latest NASA missions taking the pulse of our home planet from orbit. Explore how observations from space help us with conservation on Earth.

Recycle your single-use household batteries during Earth Week!

Bring your expired, single-use household batteries for the Science Center to recycle on Wed., April 21 through Sun., April 25. The bin is available in the Main Lobby from 10 am to 5 pm.

Why should you recycle your batteries?

Batteries contain corrosive materials and heavy metals that can contaminate the environment.

Note: Automotive-type lead acid batteries, computers, or printers will not be accepted at the battery collection during Carnegie Science Center’s Earth Week Celebration.

Plan your on-site visit:

View our Daily Calendar for show times as you plan your day. Building capacity is limited to 15% to ensure ample social distancing in our wide-open galleries. Our mask policy is strictly enforced, and we have enhanced surface cleaning and increased fresh airflow in the building. In addition, our air-filtration system exceeds American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning (ASHRAE) recommendations. You and everyone in your group will also undergo temperature checks using a touchless thermometer. Timed tickets required for entry. Buy yours today!