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2021 SPECIAL SESSION I


SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 514
Commending the Science Museum of Virginia.

 

Agreed to by the Senate, February 18, 2021

 

WHEREAS, in 2020 and 2021, the Science Museum of Virginia, the Commonwealth’s premier public institution of scientific knowledge, hosted floor sessions and committee meetings of the Senate of Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, the Science Museum of Virginia was established in 1970 and opened to the public in 1977 inside the former Broad Street Station building, which had previously served the Richmond community as a railroad terminus for nearly 60 years; and

WHEREAS, since its opening, the Science Museum of Virginia has developed innovative, educational programming; acquired impressive artifacts; hosted innumerable permanent and temporary exhibits; and carefully preserved the historic building’s unique architecture; and

WHEREAS, the Science Museum of Virginia has placed technology and experiential learning at the forefront, offering live demonstrations in laboratories, a hands-on makerspace, and an IMAX dome theater and planetarium; and

WHEREAS, the Science Museum of Virginia supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and gives young people the opportunity to learn about a wide range of scientific disciplines; and

WHEREAS, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senate of Virginia requested the use of a conference hall at the Science Museum of Virginia to ensure social distancing and adequate safety procedures during floor sessions from April 2020 through February 2021; and

WHEREAS, the Science Museum of Virginia has hosted the members and staff of the Senate of Virginia through the 2020 Reconvened Session, the 2020 Special Session I, the 2021 Regular Session, and the 2021 Special Session I of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the Science Museum of Virginia has provided outstanding resources and support to the members and staff of the Senate of Virginia throughout this period, all while keeping the museum open and accessible to the public; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jeremy Hoffman, Chief Scientist, gave tours of the facility and offered many educational insights into the programs, exhibits, and operations of the Science Museum of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the staff of the Science Museum of Virginia has always been willing to help with a smile and a professional manner and has gone over and above to accommodate the members and staff of the Senate of Virginia, changing their work schedules to adapt to committee and floor session meetings, with special thanks to Matthew Forrest, Doug Miller, and Calvin Allen for their assistance to Senate staff in coordinating the day to day operations; and

WHEREAS, the Science Museum of Virginia has contributed to good governance in the Commonwealth by helping the Senate of Virginia conduct the business of the people safely, transparently, and effectively; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That the Science Museum of Virginia be commended for its work to support the Senate of Virginia in addressing the unprecedented challenges of holding General Assembly sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Science Museum of Virginia as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s gratitude and admiration for the museum’s legacy achievements in service to all Virginians.