North Carolina Science Network

02/26/2026

🌄 Western NC Museums Receive $1 MILLION for Hurricane Helene Recovery!

✨ Ten Western NC museums are receiving $1 MILLION to support recovery from Hurricane Helene’s impact on tourism and facilities. Thanks to the North Carolina Science Network, Dogwood Health Trust and the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, each museum will receive $100,000 to strengthen long‑term resiliency and continue serving thousands of children across our region.

🪐 Funding recipients include Hands On Children's Museum-WNC, KidSenses Children's INTERACTIVE Museum, Asheville Museum of Science, Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, Highlands Biological Station, Grandfather Mountain Nature Center, FIND Outdoors, WNC Nature Center, and The North Carolina Arboretum.

According to NC Science Network President and Chair, Joseph Knight: “This investment from Dogwood Health Trust and the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust is a lifeline for many of our Western NC museums, who continue to navigate substantial challenges caused by Hurricane Helene. This funding ensures the continuation of vital educational services for Western NC's most vulnerable populations.”

🚀 Western NC Museums welcome 1.5 million visitors each year and generate $63 million in economic impact. After Helene, these museums reported $5.9 million in combined revenue losses—making this support a vital lifeline as Western NC continues to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

🌎 Thus far, this is the only economic relief Western NC museums have recieved—and we’re excited to celebrate the work they do to inspire STEM learning throughout their immediate communities and region!

04/09/2025

The NC Science Network is committed to ensuring its TEN WNC Museums who have been adversley affected by Hurricane Helene receive the support needed to meet the needs of children and families in WNC. While it's been six months since this natural disaster, support is still needed for these museums that are cultural anchors and economic engines for their communities. Learn more at ncsciencenet.org.

For more information, please visit:https://www.ncsciencenet.org

03/21/2024

It is with great sadness that we share the recent passing of Karl McKinnon. Karl was a founding Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative member in the early 1990s and most recently served as Bookkeeper & Administrator — but he was really our historian and greatest promoter. Karl's most significant impact within North Carolina museums was his excitement and passion for the industry and making it accessible to all children regardless of age, interest, or economic ability. His love for museums and passion for life-long learning were infectious.

Karl’s impact on the museum community in North Carolina was huge. He will be greatly missed. If you would like to join us in honoring his legacy, a service celebrating his life will take place on Friday, March 22nd at 2:30pm at The Pointe Church in Belmont, NC.

Donations honoring Karl’s legacy can be made to:

The Schiele Museum Paleo Project - 1500 E. Garrison Blvd. Gastonia, NC 28054
Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative (NC Science Network) - 2230 E. Franklin Blvd, STE 100, PMB 239 Gastonia, NC 28054
The Pointe Church - PO Box 908 Belmont, NC 28012

01/24/2024

Over the past two days we welcomed over 50 attendees from 29 institutions to the 2024 NC Science Network annual meeting in Wilmington, NC! What a wonderful group of people working to promote science education throughout North Carolina. Thank you to Cape Fear Museum and The Children's Museum of Wilmington for hosting and thank you to Secretary Reid Wilson for joining us!