COUNTY IN PITTSBURGH, AVA RASH PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. DAVID, THANKS. AND ON THIS JUNETEENTH, THEY’RE CUTTING THE RIBBON ON THE NEW MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE. IT’S LOCATED ALONG HERRON AVENUE IN PITTSBURGH’S HILL DISTRICT. THE HOPE FOR THIS NEWLY RENOVATED SPACE IS TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS AND DEEP THINKERS. FOR TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. SCIENCE HAS FELT DISTANT. IT HAS FELT LIKE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR SOMEONE ELSE. TODAY, WE’RE CHANGING THAT NARRATIVE. TODAY, IN THE HEART OF PITTSBURGH’S HILL DISTRICT, WE ARE OPENING A PLACE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN WALK THROUGH THESE DOORS AND SEE THEMSELVES AS SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, RESEARCHERS, INNOVATORS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND PROBLEM SOLVERS. THIS NEW SCIENCE HUB WILL OFFER ACCESS TO HANDS O
MLK Center for Scientific Excellence opens in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood
Updated: 5:38 PM EDT Jun 19, 2026
On Juneteenth, the MLK Center for Scientific Excellence celebrated its grand opening in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood.The center on Herron Avenue offers a newly renovated space to inspire the next generation of scientists and thinkers.“For too many young people, especially people from historically marginalized communities, science has felt distant. It has felt like something that happens somewhere else, for someone else,” Dr. Andre Samuel said. “Today, we’re changing that narrative. Today, in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Hill District, we are opening a place where young people can walk through these doors and see themselves as scientists, engineers, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and problem solvers.”Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube ChannelThe new science hub will provide access to hands-on STEM education, workforce pathways, and innovation opportunities. It will also host many upcoming summer camps. More information is available at thecitizensciencelab.org.”Somewhere in Pittsburgh today is a young person who will cure a disease or become an engineer, become a physician, a researcher, or an inventor,” Samuel said. “Somewhere in Pittsburgh today is a child whose future will be forever changed because they walk through these doors and they discovered what they are capable of.”The facility is part of The Citizen Science Lab, which also has a center in Bethel Park.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
On Juneteenth, the MLK Center for Scientific Excellence celebrated its grand opening in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood.
The center on Herron Avenue offers a newly renovated space to inspire the next generation of scientists and thinkers.
“For too many young people, especially people from historically marginalized communities, science has felt distant. It has felt like something that happens somewhere else, for someone else,” Dr. Andre Samuel said. “Today, we’re changing that narrative. Today, in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Hill District, we are opening a place where young people can walk through these doors and see themselves as scientists, engineers, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and problem solvers.”
Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel
The new science hub will provide access to hands-on STEM education, workforce pathways, and innovation opportunities. It will also host many upcoming summer camps. More information is available at thecitizensciencelab.org.
“Somewhere in Pittsburgh today is a young person who will cure a disease or become an engineer, become a physician, a researcher, or an inventor,” Samuel said. “Somewhere in Pittsburgh today is a child whose future will be forever changed because they walk through these doors and they discovered what they are capable of.”
The facility is part of The Citizen Science Lab, which also has a center in Bethel Park.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.