Science &
Living Systems
In our East Gallery, our life
sciences collection and
laboratory deepen visitors’
understanding of the building
blocks of life. Exhibits and
demonstrations examine
the fundamental elements
common to all living things,
offering experiences rarely
available outside of working
science labs.
Aaron Vermut and
Adriana Lopez Vermut
Barbara and Stephan Vermut
Wilkins Family
Wilson Family Foundation
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WHEN SHE CAME TO US IN 2011, SHAWNTEL
OKONKWO was a City College of San Francisco
student interested in the biological sciences. As a
Living Systems intern, Shawntel worked alongside
scientists and technicians studying a variety of
organisms including fish, plants, insects, and cells.
She learned to operate and maintain state-of-theart lab equipment, took on a project involving
a bioluminescent marine microorganism that
caught her interest, and created and presented a
demonstration for an Exploratorium After Dark event.
This Exploratorium internship had a huge impact on
Shawntel. This year, she’s graduating from a four-year
institution, conducting research at UCSF, applying for
graduate school and a National Science Foundation
fellowship, has co-authored one paper, and will soon
be first author of another. The unique environment
and access to top-notch laboratory equipment in our
lab gave Shawntel an opportunity to explore, firsthand, a career in science.
Anonymous
Anthony Bernhardt and
Lynn Feintech
John P. “Abi” Britton
T. Robert and Katherine S. Burke
Barbara A. Carbone and
Gregg Lyman
Dan and Stacey Case Family
Foundation
Mr. Nicolas Cassis
Tim Dattels and Kristine Johnson
Tom DeFilipps and Ann Baskins
The Ehmann-Conte Family
Roger Evans and Aey Phanachet
Patricia W. Fitzpatrick
Adele J. Goldberg and Dennis Allison
The Handlery Foundation
Hobson Family Foundation
Joseph Michael Horwitz Jr.
The Ishiyama Foundation
Art and Alison Kern
Richard Laiderman and
Jung-Wha Song
Mrs. L. W. Lane, Jr.
Chris Larsen and Lyna Lam
David and Naja Lockwood
Juann and Michael Luxton
Amy McCombs and
Frederick P. Currier
John and Leslie McQuown
Cameron Atherton Phleger
Jeanne and Sanford Robertson
Rob and Theresa Ryan
Leonard Shustek and
Donna Dubinsky
Ellie and Skip Smith
H. Marcia Smolens and
Richard Rubin
David and Susan Tunell
Sandy and Jennifer Williams
Wilson Meany
Roger and Ruth Wu
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Marilyn Burns and Jeffrey Sellon
The Rudolph Cluff Family
Exploratorium Staff
The Hayse Family/The Leonard C.
and Mildred F. Ferguson
Foundation
George F. Jewett Foundation
Steve and Karla Jurvetson
David and Deborah Kane
Langendorf Foundation
Clyde and Janet Ostler
Nicholas and Susan Pritzker
Roselyne Chroman Swig
Jay and Judy Welker
Esther and Stan Wojcicki
Lucelia Wolff
Charles D. Zucker
�
Nancy and Joachim Bechtle
Britton Family
Jeffrey and Kirby Burke
Jack and Mary Carsten
S. H. Cowell Foundation
David Davies and Jack Weeden
Anne and Adrian Dollard
Phyllis and Bill Draper
Kathie and James Dullanty
Bob Epstein and Amy Roth
The Evans Family
Sallie Griffith
Kevin King and Meridee Moore
Michael Lampert
Mattison Family
Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence T. Papay
Karl Pietri
Alison and Mark Pincus
Ropes & Gray LLP
Raj and Soo Venkatesan