Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center (SSC) has provided science education and enrichment for the students and adults of Spartanburg County for nearly 47 years. During a typical year, the Science Center team conducts over 500 educational programs, which serve more than 20,000 children and includes summer camps, hands-on exhibits, and interactive STEM experiments.

To support these goals, the SSC has invested in three Starlabs—a portable learning dome designed to bring astronomy, geology, meteorology, and other STEM subjects to life for students. With the ability to advance STEM education across grade levels and curricula aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards, Starlab creates fully immersive learning experiences for more students and families across the county, deepens their understanding of the world around them, and works to build growing interest in STEM-related disciplines.

Setting Up Students for Success & Deeper Engagement in STEM

The Spartanburg Science Center sees Starlab as a tool that levels the playing field for students. It transcends traditional academic divisions, offering equal access to quality science education regardless of a student’s reading or math proficiency. This belief is central to their educational philosophy, which prioritizes hands-on, developmentally appropriate and accessible experiences that inspire curiosity in STEM fields beyond conventional measures.

SSC’s commitment to community-centric programming and to meeting learners where they are—whether that’s in a school, at a retirement community, or during community events—underscores the center’s vision of making science education accessible and memorable for all. The Center uses Starlab to:

• Deliver a fully immersive learning experience, generating the sharpest images possible so students could easily visualize the details of our vast universe.
• Help introduce students to science-related concepts and more directly connect these concepts to the real world in a way that leads to deeper understanding.
• Support more effective school and career readiness, inspiring new generations of students interested in subjects like astronomy, geology, meteorology, aviation, and geography.

With Starlab, they’re able to provide students and members of the community with an engaging experience similar to a planetarium, which is an experience not every student in the county is afforded.

Broad Impact Increases Scientific Literacy Across a County

Starlab has a far-ranging impact across the county. 

Starlab’s curriculum includes pre-designed lessons  and scripts aligned to South Carolina standards. The lessons span grade levels from elementary through high school, making it easy for any teacher to based on their needs.

The SSC takes advantage of Starlab’s portability and uses it across multiple settings, from STEM & STEAM nights at schools to retirement communities, cub & girl scout activities, and other community events where they’ve showcased the Christmas Sky during free holiday programs. 

Every Starlab system comes equipped with a dome, projector system, pre-loaded curricula and lessons–and can be easily set up in under 20 minutes. This made it much easier for the SSC to bring immersive learning experiences to more people across its county as well as neighboring counties.

For many students, Starlab represents their first exposure to a planetarium experience, and for some, it has even inspired continued interest in science, as in the case of a second grader who came out of his first Starlab experience saying, “Oh, I can’t wait to ride that thing again! SSC ensures accessibility to learners, of all backgrounds and ages, including special needs groups, with portable and adaptable programming.

What’s more, the impact of SSC’s Starlab programming extends beyond just K-12 schools. Former students who experienced Starlab as children now request it for their own classrooms, proving its lasting influence. SSC has also partnered with local aviation programs, using Starlab to spark interest in careers like meteorology and aviation.

Inspiring Interest in STEM & Investing in a Future Workforce

The Spartanburg Science Center’s use of Starlab exemplifies how immersive, portable educational tools can transform a community’s engagement with science. The SSC’s ability to secure resources for Starlab further reinforces the belief that immersive STEM education is critical for preparing its future workforce.

Starlab’s impact within the community was so compelling, that the Center was able to mobilize funding from a variety of sources. While initial funding was attempted through the state legislature, subsequent expansions have been supported by matching grants, benefactors, and community partnerships. 

For organizations considering Starlab, Executive Director Mary Levens recommends framing the conversation around preparing the workforce and making an investment in the future while using creative funding strategies, such as offering naming rights to benefactors (e.g., “The Johnson Foundation brings you StarLab”) and lining up a matching benefactor model. 

Through state-aligned integration of curriculum and a deep commitment to accessibility, SSC’s Starlab program has fostered curiosity, inclusivity, and a love for science in students, teachers, and families alike—offering a blueprint for how science centers can effectively use Starlab’s interactive learning experience to expand reach and deepen their impact on their communities.