The idiom “curiosity killed the cat” is an infamous warning used to ward people off from asking too many questions or getting their hands literally or metaphorically messy. But Executive Director Andrea Durham and the staff of the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC), on the other hand, are constantly creating a space to cast that concept aside.

When you walk through the impossibly tall glass doors of MOSAC, you walk into a place where curiosity literally bursts at the seams. From engineering to space, medical sciences, and a state-of-the-art planetarium, this innovative hub — and the dynamic team of women at its helm — are proving that the sky’s the limit in a field traditionally dominated by men.

“We’re seeing more women than men in higher education pursuing degrees in various fields,” says Durham. “However, STEM is still male-dominated, creating a culture that deters young women from pursuing STEM careers and translates into lesser value and retention for the women who enter those professions. This is also prevalent within museums and other nonprofit leadership, where the glass ceiling is still contributing to the disproportionate gap in female leadership representation. Sacramento harbors a wonderful dynamic for women in both STEM and museums, and we know we can continue to inspire our young female STEM enthusiasts at MOSAC.”

“I think of us as a community resource, and we are truly here for everyone. We are here to be fun, inspiring, and help people to see that science is accessible to all.” — Andrea Durham, Executive Director

Durham and her team are not only removing barriers, they are paving the way for a full-fledged STEM learning experience that encourages collaboration and creative thinking as part of the problem-solving approach. And while MOSAC may be geared towards sparking the minds of future scientists at a young age, don’t let that fool you. As an adult, walking from exhibit to exhibit, I couldn’t help but stop and experience some of the activities. The primal need to touch all the buttons, twist all the knobs, and build all the structures is felt almost immediately. Unlike most museums that are hands-off, MOSAC is a place that allows your inner child to come out and play again.

As a nonprofit, MOSAC relies heavily on community support to improve the museum experience and provide learning opportunities for all. Every dollar donated fuels their mission to create cutting-edge experiences that bring the beauty of learning to life.

“We’re a nonprofit hub for learning and we appreciate the support of our visitors, donors, and community partners,” Durham says. “MOSAC is the only science museum in the Sacramento area and we hope to ignite curiosity in every visitor. We rely on the support of our community and every visitor to share their MOSAC experience. Everyone needs a safe space to let their curiosity explore, and that’s what we’re trying to create here.”

Take a look at visitmosac.org, book a planetarium date with that special someone, gather your kids and their friends, and go spend a day running amok through the knowledge.