Banner year shores up SNE's global presence.Known for their innovative and entertaining ways of communicating science, Science North Enterprises (SNE SNe Supernovae (astronomy) SNE Sony Corporation (stock symbol) SNE Syndicat National de l'edition (French Publisher's Association) SNE Society for Nutrition Education ) has developed a sterling international reputation for exporting their knowledge and unique multimedia products. The ten-employee business division of Science North is a global leader in the design and development of exhibits for tourist attractions around the world. Since their launch in 1995, the SNE presence appears in countless other science centres, zoos, aquariums and corporate visitors centres on just about every continent, providing everything from turnkey and customized multimedia exhibits to consulting services for start-ups. SNE generally averages about $2 million to $2.5 million annually in sales, but this is poised to be their best year ever, with $3 million of sales already posted. "This year is already a good year. There's some big projects we're hoping to close," says sales and business development manager Rick MacKenzie. Though small in employee numbers, the spin-off subsidiary of the Sudbury-based science centre is able to tap into the vast resources and collective brainpower brain·pow·er n. 1. Intellectual capacity. 2. People of well-developed mental abilities: a country that doesn't value its brainpower. Noun 1. of the entire staff of Sudbury's biggest tourist attraction. MacKenzie says CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Jim Marchbank and science director Alan Nursall Alan Nursall is a Canadian scientist and television personality, who reports on science news for the Canadian television series Daily Planet. Nursall, who has an M.Sc. in geography and meteorology, joined Science North in Sudbury, Ontario at its launch in 1984. returned this spring from an international congress of science centres in Brazil, where they delivered a presentation and pitched SNE's expertise to an international audience. Science North is constantly bidding for or working on international projects, predominately in the U.S., but also in the United Kingdom, the Far East and South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , providing a full range of services that includes operations management, marketing, staffing models and exhibit planing. They also team up and partner with other design and fabrication fabrication (fab´rikā´sh  n),n the construction or making of a restoration. firms to bid on projects to design and build other science centres. One of their more popular multimedia products is The Climate Change show, a dynamic object theatre first pioneered at Science North. It combines educational content with special effects. "It's something we've become known for in the science centre industry, but educational institutions, museums and zoos are also buying this product," says MacKenzie. The latest installation was at the Glasgow, Scotland science centre last fall, and they recently sold a newer version to the California Science Center The California Science Center (sometimes spelled California ScienCenter) is a state agency and museum located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Billed as the West Coast's largest hands-on science center, the California ScienCenter is a public-private partnership between the State in Los Angeles for installation in late 2006. The company has sold close to 30 in the last eight years, with a ballpark price tag of approximately $400,000 US. To showcase their wares and expertise, MacKenzie says they attend about a half-dozen industry trade shows a year, such as the American Association of Museums The American Association of Museums (AAM) is a non-profit association that has been bringing museums together since its founding in 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the and various theme park, science and technology conferences and events. Among their more exciting big-ticket projects a new theatrical attraction in San Antonio, Texas “San Antonio” redirects here. For other uses, see San Antonio (disambiguation). San Antonio is the second most populous city in Texas, the third most populous metropolitan area in Texas, and is the seventh most populous city in the United States. As of the 2006 U.S. . A corporate client is renovating the historic Aztec On The River Theatre close to the city's famous RiverWalk tourist district. Science North Enterprises is part of the development team. The project was previously placed on hold for a few years, but is now back on track. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Science North is developing the animatronics an·i·ma·tron·ics n. (used with a sing. verb) The technology employing electronics to animate motorized puppets. [anima(tion) + (elec)tronics. for a $2 million "Las Vegas-style Wow show." As the project managers, they are subcontracting out the special effects and technology work. "We're well into production on fabrication and building the set," says MacKenzie, adding an exhibit installation is set for fall 2005. Another big project under development is a new astronomy-science centre in Hilo, Hawaii. Science North was part of a successful threeteam bid that won a $450,000 contract for the Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center. As part of the original concept team, they are now producing/installing a multimedia theatre scheduled to open in early 2006. http://sciencenorth.ca/enterprises By IAN ROSS Northern Ontario Business Northern Ontario Business is a Canadian magazine, which publishes monthly in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The magazine covers business news and issues in Northern Ontario. |
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