
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 14, 1993                   TAG: 9310130494
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-29   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MELANIE S. HATTER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MUSEUM TO USE GRANT FOR ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITS

The Science Museum of Western Virginia has received a $100,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to buy exhibits for the museum.

It's the biggest gift the museum has ever had, Director Kenneth Schutz said during Center in the Square's recent annual board meeting.

The grant will allow him and his staff to "think through our mission and what scientific concepts we want to concentrate on."

The museum's staff members will visit the Exploratorium in San Francisco, a think tank for new science exhibits that co-sponsored the grant, where they can purchase state-of-the-art items for display. Schutz said he expects to get about 30 different exhibits with the grant, which will be issued next spring.

Schutz said one exhibit he wants is a tornado simulator to enhance the museum's weather gallery.

"It's that kind of sizzle" that will capture people's attention and lead them to learn the importance of meteorology, he said. The displays should be in place in early 1995 to mark the museum's 25th anniversary, Schutz said.

by CNB