Today the world focuses again on the accomplishment of John Glenn and NASA in celebrating the fact that exactly 50 years ago, the world stopped while Glenn orbited the world three times as the first United States astronaut to do so. I vividly remember sitting in my classroom as we were riveted with the journey and holding our breath collectively with the danger of re-entry with a suspected problem with the heat shield.

The opening of our exhibition this Saturday, RACE: Are We So Different? has reminded me of my own special up-close opportunity associated with the science underlying our new exhibition. I was able in the last 10 years to personally engage with the leading scientists behind the recent definitive change in the science behind the concept of race.

RACE: Are We So Different? was highlighted by the President of Columbus City Council and our 8 minute introductory video was shown, as seen in this phone camera shot. I am thrilled to see the potential of this COSI offering as a tool for community dialogue and understanding. I can’t wait for its opening January 28.

While many of us were getting the favorite family dishes out on the table Thanksgiving Day, one of COSI families were unexpectedly and shockingly going through the loss of the family patriarch, David Castle, Sr. Felled by a sudden heart attack, the Castle family day went from joy to tragedy with his death. With shock the rest of us found out during the course of the day by text messages and e-mails we picked up—creating an awkward internal tension between our personal joys and gratitude on Thanksgiving and our sense of personal grief and the unconscionable anguish we knew the Castle family had been thrust into.

TED conferences have become world famous—with some of the most brilliant talks and speakers you can ever find congregated at one place.

TEDx, the approved expansion into local versions have now spread worldwide.

TEDx Youth is a new concept that will play out in about 50 cities worldwide, but one of the earliest took place today at COSI.

We have a team here at the annual international Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) conference in Baltimore. This is THE international gathering of science centers from around the world.

We had the COSI team up on stage at the opening session inviting everyone to join us in Columbus next year. Having COSI getting more and more international attention for some of our innovative partnerships with The Ohio State University and others, there is an anticipation among our colleagues to visit COSI and Columbus.