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Bisbee Science Exploration and Research Center Inc

Bisbee, AZ · EIN 832355488 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE B05 · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.bisbeesciencelab.org
revenue
$322K
expenses
$192K
net assets
$80K
employees
8
program ratio
54%
mission · from form 990

Education

profile · synthesized from sources

Bisbee Science Exploration and Research Center (BSERC) operates the Bisbee Science Lab, a pop-up science center in Bisbee, Arizona. It provides experiential science learning activities for students and adults, offers professional development for teachers, and supports STEAM research. BSERC aims to develop a permanent science center and is currently working on the "Backyard Project" to create a versatile public space for learning.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $55K
    Sky Island Steam Express Mobile Lab - provides multiple mobile science activities events to 22 rural schools in Cochise County. 5,062 persons participated in 2022.
  2. #2 $17K
    Backyard Project - presently in the design phase - a collaboration with the Bisbe Unified School District to transform 8 acres of school property into a regenerative learning ecosystem that will bew utilized as a community asset. BSERC is the project manager.
named programs · 8 · from sources

what they call their work

Backyard Project
A project to redesign an 8-acre backyard space at the Bisbee Science Lab into a versatile public space for regenerative learning, in conjunction with the Bisbee Unified School District and Copper Queen Library.
Bisbee Dark Skies & Backyard Observatory
A program celebrating the night sky with hands-on learning, combining astronomy, ecology, and community efforts to protect dark skies.
Bisbee Science Lab
A storefront pop-up science center offering exhibits, a lecture series (Science Café), and hands-on experiences, serving as a data collection point for a future permanent science center.
Master Naturalist
A program focused on natural history and environmental education.
Pie & Sky
A monthly community event featuring stargazing, astronomy activities, guest speakers (including NASA Ambassadors), and free pizza/pie, hosted by the Bisbee Science Lab and sponsored by the Department of Labor.
Science Fridays
Weekly free, hands-on science activities and interactive experiments for the community at the Bisbee Science Lab.
Sky Island STEAM Express
A mobile science lab that brings hands-on experiments and learning to K-12 students across Southern Arizona.
Summer Programs
Educational programs offered during the summer.
activities · 7 clusters

what they do

  • Public Observatory & Planetarium Programs 5 activities
    • Environmental and Nature Education Programs
      Operates the Bisbee Dark Skies & Backyard Observatory for hands-on learning in astronomy and ecology, and offers "Master Naturalist" and "Backyard Design Project" programs, including summer programs.
    • Host public stargazing and astronomy events
      Hosts free, family-friendly stargazing events featuring guided telescope viewing, astronomy activities, guest speakers, and themed programs such as "Pie & Sky Astronomy Nights," which include stargazing, free pizza, and talks by NASA Ambassadors. Events are held monthly and require no reservation.
    • Manage the Bisbee Dark Skies & Backyard Observatory
      Operates the Bisbee Dark Skies & Backyard Observatory, offering hands-on learning in astronomy and ecology to promote public understanding and protection of the night sky.
    • Manage the Bisbee Dark Skies & Backyard Observatory
      Operates the Bisbee Dark Skies & Backyard Observatory to provide hands-on learning in astronomy and ecology, supporting community efforts to celebrate and protect the night sky.
    • Public Stargazing and Astronomy Events
      Hosts free, family-friendly stargazing events, including "Pie & Sky Astronomy Nights," featuring guided telescope viewing, astronomy activities, guest speakers, and NASA Ambassadors, with no reservation required.
  • Public Environmental Events & Outreach 4 activities
    • Community Earth Day Celebration
      Hosts an annual Earth Day Celebration event to feature county-wide environmental preservation efforts.
    • Conduct community environmental engagement events
      Hosts public events such as the annual Earth Day Celebration and "Backyard Blast" to showcase county-wide environmental preservation efforts and gather community feedback on projects like the Backyard Design Project, which reached 75% schematic design by 2023 and drew over 130 attendees at a public event.
    • Deliver environmental and naturalist education programs
      Offers educational programs such as "Master Naturalist," "Backyard Design Project," and summer programs focused on ecology and environmental stewardship. Reached 75% schematic design for the Backyard Project, shared with public feedback at a "Backyard Blast" event in July 2023 attended by over 130 people.
    • Host community science and environmental events
      Hosts public events such as the annual Earth Day Celebration and "Backyard Blast" to showcase regional environmental preservation efforts and engage the community in science and sustainability initiatives.
  • Mobile and Pop-Up Science Education 3 activities
    • Bisbee Science Lab Programs and Exhibits
      Operates the Bisbee Science Lab as a pop-up science center, offering "Science Fridays" with hands-on activities, interactive experiments, and guest-led projects covering various scientific topics, and hosts a lecture series called Science Café.
    • Operate the Bisbee Science Lab and public science programs
      Runs the Bisbee Science Lab, a pop-up science center on Main Street in Bisbee, AZ, established in October 2018, which hosts exhibits, Science Fridays with hands-on activities, Science Café lecture series, and creative projects in chemistry, physics, ecology, and astronomy. Programs include structured learning stations serving up to 12 participants each.
    • Operate the Bisbee Science Lab and public science programs
      Runs the Bisbee Science Lab, a pop-up science center on Main Street in Bisbee, offering exhibits, Science Café lecture series, and hands-on learning experiences focused on regional scientific research. The lab hosts regular "Science Fridays" with interactive experiments, creative projects, and guest-led activities in chemistry, physics, ecology, and astronomy, structured around 4 learning stations accommodating up to 12 participants each.
  • STEM-Focused Educational Field Trips 3 activities
    • Deliver mobile STEAM education to K-12 students
      Operates the Sky Island STEAM Express, a mobile science lab that brings hands-on experiments and interactive learning in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math to K-12 students across Southeast Arizona.
    • Deliver mobile STEAM education to K-12 students
      Operates the Sky Island STEAM Express, a mobile science lab that brings hands-on experiments and learning in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math to K-12 students across Southeast Arizona.
    • Mobile Science Education for K-12 Students
      Operates the Sky Island STEAM Express, a mobile science lab that delivers hands-on experiments and learning experiences to K-12 students in Southeast Arizona, having served over 9,000 students.
  • Nonprofit Formation and Legal Structuring 2 activities
    • Conduct organizational feasibility and planning research
      Completed a feasibility study in August 2018 to assess the formation of a multi-faceted, non-profit science exploration and research center, which informed the establishment of the organization.
    • Feasibility Study for Science Center Development
      Completed a feasibility study in August 2018 to examine the formation of a multi-faceted, non-profit science exploration and research center.
  • Sonoran Desert Environmental Education 1 activity
    • Offer specialized science education programs
      Provides structured educational programs including "Master Naturalist," summer programs, and other themed learning experiences at the Bisbee Science Lab.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Host public stargazing and astronomy events
      Hosts free, family-friendly stargazing events featuring guided telescope viewing, astronomy activities, guest speakers, and NASA Ambassadors; includes recurring "Pie & Sky Astronomy Nights" with monthly programming. No reservation is required for participation.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$322K
Contributions & grants$322K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$20
expenses
Total expenses$192K
Program expenses54%
Admin / overhead46%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$106K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$91K
Cash$44K
Investments$0
Liabilities$11K
Net assets$80K
Liquid reserves2.8 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +25.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

board members · 3
  • Jason Macoviak — Board Member
  • Jennifer McBeth — Board Member
  • Joseph Sepp Sprietsma — Board Member
relationships · 20

who they work with

  • Arizona Public Service (APS) Funder — Provided financial support for a feasibility study.
  • Bisbee Dark Skies Partner — Co-hosts the Pie & Sky stargazing event series.
  • Bisbee Unified School District Partner — Collaborates on redesigning an 8-acre backyard into a versatile public space; the property is owned and operated by the school district.
  • Bisbee Unified School District Partner — Jen McBeth, a member of the Bisbee Unified School District, is a member of the Bisbee Science Exploration and Research Center Inc.
  • City of Bisbee Partner — Collaborated to discuss mutual interests and achieve goals through a collaborative economic and education development endeavor, and provided volunteer support for a feasibility study.
  • Copper Queen Library Partner — Collaborates on redesigning an 8-acre backyard into a versatile public space.
  • Firewise Partner — Representatives participated in BSERC's Earth Day event.
  • Freeport McMoRan (FMI) Partner — Collaborated to discuss mutual interests and achieve goals through a collaborative economic and education development endeavor, and provided financial support for a feasibility study.
  • Kartchner Caverns Partner — Representatives participated in BSERC's Earth Day event.
  • M. Greene Planning & Resource Development Partner — Collaborated to discuss mutual interests and achieve goals through a collaborative economic and education development endeavor, and provided volunteer support for a feasibility study.
  • Muser Collective Partner — Member of the design team for the Backyard Project.
  • NASA Partner — Features NASA Ambassadors as guest speakers for astronomy lectures at monthly events.
  • National Wildlife Federation Partner — Representatives participated in BSERC's Earth Day event.
  • PSOMAS Partner — Member of the design team for the Backyard Project.
  • Rural Activation and Innovation Network (RAIN) Partner — Collaborated to discuss mutual interests and achieve goals through a collaborative economic and education development endeavor, and provided financial support for a feasibility study.
  • SALT Landscape Architecture Partner — Member of the design team for the Backyard Project.
  • The Department of Labor Funder — Sponsors the "Pie & Sky" monthly community event.
  • USDA Funder — Provided funding for a feasibility study and a grant to support the opening of The Bisbee Science Lab.
  • University of Arizona South’s Education Department Partner — Collaborated to discuss mutual interests and achieve goals through a collaborative economic and education development endeavor, and provided volunteer support for a feasibility study.
  • Wilder Landscapes Partner — Member of the design team for the Backyard Project.