Science Buzz is an award winning project, recognized by the museum community as a pioneer in the field of science education.

Museums and the Web

Museums and the Web is an international conference for culture and heritage on-line. At the 2006 Museums and the Web conference, Science Buzz was awarded both Best Innovative or Experimental Application and Best Overall Museum Web Site.

It is a rare occurrence for a project to win multiple awards at this event. The judges comments include:

Everything seems well geared to letting the community take on a life of its own - the museum is just a facilitator/moderator.

I really enjoyed reading comments and discussion about laughter and climate and green house effect. It's good that the museum also understands the importance of a good moderator.

I love how this museum did more than just add a blog, they transformed the whole blog/site experience.

Minnesota Diatetic Association

In 2006 Science Buzz was awarded a Golden Apple for its exhibit components on the "Low-Carb Craze," by the Minnesota Diatetic Association.

Graphic Design USA

The Science Buzz exhibit was recognized by an American Inhouse Design Award from Graphic Design USA for the project's environmental graphics.

American Association of Museums

AAM's 2009 Excellence in Exhibition Label Writing Competition jury recognized Gene Dillenburg for his innovative work on Science Buzz's Object of the Month ("A chance encounter, frozen in time"):

"This label is a lovely experience in itself. Visitors might see the tracks on the fossil immediately and the first paragraph asks them to wonder, along with the scientists, what the animals might have been doing. The writing is vivid and manages to explicate the process of fossilization, as well as the process of discovery and analysis, in an immediate way that makes the viewer equal to the scientist in some ways." (Barbara Becker, juror)

"I think the Science Buzz label is worthy on two counts, first for evoking imagination and imagery, and second for inviting visitor participation (hello, museum 2.0)." (Phyllis Rabineau, juror)