Discovery Forest, inside the new North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Greenville, offers hands-on, interactive exhibits.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Greenville will host its grand opening and Science Expo on Saturday. Longtime Sound Rivers’ partner A Time For Science has teamed up with NCMNS to create this new, downtown Greenville museum.

A ribbon cutting will officially open the museum at 10 a.m., followed by festivities throughout the day.

Visitors will be able to explore exhibits inside the museum and 40-plus science stations outside of the museum showcasing a variety of science topics and careers, all with hands-on activities for learners of every age — so it will be fun for the entire family!

Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Jill Howell and Environmental Projects Coordinator Clay Barber will be there with water samples, and, using a blacklight, visitors can discover the prevalence of E. coli in water samples from a variety of sources.

“One sample is from the river where people swim and fish; another is from a more urban creek; this sample is from drinking water, this sample is from near a hog farm,” Barber said.

The two will field questions about water quality — and will be set up next to an indoor exhibit featuring water quality and climate change.

The grand opening and Science Expo is free and open to the public. All in-person programs will follow current state and federal health guidelines and apply a range of safety measures to mitigate health risks.

Location: 729 Dickinson Ave., Greenville

Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.