our history
Einstein Project's First Home on 13th Street
1990 - 1993
In 1990, Steven Van Dyke (Foth & Van Dyke) and David & Cecelia Turriff (local science professionals), along with many peers - believed that science could be more engaging and impactful in the classroom if industry partners teamed up with the education sector. On February 21, 1991 the Einstein Project was born at the "Little White House" on 13th Street (Green Bay, WI). The first annual summer Einstein Academy for Professional Development was hosted in 1992.
Morley Murphy Building
1994 - 1996
The Einstein Project outgrows the "little white house" and moves to the Morley Murphy warehouse. The Smithsonian Science Education Center designates the Einstein Project as a national model for National Science Resource Centers, one of only seven in the nation.
Market Street Location
1997 - 2000
The Einstein Project outgrows the Morley Murphy building and moves to 3100 Market Street. In 1998, we created a hands-on educational experience and the Space Shuttle Pathfinder bus was introduced as a traveling classroom.
Einstein Way Building
2001 - 2005
The Einstein Project develops their first in-house kit in partnership with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Oakwood Elementary. The kit created is the Science of Flight Kit. As growth continues, The Einstein Project moves to 1255 Einstein Way (fun fact - we had the street name renamed for us). In 2002, the first Science Expo and first Butterflies and Friends on Parade events are held.
Steven Van Dyke
2006 - 2012
A study completed by UW-Green Bay researcher, Scott Ashmann, determines that The Einstein Project's hands-on science kits result in higher state standardized science test scores among 4th grade students in Wisconsin. In 2009, the Steven Van Dyke Science Education Memorial Fund is established to provide seed money for new Einstein districts.
2013 - Present
In 2013 the Greater Green Bay STEM Network was founded by former Einstein Executive Director, Kelly Ellis, to bring together community STEM education partners to foster collaboration.
In 2015, engineering kits were added to the kit lineup. A focus on STEM, rather than only science became more pronounced.
In 2017, the Einstein Project partnered with the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and Brown County to build and share the STEM Innovation Center on the UWGB campus. The new Einstein home will allow us to be poised for greatness for generations to come.
In 2019, the Einstein Project officially moves into the STEM Innovation Center.