Nonprofit Profile | Science a La Mode

Today is March 14.

Or, 3/14.

Or, 3.14

Recognize that last number? It’s the first three digits of pi, 22 divided by 7, that magical equation that marks the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

The Exploratorium, the nifty San Francisco science museum, has been celebrating Pi Day for a decade now, and today will offer exhibits, games, prizes, and, of course, pie. It’s par for the course for a nonprofit that has succeeded in making science fun, and in an era of science illiteracy, that’s quite an accomplishment. Places such as the Exploratorium are, yes, terrific places to take the kids on a rainy Saturday, but they’re so much more than that. Study after study shows that science education is hurting in the United States, so the more we can introduce young people to science and technology in a welcoming, engaging way, the better off we’ll be in the decades to come.

Bonus fact for Pi Day: It’s also Albert Einstein’s birthday.

Enjoy your pi!

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Tags: Pi, Pi Day, Exploratorium, Albert Einstein