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For some families, the Saint Louis Science Center isn’t just a place to visit—it’s woven into the fabric of their lives across generations. As longtime Einstein Society members, Joel and Joanne Iskiwitch have cultivated a relationship with the organization that spans from their childhood to today.
“We attended the same elementary school and were always in the same class,” they recall. Back then, field trips took them to the Science Center’s original location in Clayton at Oak Knoll Park, where they recall one exhibit, “the invisible lady” (a clear model showing the circulatory system, now on display near the Life Sciences Lab), capturing their young imaginations.
When the Science Center opened its doors in Forest Park, Joel and Joanne were ready to support it from day one. “It was important to us to contribute to the growth of the Science Center so that it could remain free for visitors and especially for families and school-aged children,” they explain.
As parents, they brought their own daughters to explore the Science Center’s galleries and exhibits “The dinosaurs were the first things that they wanted to see as soon as we got there,” they remember.
Watching their children’s eyes light up with the same sense of discovery they’d experienced decades earlier deepened their connection to the institution. The Discovery Room became a family favorite—so beloved that they even hosted a birthday party there.
Today, with two adult daughters, Joel and Joanne continue to be active Science Center enthusiasts. They enjoy special exhibitions, events with special guests and curators, and shows at the OMNIMAX® Theater and James S. McDonnell Planetarium. One particularly memorable experience was attending a Planetarium show in anticipation of the most recent solar eclipse visible from St. Louis.
Their involvement evolved beyond membership in 1994 when they co-chaired a major celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of the moon landing. That same year, Joel participated in Leadership St. Louis and was encouraged to deepen his involvement with a nonprofit organization. “Having worked on the moon landing celebration with the Science Center leadership and having seen up close the vision of the organization, it was easy to say ‘yes’ when asked to join the Einstein Society steering committee,” he says.
Their philanthropic support has included a gift to the Science Center’s Bridge to the Future campaign, which funded a working seismograph previously displayed in the Ecology and Environment gallery. “It was fun to watch,” they note. “Because our daughters were young, they could relate to it.” The choice reflected their commitment to exhibits that spark curiosity in young minds.
Today, two initiatives particularly excite Joel and Joanne about the Science Center’s future. At one end of the workforce pipeline, the Youth Exploring Science program provides youth from communities typically underrepresented in STEM with exposure to science and technology during high school. At the other, the Science Center’s partnerships with major St. Louis research universities and biotech startups offer Einstein Society members unique opportunities to visit laboratories and learn about cutting-edge work.
“We believe our support has added to our lives over the years,” they say. “We’ve been able to meet other people who are also interested in science and technology, as well as learn about various aspects of science that we would have otherwise not been introduced to or made aware of.”
“It is important to have a world-class science center in St. Louis that is free to enter in order to engage everyone in scientific discovery and learning,” they say. Not only does it allow anyone to experience science without the financial constraint of an entry fee, but it also helps to encourage people to explore the museum who might not otherwise step inside.
“It adds to the prestige of St. Louis to have such a fine and well-respected science center that is known beyond our community,” they add “More importantly, keeping it free ensures that every family can experience the same wonder that has enriched our lives for generations.”
