New names flowing into Toledo’s Science Center

New name suggestions for the tentatively named Toledo Science Center, formerly COSI Toledo, are flowing in at the rate of more than one per hour.

Science Center officials have announced the deadline for elementary school classes to qualify to win one of two free pizza parties and extreme science demonstrations is being extended one more week only. To qualify, a teacher must certify all members of a class have submitted a name idea by Friday, March 6, 2009. So far, 15 elementary school classes have qualified.

“We’re really encouraged. A lot of the names show great creativity,” said Robert C. Savage, vice chair of the Science Center and chair of the Create a Great Name Committee. “We’re excited about extending the date for entire classrooms to participate together.  We are seeing a lot of enthusiasm with the entries and look forward to seeing more.”

Individuals of all ages have until March 20, 2009, to submit their name ideas.

The 20-member Great Name Committee will meet and review all the entries and narrow the field. It will send a short list of name ideas to the Science Center’s Board of Trustees to select the new name.

Naming ideas can be submitted four ways.

• Mailed to “Naming Entry,” 1 Discovery Way, Toledo, Ohio, 43604.

• Online at www.toledosciencecenter.org

• E-mailed to [email protected]

• Faxed to “Naming Entry,” at 419-255-2674.

No phone-call entries will be accepted.

In addition, everyone who submits a name (along with their parents and teacher) will be invited to a special sneak preview event of the new science center later this year.

Lucas County residents voted in favor of a small property tax in November to fund the center’s operations, enabling it to re-open in fall 2009.

About the Toledo Science Center

The Toledo Science Center (www.toledosciencecenter.org) is a children’s museum and science center delivering science- and technology-based programming to youth and their families throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. This not-for-profit organization is located in downtown Toledo and has served nearly three million visitors from its opening, March 1997, through December 2007, when it was forced to close its doors. In the interim, the organization continued to operate its popular outreach programs.