Any ideas on a historic Forest Hills space that can be acquired, restored, and creatively reused to fulfill the mission of a highly beneficial science public charity? Building owners, developers, and community residents can contact Michael Perlman, Chair of Rego-Forest Preservation Council at
unlockthevault@hotmail.com
Science-A-Peel Might Give Birth To A Forest Hills Brain Science Center
by
Michael Perlman of the Forest Hills Times/Queens Ledger
http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/21428218/article-Science-A-Peel-Might-Give-Birth-To-A-Forest-Hills-Brain-Science-Center
Science is universal, from the air we breathe to the change of
seasons to our manmade creations, and certainly what designates Forest
Hills as “Forest Hills.” Meet Lisa O’Keefe, a dedicated Greenlawn, NY,
resident who had a vision leading to the creation of Science-A-Peel,
Inc. in January 2010.
It was founded as a public charity in New
York State, with a mission of implementing a greater participatory level
of public education in the science field. Science-A-Peel was coined to
“peel back the layers to better understand how science addresses modern
day issues.”
Now O’Keefe has high hopes of further developing
that vision by opening the first science center of its kind in New York:
a Brain Science Center in Forest Hills. She is gathering input on
potential sites and drumming up community support.
The center
would be viable to all; inclusive of ESL needs, the hearing and
sight-impaired, and physically handicapped. In addition to coordinating
diverse events, exhibits would be hands-on, interactive, utilize
animatronics, and consistently rotate.
“There is no branch of
science and no aspect of life that cannot be linked to the brain and
then questioned,” she said. “Why do artists use certain colors in
paintings, and why do sports improve brain function?”
Science-A-Peel
will seek related sponsors, such as art galleries and sports
organizations, and visualizes bonding with various Queens organizations.
A brain museum would also be unique, since there are only two other
brain museums, one in Europe and another in Wisconsin, according to
O’Keefe.
Science-A-Peel is trying to acquire a Forest Hills
building with old world charm between 3,000 and 9,000 square feet. A
low-end purchase or a tax donation would be ideal, where the donor’s
name would be used as part of the center’s name.
Possibilities
are commercial properties, theaters, religious sites, banks, and
firehouses, as long as it is asbestos-free. With a contractor on board
who restored historic homes and museums throughout New York and
Connecticut, the firm agreed to restore the center’s historic façade. If
distinctive decorative features exist within, those would also undergo
restoration and be incorporated into an interior showcasing hands-on
exhibits.
A great example of creative reuse is Binghamton’s
Roberson Museum and Science Center, which sensitively converted the
historic Roberson Mansion.
O’Keefe values preservation, not solely upon aesthetic beauty, history, and culture, but as a science.
“Architecture
is an important part of the hard sciences, based upon the materials
used or how a building is constructed,” she said. “It also reflects
social sciences, where you get a glimpse of the builder and a
community’s people.”
One may speculate, “Why Forest Hills?”
O’Keefe views Forest Hills as a heavily populated, accessible, and
diverse area. Its board of directors shares in that diversity.
“They
are uniquely qualified to devise exhibits that address diverse learning
styles of the general public,” stated O’Keefe, who has a background in
teaching, broadcasting, and government. “One board member is a
psychologist specializing in Autism, and another opened 22 science
centers in the U.S.”
Despite some great teachers and science
centers, New York State has the 7th lowest proficiency in science,
according to O’Keefe, who put part of the blame on budget cuts.
“Many
students are not performing in the highest percentiles, such as ESL
students or students with learning disabilities,” she said. “Teachers
only have so much time with students, so Science-A-Peel developed
diverse methods of getting students interested in learning science.”
One
example of how Science-A-Peel will interact is by offering customized
lesson plans for free, as well as composing material in a few languages.
Naomi
and Gregory Sam of Bayside bring their eight year-old daughter Kristen
Sam to Forest Hills’ Belle Arti Center for the Arts weekly. “Science
programs are weak, basic, and repetitive in Queens elementary schools,
so visiting this center would expose our daughter to more science and a
different way of learning,” said Naomi.
Kristen expressed her
interest in future visits. “I’ve been learning about the solar system
and matter in school, but I want to learn about volcanoes, hurricanes,
and tornadoes,” she said.
Business owner Peter Kambitsis of Ripe Juice Bar and Exo Café recognizes potential for a science center. “Forest
Hills has a diverse and very educated crowd, and it is great to
introduce something that will help develop our education,” he said.
“Everything is easily accessible, too.”
As for potential sites,
he said, “I envision a science center along Metropolitan Avenue where
real estate is more economical and there are historic businesses such as
Eddie’s Sweet Shop. If a site cannot be secured in Forest Hills,
Flushing Meadow’s New York State Pavilion should be a candidate under a
public-private partnership.”
As our brain convinces us to
question nature, it is intriguing to determine what led O’Keefe on her
path. Her greatest influences are her parents. On a personal level, they
taught her about reputation and living life to the fullest with
passion, honesty, and integrity.
“On a professional level, I have
admired their career paths and have incorporated their zeal and
knowledge in my own life,” she said.
Her father, Lt. Col, John F.
Vallone (retired USAF), worked with the Atlas-Agena rocket and
transitioned to head the recovery missions for the Mercury, Gemini and
Apollo space missions for the Middle East, Africa, and Indian Ocean. Her
mother, Louise Vallone, had a unique teaching background which helped
advance her knowledge of the sciences.
“She taught me word game
associations to help memorize facts, and diverse hands-on activities to
increase my learning in a fun, active way,” O’Keefe said. “This
was vastly ahead of its time, and proved decades later to be the way to
educate diverse learners.”
Nicole Crowley coordinates creative
fundraising events for Science-A-Peel, which educates the public about
science in a family-based environment. In August 2012, she hosted a
charity night in Maspeth and “The Amazing Kreskin” in Port Washington.
“The
Great Greenlawn Sciencebed Race & Parade” is held annually. In the
summer, there will be a traveling science exhibit, and Science-A-Peel
will visit schools and libraries which request it.
Now in its
fifth season, their weekly show “Science Is Appealing” highlights a
branch of science and its relation to modern day issues, such as
overpopulation and its environmental compromise, as well as bees,
neuroscience, and radiology.
The public can be a co-host.
Segments air on Cablevision channel 115 and are recapped at
www.scienceapeel.com. In addition, Science-A-Peel’s interactive mission
is fulfilled through website features including “Ask The Scientist” and
the “Science Resource.”
“At all of our events, we are meeting people from Queens who show an interest,” said O’Keefe.
The
public has been responding favorably by donating beneficial products
for future exhibits, such as computers, flat screen televisions, and
kits for robotics, earth science, and microscopes. Donation and
sponsorship opportunities help make learning much more accessible and
enjoyable. Enrich your brain by interacting with Science-A-Peel, and
play a role in your future by offering a permanent home in Forest Hills.
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