There is something exciting about watching a child make a discovery. A question leads to an experiment, an idea turns into something they can build, and suddenly science feels full of possibilities.

That's what the Reading Science Center is all about, and we invite you to help make more of those moments possible by attending our annual fundraiser, A Night of STEM & Stars on Thursday, November 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Redner's Event Center.

Join us for an evening of dinner, STEM trivia games, a unique silent auction, and plenty of fun, all in support of the experiences that inspire local children to explore science, technology, engineering, and math.

By sponsoring or attending, you'll help support field trips, educational programs, and interactive exploration that encourage children to keep asking questions, trying new things, and discovering what excites them.

We hope you'll join us for a fun night celebrating science and the possibilities ahead for the next generation of STEM thinkers and doers.

Sincerely,
Corrine Wilson & Sean Gisler    
A Night of STEM & Stars Co-Chairs

A dream in the making for nearly 2 years at the Reading Science Center has finally come to fruition. Since the early days of our opening, our organization has envisioned expanding to provide more space for hands-on exhibits and accommodations for schools and guests, allowing us to serve even more students and families in Berks County. 

Through the Pennsylvania Neighborhood Assistance Program granted to Reading Science Center in late 2024, we were able to acquire approximately 6,800 additional square feet in our lower level location at 645 Penn Street. 

Since then we have undertaken plans to refurbish the former data center that existed on the lower level, install technology upgrades, and bring added imagination and excitement to the hidden gem that is the Reading Science Center.

On Saturday, October 3rd, we will unveil 2,900 square feet of museum space with new hands-on equipment to dazzle the young minds of our visitors!  This vibrant space now houses new exhibits such as a water table, Newton's chairs, Keva planks, a Sphero Indies table, a topography table and VR goggles!

Thanks to the sponsorship of EnerSys, this day of discovery will be FREE to the public. Plus, volunteers from EnerSys will be on hand to help future scientists learn all about batteries and energy.

We invite you to join us anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. with FREE admission and FREE parking at the DoubleTree Reading Hotel garage. 

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will happen at 12:00 p.m., so don't miss your opportunity to help release streamers along with other fun science activities!

Get your science on and join us on October 3rd!

School is back in session, and that means field trip season is underway at the Reading Science Center!

During a two-hour field trip, students spend part of their visit exploring more than 60 interactive exhibits and part participating in an educator-led Discovery Workshop. This year's investigations include Diagnostic Deep Dive, where younger students explore the human body through medical play; Ready, Set, Race!, an investigation of force, friction, gravity, and momentum; and Tectonic Trouble, which takes students beneath Earth's surface to explore earthquakes, volcanoes, and tectonic plates.

And there's an extra reason for teachers to plan a visit this fall. Through December 2026, standard field trip pricing remains $25 per student, and thanks to support from the Neag Foundation, participating students receive a $12 subsidy, bringing the cost to just $13 per student. Beginning January 1, 2027, standard field trip pricing will increase to $27 per student, less any available subsidies.

Know a teacher who should bring their class to the Reading Science Center? Help us spread the word!

Lazer Libby

Volunteer

After moving back to the Greater Reading area, Libby Barwis knew retirement would not mean slowing down. With a lifelong love of science and a history of volunteering, including seven years as a science fair judge, Libby found a perfect fit at the Reading Science Center. You'll find Libby guiding field trip groups, exploring exhibits with students, and taking Science Storytime into local libraries. One of her favorite parts of volunteering is seeing the creative ways children approach a challenge and discovering right alongside them.

Hypothesis Heather

Assistant Director of Programming

Hypothesis Heather is originally from Slippery Rock, PA, where she went to high school and college. Heather majored in Math and minored in Computer Science. After college, she was a computer programmer in Pittsburgh for 18 years managing teams of programmers in 4 different countries. She has lived in Texas, Oklahoma, New York, and Germany. After completing her master’s degree in Education she became a teacher, certified to teach grades 7-12 Math and Computer Science in PA and NY. She taught Middle School STEM in NY for 10 years and, for the last 3 years, at Southwest Middle School in Reading. She is excited to have joined the Reading Science Center team!! She spends time with her 3 grandchildren and loves baseball. She and her husband are working on visiting all 30 MLB parks!

The following new member has joined the Reading Science Center Board of Directors. She brings a diverse range of expertise and community-focused leadership to support the Center’s mission of inspiring and educating future generations through STEM initiatives.

Courtney Powers

Director of Community Engagement

Tower Health at Reading Hospital

Courtney Powers joined the Reading Science Center Board of Directors in July 2026 with a strong belief in the importance of inspiring curiosity and fostering a lifelong interest in STEM.  Courtney is the Director of Community Engagement for Tower Health at Reading Hospital.  She has spent over a decade promoting health and wellness in our community.  Part of that work included completing the Leadership Schuylkill and Leadership Berks programs as well as serving on the Board of Directors of Helping Harvest.  At the Reading Science Center, she hopes to create opportunities that encourage the next generation to explore, learn and make a difference in our community.  A graduate of Immaculata University, Courtney earned her MBA from Alvernia University.  She and her family live in Cressona, PA.