Pensacola MESS Hall

The Pensacola MESS Hall will implement Community Science Nights, a new program designed to broaden participation in hands-on STEM learning by engaging families who rarely visit museums. Through a series of facilitated evening events for local civic organizations and churches, the project will reduce cultural and logistical barriers to participation while introducing community members to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Over three years, the MESS Hall will host 36 Community Science Night events, each serving approximately 60 participants, for a total reach of about 2,000 adults and youth. Programs will primarily target families with middle-school-aged children but will remain open to participants of all ages. Each event will include open exploration of the museum’s hands-on exhibits alongside a facilitated activity focused on AI and robotics. The facilitated component will introduce foundational concepts of machine learning through low-tech experiences using everyday materials. By making complex technologies approachable through hands-on exploration, the project will increase community familiarity with AI and robotics while encouraging families to see the MESS Hall as an accessible and welcoming place for STEM discovery.