The Tech Interactive

The atrium inside The Tech Interactive, showing all three levels

The Tech Interactive (formerly The Tech Museum of Innovation, commonly known as The Tech)<ref name="NewName">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Murky">Template:Cite news</ref> is a science and technology center that offers hands-on activities, labs, design challenges and other STEAM education resources. It is located in downtown San Jose, California, adjacent to the Plaza de César Chávez.

Description

IMAX Dome Theater showing "Mesmerica" in fall 2019

The building has a distinctive mango and azure color, and has three floors. On the lower level there is a complex multi-story sculpture titled Origin, inside a Template:Convert cylindrical tower. The artwork portrays relationships among art, technology, and natural resources of the earth.<ref name="Origin">Template:Cite web</ref> Near the entrance to the building, there is Science on a Roll, a popular rolling ball sculpture by George Rhoads.<ref name="Tech20"/> The front wall is inscribed with quotations from iconic Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Bill Hewlett, David Packard, Bob Noyce, and Gordon Moore.<ref name="McEnery">Template:Cite news</ref> The building was designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The IMAX Dome Theater,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> opened in 1998 and upgraded since then,<ref name="Tech20" /> shows mainstream movies as well as educational films. It is Northern California's only domed IMAX theater and has the first dome laser projector in the world, seating up to 280 people.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Tech is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Planning began in 1978 by members of the Junior League of Palo Alto, with later assistance by the San Jose Junior League.<ref name="Tech20">Template:Cite news</ref> The City of San Jose promised funding for a Technology Center of Silicon Valley in the 1980s, but progress was slow.<ref name="Tech20" />

The first Template:Convert temporary exhibit opened in 1990; The Garage, named in homage to the HP Garage,<ref name="NewName" /><ref name="Murky" /> was housed in San Jose's former convention center. On October 31, 1998, a brand-new Template:Convert facility was inaugurated, named The Tech Museum of Innovation.<ref name="Tech20" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2019, the organization was renamed as The Tech Interactive and announced a partnership with Discovery Education.<ref name="NewName" /><ref name="Murky" />

In 2018, an expansion of Tech Interactive by Template:Convert was proposed, as part of a major high-rise office development in Park Habitat.<ref name="Avalos">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Update inline

During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Tech Interactive temporarily closed for in-person visits in March, 2020, and published online STEM resources through "The Tech Interactive at Home", in English, and "The Tech Interactive en Casa", in Spanish.<ref name="Dorsey">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Programs

The Tech for Global Good

Template:Main The Tech for Global Good is a program aimed at inspiring young people to become problem-solvers who make the world a better place. It evolved from The Tech Awards, a yearly ceremony known as the Oscars of Silicon Valley<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in which individuals and organizations were recognized for their technological contributions to improving the human condition. In 2016, The Tech announced<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> it was expanding The Tech Awards program<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> from a once-a-year event to a year-round program with educational materials and exhibits.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since then, Tech for Global Good has focused every year on a different theme, such as health care or data. It honors organizations under that theme as its laureates for the year,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> focusing on their problem-solving abilities in lesson plans, videos and other materials<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for students.

The Tech Challenge

The Tech Challenge is a design challenge competition for students Grades 4–12.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since its inception in 1988, more than 25,000 students have participated in the program, in which teams of students use the engineering design process to solve a real-world problem. In past years, participants have been asked to design and build a hovercraft; a structure to withstand an earthquake; and a device to deliver water, among other challenges. One of the program's key goals is to engage students underrepresented in STEM fields.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Tech Academies

The Tech Academies program, launched in 2014, provides in-depth professional development for educators to help them integrate high-quality STEM curriculum in their classrooms in Silicon Valley. The two-year Tech Academies Fellowship program, through The Tech and San José State University’s College of Science, trains educators in STEM instruction, with a focus on engineering and computer science. In 2020, the Tech Academies program received the EdCom award for Innovation in Museum Education from the American Alliance of Museums,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in 2019 it won the Excellence in Museum Education award from the California Association of Museums<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the office of the state superintendent of education.

School programs

The Tech offers in-person and virtual field trips to school groups from September to June each year.

The Tech offers field trip scholarships to underserved schools.

Exhibits

Lower level

• Social Robots: Using sensors, controllers, and actuators, this exhibit allows visitors to design and build robots.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Body Motion: Sensors in this exhibit allow visitors to see how their movement and interactions affect their physical, social, and emotional health.
• Space Exploration: This exhibit showcases innovations in space, including a maneuverable Jet Pack chair.
• Solve for Earth: This exhibit opened in 2021 and teaches guests about living sustainably and how their actions impact the environment, highlighting the work of scientists and emerging technologies to battle the climate crisis.<ref name="Dorsey"/>
• Cyber Detectives: Presented by Palo Alto Networks, this interactive exhibit opened on June 3, 2015 and teaches visitors cyber security through “training modules” and a cybersecurity mission.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Tech Studio: An open-to-the-public workshop space where visitors participate in maker-style activities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Upper level

• Body Worlds Decoded: Opened on October 15, 2017, this permanent exhibition in partnership with Body Worlds and sponsored by venture capitalist John Doerr and his wife Ann, features plastinated human anatomical specimens, supplemented by augmented reality created in partnership with the Institute for the Future and an Anatomage virtual dissection table.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="BWD">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="BWD-PR">Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Tech for Global Good: Opened in 2017, this exhibit features stories of innovators who have used technology to create solutions to pressing global problems, such as vaccine delivery, homelessness, and wildlife poaching. It is a part of the Tech for Global Good program.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
• Reboot Reality: Opened on May 26, 2017, visitors to this space can experience various types of immersive media.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
• Innovations in Healthcare: Presented by El Camino Hospital, this exhibit opened in 2016 and showcases the innovation process as seen in advances in health care technology.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Biodesign Studio: Opened in 2016, this exhibit allows visitors an exploration of the fields of synthetic biology, bioengineering, biological design, and DIY biology.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Past exhibits

Main entrance during the Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon exhibit, 2010

1998 – Grand Opening, five galleries: Innovation: Silicon Valley and Beyond, Life Tech: The Human Machine, Exploration: New Frontiers, Communications: Global Connections, and Center of the Edge (for shorter-term exhibits)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2002 – Imagination Playground exhibits: You Cannot Catch Me, Fuzzy Spot, PlayPath Dots, Bend The Rule, Glow Stones (Nami Orbs), Spy Houses, Maracas, Light Beads, Elusive Dots, Bug Puppet

2004 – Genetics: Technology with a Twist exhibits: A letter to policymaker, GeneKid Phone, Counselor Phone, Incubator, Gene Array Simulator, Wet Lab Counters<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2004 – Silicon Workshop exhibits: Hardwired Chip, Potato Head exhibit

2005 – NetPlanet (a.k.a. Internet 2004) exhibits: Crazy Connection, Internet Globe exhibit, Whack A Spam, Arm Wrestling, TrendPlay

2005 – Calpine (repurposed later into Green by Design) exhibit: Calpine bike-generator

2006 – Green by Design exhibits: SuperCap Cars exhibit, Energy Tower, Regenerative Braking, Sage Glass, Smart Window, Solar Collector, Solar Hybrid Lighting

2007 – Idea House<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2008 – The Tech Virtual Test Zone (Art Film and Music) exhibits: WikiSonic, Avatar Mirror, Connecting Point, Mashup Easel, MIDI VJ, Musical Chair, Tilty Table

2009 – Tech Awards Gallery (a.k.a. UcanTu) exhibits: Life-Line Radio, Bare Foot College, Tree of Hope, Adaptive Lens, Cell Bazaar, Template:As written Canopy, MorSand Filter<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 – Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery Phase I exhibits: Transistors, Speed of Processor, Intel Microchip, and sponsored exhibits from Nvidia, Google, and Adobe<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2011 – The Tech Test Zone exhibits: Digital Foam, PIXEL, Sound Circles, GigaPixel Viewer, Mmmtsss<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2012 – Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery Phase II exhibits: ReFace, Social Circles, Reactable

2014 – REBOOT: Music exhibit: Tim Thompson's Space Palette<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2014 – Body Metrics<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the past, The Tech rented out Parkside Hall from the City of San José to host traveling exhibits. In 2007, this hall was the home to the exhibit known as Body Worlds 2, which brought in more than 280,000 guests. In winter of 2008, there was a special Leonardo da Vinci exhibit (called Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future) that displayed some of his inventions, discoveries, and artwork; it ended January 25, 2009, after a three-week extension.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Tech also hosted Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination from October 19, 2013, to March 23, 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
• Exploratorium
• List of science centers

External links

• Website