Science Center President Doug King signs 5-year contract

Douglas R. King, president and chief executive officer of the St. Louis Science Center, has recently signed a five-year contract to remain as the institution's leader through 2007. King, who first came to the St. Louis cultural and educational non-profit in 1995, has lead the significant physical and programming expansions during the last seven years. 

During his tenure, the Science Center has built a wide range of partnerships and collaborations with local businesses and organizations, positioned itself as a national leader in exhibit and program development, and become the third most-attended science center in the United States. In 2002, the Science Center served 1.45 million people both at its facility and through a wide variety of school- and community-based programs. 

In 2001, King led the re-opening of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium building following a $13 million renovation that created a one-of-a-kind space station experience inside. Currently, King is leading the effort to raise $37 million for the Science Center through Transform Tomorrow: The Campaign for Science Education. The funding will result in further physical improvements to the Science Center's buildings and allow for significant expansion of informal education, teacher training, new community partnerships and strong financial stability. 

Before coming to the Science Center, King served as the president of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education headquartered in Washington, DC. Founded by the families of the Challenger crew as a space-oriented educational facility for youngsters, there are about 50 Challenger Centers throughout North America, including one that will open in St. Louis in November 2003.