Science serves as inspiration for the Saint Louis Science Center’s WONDER: A Quantum Blast, where curiosity and community converge for a cause, on October 4. While the evening aims to ignite the scientist inside everyone, its impact extends far beyond the evening’s festivities.
Support from the nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser of the year allows the Science Center to continue opening doors to science for all ages and backgrounds.
As one of the nation’s few free nonprofit science museums, the Science Center is committed to making STEM learning accessible to people from every background. The museum serves hundreds of thousands of people each year, both at its facility on Oakland Avenue and through outreach activities across the St. Louis metro area—and WONDER will help make that possible.
“St. Louis is a science city that is home to remarkable institutions and individuals across a wide range of STEM fields,” notes Mark Sawyier, Science Center board of commissioners member and chair for WONDER, along with his wife, Laura. “The Science Center brings all of those fields together and delivers it in an accessible way for everyone. When we think of institutions that are important parts of our community, the Science Center and its programming are at the top of the list.”
How WONDER supports the Science Center and greater community
Funds raised from WONDER directly support the St. Louis community and fuel the Science Center’s efforts to bring science to life both inside and outside its walls. Those funds help build new interactive exhibits, host community events at parks and schools, and expand opportunities through programs such as the Youth Exploring Science (YES) program, the Preschool Science Series, youth camps, the Community STEM Showcase, and more.
These wide-reaching efforts illustrate the Science Center’s mission “to inspire everyone to be curious and engaged in science.” Inside the museum, each gallery and exhibit is designed to ignite curiosity, whether it’s a child peering through a telescope for the first time or an adult rediscovering the thrill of experimentation. This approach reflects its core belief: Science belongs to everyone, and discovery should be as accessible as it is inspiring.
By committing to these programs and furthering the growth of STEM-based education, St. Louis can expand the region’s place in the global science landscape. Science and STEM have a place in everyone’s world and are the basis for an ever-changing world, providing a foundation for critical-thinking, team-building, and adaptability that prepare the next generation of innovators. In this way, the Science Center is more than a museum; it is a community anchor shaping the city’s future.
Experience a night of WONDER
That curiosity will abound at WONDER, which the Science Center hosts October 4 from 6–10 p.m. The evening follows a “cosmic cocktail party” theme, though formal wear is not required.
Guests will ignite their inner scientist throughout the evening, with hands-on scientific experiences, dinner and drinks, entertainment, and a WONDERful afterparty. As a special treat, Dr. Mark Wrighton, chairman of the Science Center’s board of commissioners and chancellor emeritus at WashU, will perform live chemistry demonstrations, supported by Science Center president and CEO Dr. Ray Vandiver.
The event chairs are Mark and Laura Sawyier, St. Louis-based STEM entrepreneurs. Anne and John McDonnell of McDonnell Douglas, as well as Dr. Wrighton and his wife, Risa Zwerling Wrighton, will serve as honorary chairs.
“We want to embrace the ‘science of St. Louis’ and capture our region’s spirit of curiosity,” Laura Sawyier says of the event. “These are things that connect us all. The name ‘wonder’ drives that and encourages us to have a bit of fun.”
Although the glow of the event may last just one night, its impact will endure. The funds raised through WONDER will inspire young minds, fuel new exhibits, and strengthen programs that make science part of daily life in St. Louis. Each contribution ensures the Science Center can continue opening doors to discovery for every visitor, no matter their age or background.
Because in the end, WONDER isn’t about a single night. It is about sparking a lifetime of curiosity and ensuring that in St. Louis, science remains for everyone.
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of the Saint Louis Science Center. Learn more about this event or purchase tickets by visiting slsc.org.
