Celebrate the New Digs on Saturday February 1, 2020, 3pm-5pm

Queen Mine Tour Building 478 N. Dart Bisbee, AZ

The Bisbee Science Lab announced a major re-design, re-location, and grand re-opening of its innovative Bisbee Science Lab (BSL). Exactly one year from the initial opening on Bisbee’s iconic Main St, BSL has taken up residence at the Queen Mine Tour Building at 478 N. Dart above old Bisbee. “This is a great move for BSL and for the city,” offered Mayor David Smith, “the partners who made this happen are committed to its success.” The Board of Directors invite the community in celebrating past successes and future endeavors as BSL continues to bring informal STEM learning fun, interactive, and engaging programming for all ages.

Opportunities to expand BSL to incorporate more geology and sustainability makes the move to the Queen Mine Tour site a perfect synergy. Keep an eye out for Geology Tours and Sustainability programs in the upcoming year as well as open calls for Artists to engage with BSL in the development of new exhibits. And one of the most exciting developments on the horizon is a possible field station and/or tours to the Freeport McMoRan Bisbee Mine Reclamation sites. These sites are world renown for their innovative approaches to mine site reclamation.  

With the change in location, the board looks forward to building upon an amazing first year. A year earmarked with community driven programing in Environmental sustainability and climate topics. Which in turn resulted in Science Cafés and Science Friday activities reflecting these themes. In addition there was the co-development with the University of Arizona’s 4H STEM of a Maker and Tinker space at an off-site space affectionately called, The Annex (519 W. Melody Lane in the San Jose Ward). This was made possible by the Bisbee School District and its Superintendent, Tom Woody. Starting in the Summer of 2019, The Annex also became the new site for BSL’s Science Friday (1pm-3pm), a program that continues to align children oriented STEM projects with the BSL’s monthly topics.  

BSL’s success was an international hit in 2019 with board members presenting at the Association for Science and Technology Center’s annual conference in Toronto Canada. Interest was especially high due to BSL’s situation as a developing institution on the border.  Additional accolades came in from the Arizona Community Foundation’s Southern Region, with BSL voted as the best non-profit of the year. In the Fall BSL was featured on an episode of Arizona Illustrated (Tucson PBS), and from its inception has had great local media support. 

What can be expected over the long term? A continuation of work with regional, state, and federal partners toward the development of a research center on property near the border,  becoming a partner with the UA’s newly developed Borderlands Education Center, and building a mobile science lab to bring STEM experiences to all parts of the region. Keep an eye on our website (bisbeesciencelab.org) to keep up with our efforts.

The Bisbee Science Exploration & Research Center is a 501(c)3 organization and all financial support is tax deductible.  As an Experiment in Progress the BSL needs to see, hear, and understand the focus of our support community. Come by, volunteer, provide financial support, be part of the unique vision that is the Bisbee Science Lab. 

Bisbee Science and Exploration’s Founding Partners:

City of Bisbee

Freeport McMoRan

M. Greene Planning & Resource Development

Rural Activation and Innovation Network

University of Arizona