The Traveling Science Center, a 320-square-foot mobile museum, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Since 2006, TSC has visited over 150 different schools, and attended over 200 community events in 30+ different counties, in many cases visiting the same place multiple times.
In 2025 alone, TSC visited 37 elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as public events across Illinois, engaging with an estimated 5,508 students and community members. Host organizations include the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Community Center in East St. Louis, as well as schools and libraries across Chicagoland.
For the past three years, Homewood Science Center, a nonprofit community science center serving southern Cook County, Illinois, has organized TSC to provide science programming during its event. Edie Dobrez, executive director of the center, said TSC “has been a wonderful addition to our fall nature festival, Walk Walton, engaging children and families in hands-on science experiences that encourage close observation and curiosity. Their involvement supports Homewood Science Center’s commitment to inclusive discovery and inspiring lifelong learning.”
TSC features hands-on exhibits focused on Illinois’ natural resources. Topics include the state’s glacial history, invasive species, biodiversity, and other aspects of Illinois’ changing environment.
The exhibits and life-sized models are produced in-house at the Illinois Natural History Survey by environmental education program manager Jen Mui and scientific artist Patty Dickerson, in collaboration with scientists at the Prairie Research Institute. Visitors can interact with real biological specimens, including animal furs, bones, and pinned insects collected from around Illinois.
“Students also complete grade-based scavenger hunts and quizzes to get them interacting with the exhibits,” said Mui.
TSC is participating in Orange & Blue Days, a crowdsourcing campaign organized by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, March 4–6, to support continued science programming to schools and organizations across Illinois. These funds will help reduce program fees.
“We routinely refresh the exhibits and activities to better communicate science relevant to Illinoisans, especially as researchers at PRI continue to learn new things about Illinois’ changing environment,” said Mui.
Illinois schools and organizations can schedule a visit from TSC throughout the year. For information about bookings and program fees, contact tsc@inhs.illinois.edu.
To support TSC and hands-on science learning, consider making a gift to TSC during the Orange & Blue Days campaign.
The Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides scientific expertise and transformative research to the people of Illinois and beyond. PRI is home to the five state scientific surveys: the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.