Charlotte, NC on-location photography of Discovery Place, Charlotte's hands-on science museum located in downtown Charlotte NC. In this image, children explore and play in the "Explore More Life" lab, where visitors can engage in real-world science, design and conduct experiments and experience aquatic life.

Labs

Innovate. Invent. Inquire.
Perform your own experiments and create your own inventions! Labs at Discovery Place Science are one-of-a-kind environments where you can investigate real-world issues facilitated by Discovery Place Science educators. 

Unique lab workshops included in Museum Admission! 

May:

Weekday Labs (Monday–Friday)

  • Science of Salt | Weekdays April 21 – June 13 | 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
    Explore More Me on Level 2
    Stop by the lab to see some stunning salt-based chemical reactions!
  • Test That Tech | Weekdays April 21 – June 13 | 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    Explore More Me on Level 2
    Technology plays a huge role in helping scientists examine and understand the world! Utilize biomedical tools to observe cells, track your heartbeat, and measure joint movement.
  • Submerged Designs | Weekdays May 24 – September 7 | Open to Close
    Thinker Space on Level 3
    Dive into creativity in Thinker Space with our ocean-themed design challenges! Explore how engineering can help restore our coral reefs by building a biorock prototype, design a model of a deep-sea monster, or experiment with materials to create a scientific tool for underwater exploration.

Weekend Labs (Saturday & Sunday)

  • Seed to Sprout | Weekends in May | 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    KidScience on Level 1
    What does a plant need to survive? Tinker with light, water, air, and soil.
  • Maritime Medicine | Weekends April 26 – June 15 | Open to 12:00 p.m.
    Explore More Me on Level 2
    From the challenges that arise from medical emergencies at sea to the unique medical challenges presented by water, this experience explores where medicine and ocean meet.
  • From Molecules to Medicines | Weekends in May | 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
    Explore More Me on Level 2
    Explore the world of biomedical science from the microscopic to macroscopic level.
  • Chemical Clock | Weekends April 26 – June 15 | 2:00 p.m. to Close
    Explore More Me on Level 2
    Conduct the classic “iodine clock” experiment to explore the relationship between chemical concentration and reaction rate.
  • Biorock Coral Conservation | Weekends in May | Open to 1:00 p.m.
    Thinker Space on Level 3
    Join us in Thinker Space as we explore solutions to combat the climate crisis and save our coral reefs! Learn how biorock works, create a mini biorock model, or build some coral for our community reef.
  • Engineering for Underwater Exploration | Weekends in May | 1:30 p.m. to Close
    Thinker Space on Level 3
    Products used to explore the ocean must first be made waterproof! Experiment with materials to determine their waterproofing capabilities, develop a prototype of a scientific tool used for underwater exploration, and test your creation’s efficiency using special water detection patches.
  • Sustainability and Nature | Weekends April 21 – May 23 | 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
    Thinker Space on Level 3
    Join us in Thinker Space for activities that remind us why we should protect and respect our planet! Learn how you can make a difference, create upcycled art, and work through real-world challenges with a creative twist!

Special Features

  • Member Storytime | May 10 | 10:00 a.m.
    Quiz Show on Level 1
    Join us for an interactive story time as we read The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story, a story about a girl and her grandmother, a haenyeo who dives for ocean treasures off the coast of Jeju Island in South Korea.
  • World Oceans Day | June 8 | Open to Close
    Discovery Place Science

Ongoing Labs

  • Science Stories | Daily | 10:00 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.
    Quiz Show on Level 1
    Join us for an interactive story time featuring both new and classic children’s books that illuminate scientific phenomena.
  • Tiny Tinkering | Daily | 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    KidScience on Level 1
    Our youngest guests are invited to tinker, make, and play with loose parts, tools, and unexpected materials.
  • Growing Up Green | May 1 – May 23 | 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    KidScience on Level 1
    Learn about how we depend on our environment and how the smallest of actions can help our shared home.
  • Our Blue Planet | May 24 – September 7 | 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    KidScience on Level 1
    There is one ocean, and we all share it. Follow the current to learn how water moves, who lives in the water, and why humans depend on the sea.
  • Systematic Sounds | Daily | Open to 11:30 a.m.
    Tech Innovation Lab on Level 2
    Discover how technology can help us visualize sound as it moves through all types of matter!
  • Investigating the Physical World | Daily | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
    Tech Innovation Lab on Level 2
    Stop by to investigate the physical and computer concepts through minds-on demonstrations!
  • Watt Wonders | Daily | 1:30 p.m. to Close
    Tech Innovation Lab on Level 2
    Join the adventure into the world of energy—where it comes from, how we use it, and where it’s headed next!
  • Trash to Treasure | May 24 – September 7 | Open to Close
    Think It Up on Level 3
    Trash is a major problem in our oceans! The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is just one of many, which is a concern for the species that depend on clean ocean habitats. We can stop the problem at the source by recycling and repurposing waste. What treasures will you create using recycled materials?
  • Mindful Making | April 21 – May 23 | Open to Close
    Thinker Space on Level 3
    Learn how creativity can strengthen your brain’s problem-solving skills, reduce stress and anxiety, and help regulate emotions, memory, and your ability to generate new ideas!