Riders Ready: Discovery Lab Visitors Can Explore the Science of BMX
Who knew so much science is wrapped up in a bike? On March 7, Discovery Lab, Tulsa’s nonprofit, interactive children’s museum at 3123 Riverside, will celebrate the grand opening of “Riders Ready,” a new exhibit exploring the physics, engineering, earth science and more behind the popular sport of BMX bicycle racing.
According to Lynnsey Childress-Wimp, Discovery Lab deputy director and COO, the exhibit is inspired by USA BMX Foundation’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) curriculum. Discovery Lab designed and fabricated the exhibit in-house, and several of its interactive stations include film footage of the actual USA BMX track located at the organization’s national headquarters in Tulsa at 490 N. Lansing Ave.
“It’s uniquely Tulsa and unique to Tulsa,” Childress-Wimp says.
Fun and learning for all ages
Childress-Wimp says the exhibit is intuitive and interactive, with something for all ages, but the educational content is particularly suited to elementary-aged kids. Discovery Lab hosts close to 40,000 field trip visitors annually, a large number of which are Tulsa Public Schools students. Riders Ready will provide TPS teachers the opportunity to make fun and useful connections to the classroom, while reinforcing State Academic Standards through novel hands-on exploration.
While learning is at the heart of this exhibit and Discovery Lab’s mission, at its core, Riders Ready is just plain fun.
“I like to say, ‘Young or older, everybody is going to have a great time,’” Childress-Wimp says.
Exploring the exhibit
The exhibit blends digital technology with physical assets in 10 stations. Visitors can build their own virtual bike, mixing and matching components on a giant screen, use real-world, industry-specific tools to practice repairs, experience the physical and mental connection necessary for a quick race start, design their own track and even learn how to balance a freestyle bike.
“The experience is highly collaborative,” Childress-Wimp says. “It’s more than just playing on a bike. We’re actually practicing some really critical process skills that are great for students to develop.”
Riders Ready was created in collaboration with the USA BMX Foundation with funding from the Hardesty Family Foundation. Entrance to the exhibit, which is on display for the next 12-18 months, is included with regular admission to the museum. Once the exhibit ends its run at Discovery Lab, plans are in place to tour the exhibit at children’s museums and science centers across the nation over the next decade.
For more information on Discovery Lab, visit discoverylab.org. For more on USA BMX Foundation, go to usabmxfoundation.org.
Julie Wenger Watson is a freelance writer who’s worked in all aspects of music promotion. She’s also Co-Director of “Live From Cain’s,” a public radio show pilot.
