Quest for science in Livermore

The former Livermore Science and Society Center is rebranding as Quest Science Center to “accurately describe the anticipated journey of scientific discovery and exploration,” the nonprofit organization announced this week.

The group’s new moniker and gold, pink and blue mountain peak logo “represents a journey where everyone is encouraged to question, understand and explore science and technology … through a variety of planned hands-on exhibits and immersive and interactive experiences,” and goes hand-in-hand with their plans to build a new Quest Science Center in Stockmen’s Park in the coming years.

More than 3,000 locals learned about water and wind through pop-up activities at both the Science Odyssey and the Innovation Fair earlier this year, and Quest will put a “special focus on climate” during the 50th Earth Day in April.

It’s these types of events that Quest intends to increase as part of their mission to cultivate a great public passion and appreciation for science.

“Our approach ensures that anyone — regardless of their age, education or knowledge of science fundamentals — can explore and learn at a level that’s right for them,” said Quest president and CEO Monya Lane. “They can go as far as their curiosity or interests take them — all the way to technical explanations or practical applications.”

With plans already happening for the past 2-1/2 years to build a permanent home in the heart of downtown Livermore, Quest is aiming to break ground on their future 18,000-square-foot center in 2022 and will launch an official fundraising campaign for the estimated $15 million construction job this coming year.

Quest hopes the site will pique the interest of locals about Livermore’s long history of ranching and winemaking, and to learn more about the contributions of the two national laboratories that call the city home.

The effort to establish a new center started in 2017 when a group of former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory colleagues and local figures decided that a science center would be a natural fit for downtown Livermore redevelopment plans, which also include an assortment of shops, restaurants, a hotel, a theater and a park.

“We want science to be accessible and approachable and to show how it impacts the way we learn, work and live in our ever-changing world,” said Alan Burnham, Quest founder and CFO. “We also want to spark interest in working in science and technology fields by collaborating with local education partners as well as Tri-Valley companies that are leaders in STEM fields.”

The Quest Science Center is scheduled to officially open its doors in 2023. Donations and grants are expected to fund most of the program development and outreach, and an active capital campaign will be underway soon. For more information, visit www.quest-science.org or call 292-8099.