On Wednesday, May 9, Frost Science announced that it had received a $10 million gift from the University of Miami. The collaboration will be focused on the development of permanent and traveling exhibitions, media productions and public programs that will advance our work in the field of informal science communication. It’ll also allow both of institutions to collaborate on research, planetarium/video productions, symposia and lectures‚ as well as open up opportunities for internships and experiential training opportunities for UM students.
“We are honored to receive this generous contribution from the University of Miami,” said Frank Steslow, President and CEO of Frost Science. “This will have a major impact on our institution, inspiring future STEM leaders and allowing our guests direct access to the rich scientific research programs, academic expertise and professional skills of the university.”
The donation is part of a recent $100 million gift to the University of Miami from generous benefactors Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost, aimed at elevating basic and applied sciences, as well as engineering, at the university. The university recently broke ground on the state-of-the-art Phillip and Patricia Frost Science and Engineering Building on its Coral Gables campus, part of the new Frost Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Science.
“We want to cultivate an interest in science in the museum’s youngest visitors and, we hope, inspire many of them to pursue their educations in the STEM disciplines at UM, ultimately forming the next generation of scientific innovators,” said UM President Julio Frenk. “Through this partnership, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and the University of Miami will achieve preeminence in the field of informal science communication, and will greatly strengthen the infrastructure by which our community’s innovation ecosystem can grow and flourish.”
We have a long collaborative history with UM, tracing back to our former location in Coconut Grove. University faculty and students have served as content advisors for exhibitions, events and more. Both of our institutions have worked together on several major educational initiatives, including the museum’s Upward Bound Math and Science IMPACT (Integrated Marine Program and College Training) summer program with UM’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, aquarium exhibits and grant-funded programs.
The museum also recently launched the Frost Science Trash Detectives and #BayDrift program in partnership with UM’s CARTHE (Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment) along with the Inventors in Residence Lab, which features the work of UM professor Dr. Andrew Baker and Dr. Rivah Winter as they look at coral restoration with a focus on growing corals that are more resilient in warmer oceans.