September 2025
BREWING UP NEW FLAVORS
Big news is brewing at Orlando Science Center! Travis Toot and our Coffee Spot Team recently went on a flavor-filled expedition to Barnie’s Coffee to create something truly special: three one-of-a-kind coffee blends made just for the Science Center!
After taste testing 50 different flavors (from very sweet to tart and fruity to savory and nutty) the team worked with the Barnie's Coffee professionals to identify their three favorite flavor profiles
A delicious trio of blends were created that are as unique as our exhibits:
Fossil Fuel (Maple Custard Pecan): A rich, nutty brew perfect for fueling your next dino dig
Love Bridge Brew (Carrot Cake Infusion): A sweet sip inspired by our rainbow skybridge
Tamarin Treat (Banana, Brown Sugar & Vanilla): A fruity delight that pairs perfectly with our rainforest friends
Starting on September 1, you can grab a cup of coffee made specifically for OSC, or you can buy these blends in bagged form at the Coffee Spot and enjoy them at home
The new flavors are a perfect excuse to come back again and again because coffee (and science) is best enjoyed daily!
Coffee Spot will be brewing one of the three unique blends daily to give people a chance to taste the new flavors
OSC UPDATES OF
The HeART of OSC
Our next Fusion STEAM Gallery show, The HeART of OSC, is on display from September 6 through December 7 and features art from OSC staff and volunteers This exhibition is a celebration of the creativity that lives at the heart of our organization
We'll have dozens of pieces of art on display ranging from paintings, photos, sculptures, textiles, and more!
Make sure to stop by to see art such as a handmade dress by Mona de Torres which opens the discussion of textiles as geometry, math, and experimentation. Or digital art from Anastasia Vakh that blends microscopic photography with fun doodles of outer space.
Thank you to everyone who will be participating in this upcoming show!
Time 2 get “Xtreme”!
Gear up and strap in because math is about to go off the rails in 2TheXtreme! Our newest traveling exhibit features real-world examples of math in action: shredding a half-pipe, producing soundtracks, designing skyscrapers, and so much more.
The exhibit introduces guests to the Botz, an animated pit crew who guide people through various mathematical challenges. Each Bot specializes in a specific skill set to help guests complete the challenges throughout the exhibit
2TheXtreme opens on Saturday, September 27 with a Member-only preview from 10:00am - 12:00pm
SPARKS
Dylan Bartley
Mac Bodden
Carissa Clay
Solaris Coton
Grace Crissy
Carl Darden
Alyssa Flores
Jennifer Flores Zamot
Jillian Gelfand
Esha Gill
Yami Gonzalez
Jaz Griffiths
Beth Hall
Caprice High
Jill Johnson-Collier
Sky Lindeman
Zachary Mailhot
Andrianna Mcleod
Anna Meyer
Valentine Murphy
Gina Owen
Cory Owens
Abby Palmer
Ben Robb
Sol Roldan-Sissa
Luis Santos Gonzalez
Hannah Sigler
Beck Steele
Elizabeth Tyson
Jenny Volz
Alison Walminski
Patrick Walsh
Angela Wiles
Shannon Zimmerman
MANDI CUTTING
Mandi’s STAR of the Month nomination is quick to sing her praises for “leading a giant list of big projects to keep us in working order during a wild summer ” She consistently helps keep our building updated and refreshed.
From regular maintenance, to unplanned repairs, to special projects – Mandi works hard to ensure the building is ready to go for our staff, volunteers, and guests
Mandi’s nomination shared a specific example of her help to provide updates to the shared workspaces in RD2 and how communicative, hands-on, and “wonderful she was to work with on this project for the team!”
Thank you, Mandi!
SEPTEMBER
MONTH
Step into a world where dragons breathe plasma, wizards wield chemistry, and time travelers rocket through space! Science has never been this spellbinding! Pleasecheckthewebsite
SEPT 6 & 7
SAT & SUN Bank of America Weekend
SEPT 6
The HeART of OSC Opens
Community Partner Showcase Day
SEPT 13 SAT
Storytime Cinema “Charlotte’s Web” SEPT 13
SEPT 27 SAT
2TheXtreme Opens
SEPT 7
DC Superheroes Last Day SEPT 6
SEPT 14 SUN $15 Day
SEPT 17 & 18
WED & THU All Staff Meetings
Exploring the Brain’s Social Circuits
For National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting Dr. Nancy Padilla-Coreano, a Puerto Rican neuroscientist at the University of Florida Her research explores how brain circuits shape social behavior, with the goal of improving mental health treatments
Dr Padilla-Coreano uses innovative tools like optogenetics and machine learning to study anxiety and depression. Her journey, from music lover to brain researcher, is a testament to curiosity and perseverance.
She encourages young scientists “to embrace the process and stay passionate!” Let’s celebrate her contributions and the vibrant impact of Hispanic scientists in Florida and beyond!
Learn more about Dr. Padilla-Coreano’s research at www.padillacoreanolab.com
COMMUNITY COMMENTS
Our visit was truly amazing We were so impressed with everything. We stayed over 5 hours and didn't even experience everything.
This was my firsttime visitingwithmy children and we allhadan incredible time. We lookforwardto the reopeningofthe planetarium.
Wewerevisitingfrom Jacksonvilleandfriends recommendedOSC.LOVEDIT!We weresurprisedwiththesize, amountofactivitiesand excellentfocusonscience.
OSC is a staple for our family Our teenagers have grown up here, and we bring our young foster children as well It has been a privilege watching it evolve over time
Myhusband and I made the decision to get married at OSC before we even got engaged! We would live our wedding day all over again because we just had the best time!
Welovethehands-onlearningin theexhibits.Plusit'sALWAYSair conditionedsowecanenjoyour dayevenduringthesummer.
Sensory Room Now Open on Level 4
We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our new permanent Sensory Room on Level 4, created in collaboration with KultureCity and presented by AdventHealth for Children.
This dedicated space offers a safe, calming environment for people with sensory needs to take a break if the museum becomes overwhelming
While most of us are familiar with the five primary senses – sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch –neuroscientists recognize three additional systems:
1 vestibular (balance)
2 proprioception (body awareness)
3 interoception (internal sensations)
Together, these eight senses make up our sensory processing system, which helps us interpret and respond to the world around us.
For individuals with sensory processing challenges, this system may function differently, sometimes leading to sensory overload.
The Sensory Room is designed to support those with sensory processing challenges by offering a quiet space to regroup and recharge W E L C O M E T O T H E T E A M
Holley Peterson
Camille Sly
Coco Hannon
Amy Loveless
Emilee Agapay
Sarah Brown
Kailey King
Carvyn Encarnacion
Terrell Harris
Erica Gass
The room is available for use by one individual, family, or group at a time and is open to anyone who may need it.
The room features carpeted floors and walls, a dimmer switch for lighting, and a variety of sensory tools, including:
Three Sensory Bean Bags with a cocoon-like and plush design
A NunoErin Cube, which provides a sensory experience through 12 interactive, touchsensitive lights
A Nanoleaf Light Panel customized to paint gentle animations of color and light
Two Air Walls that create captivating visuals by utilizing air to launch small Styrofoam balls
Four manipulative touch panels provide soothing activities to give the mind a break.
A textured sensory wall that simulates dinosaur skin.
A custom OSC tactile art piece created by an artist with autism, meant to be touched.
you’d