Our Mission

To inspire the discovery of Science through hands-on experiences.

Our Vision

North Dakota’s Gateway to Science envisions becoming the Region’s leading STEM hub, inspiring curiosity and empowering future scientists and problem solvers through hands-on learning and community-driven initiatives in an inclusive environment.

Our Values

Joy: We’re passionate about STEM. We’re excited to explore science through wonder and bring the joy of science to everyone we reach. Joy often arises from a combination of observation, discovery, and FUN. We approach this work with positivity, gratitude, compassion, and JOY. Creating a fun learning environment for others means having fun ourselves.

Experimentation: We’re curious learners, examiners, and innovators. We’re constantly observing, asking questions, assessing, and improving the ways we do things. We are not afraid to take calculated risks, and when we fail, we leverage lessons learned and experiment with new approaches. We model these ideals for our visitors, students, and partners. Trying new things with a humble approach helps us continually grow.

Collaboration: We’re a collaborative team. We encourage each other and celebrate shared accomplishments – the whole of solutions is greater than any one person’s idea. We respect each other’s different perspectives and areas of expertise, even when we disagree. We appreciate that giving one another feedback is giving us all the tools to succeed. Working together creates a cohesive, mutually supportive space for our best work.

Community: We’re part of the community. We approach our work through inclusion, equity, and accessibility. We work to create a family-friendly environment that welcomes everyone and fosters a sense of belonging. Every decision we make considers our members, visitors, partners, and community. We carry this out through initiatives like Accessibility and Affordability for All. Belonging does magically appear; it’s built through intentional space-making.