Quest Science Center

What Quest Science Center does

Quest Science Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory retirees and community leaders, originally as the Livermore Science and Society Center (LSSC) and rebranded to Quest Science Center in November 2019. The organization operates in Livermore, California, and serves the Tri-Valley region (Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, Tracy) with hands-on science education programs targeting families, K-8 schools, and high school students. Core programming includes the annual Tri-Valley Innovation Fair (70+ exhibitors, free admission), Sparks! monthly hands-on activities, Science@Stockmen's Park outdoor events, the Planetary Health youth climate program, the Planetary Health Summer Institute at Las Positas College, Engineering Explorations mobile school events, Science Camp (Volts & Bolts), and Quest on Stage speaker series. The organization operates Quest Plaza, a 5,000-square-foot outdoor science exploration space at Stockmen's Park in downtown Livermore, provided by the City of Livermore.

Quest's core technology products are community science instruments rather than software platforms: second-generation indoor air quality CO2 sensors used for ventilation and COVID-19 transmission studies, and low-cost mobile and stationary heat sensors designed by high school interns to map urban heat islands across the Tri-Valley. The organization also uses a six-step design thinking curriculum framework (Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test, Share) applied to climate and community health challenges. Revenue is generated through a mix of programmatic channels: donations from individuals and organizations (its primary nonprofit funding mechanism), corporate sponsorships at four tiers from $2,500 (Curiosity) to $20,000+ (Catalyst), fee-based programs including Engineering Explorations ($2,000 per school event), Science Camp ($300-$550 per session), Planetary Health Summer Institute ($800 tuition), and Quest on Stage speaker tickets ($25-$35), plus venue rental and event fees. The organization is volunteer-heavy with 1-10 staff and is led by CEO & Board Chair Monya Lane with Interim Executive Director Michael Mosby, supported by a board heavily weighted with former national laboratory executives.

Name

Quest Science Center

Legal name

Quest Science Center

Website

https://quest-science.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Quest Science Center is a Livermore, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers hands-on science education, youth climate programming, and community science events to families, K-12 schools, and high school students across the Tri-Valley region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Science Education

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC), Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI), STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC)

Keywords

• Science education programs
• Hands-on STEM learning
• Youth climate action
• Community science events
• Science center nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Livermore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, and organizations supporting science education. Quest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 82-4865787).
2. Program Fees: Fee-for-service programs including Engineering Explorations events ($2000), Science Camp ($300-$550), and Planetary Health Summer Institute ($800).
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Event and program sponsorships at Catalyst ($20,000+), Inspire ($10,000+), Cultivate ($5,000+), and Curiosity ($2,500+) levels.
4. Venue and Event Revenue: Rental and event fees for Quest Plaza and special events. Quest on Stage speaker series tickets ($25-35).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Quest Science Center is a nonprofit community science center that delivers free and low-cost hands-on STEM education programs, public events, and climate-focused youth initiatives across the Tri-Valley region of California. Core offerings include the Tri-Valley Innovation Fair, monthly Sparks! family activities, the Planetary Health program and Summer Institute, mobile Engineering Explorations events for schools, Science@Stockmen's Park outdoor activities, Science Camps (Volts & Bolts), and the Quest on Stage speaker series, anchored by the 5,000-square-foot Quest Plaza outdoor science space.

Product overview

Quest Science Center operates as a single unified nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of educational programs and community science initiatives rather than a software platform. Core programs include the Tri-Valley Innovation Fair (annual science fair), Sparks! (monthly hands-on activities), Planetary Health Program (youth climate action with Summer Institute, Design Lab, and Residency tracks), Engineering Explorations (mobile engineering events), Science@Stockmen's Park (outdoor activities), Quest Plaza (outdoor community space), and Science Camps (Volts & Bolts). The organization also develops technology products including CO2 sensors for indoor air quality monitoring and mobile heat sensors for urban heat mapping. Additional programs include Career Snapshots interviews, Energy Quest driving tours, Sketches in Code digital art exhibits, and Quest on Stage speaker events. All programs aim to inspire science exploration across the Tri-Valley region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tri-Valley Innovation Fair Annual large-scale community science, engineering, and technology event featuring 70+ exhibits from local businesses, schools, and community groups, open to all ages with free admission.
• Sparks! Monthly Activity Series Free monthly hands-on activity series for families held at Quest Plaza in downtown Livermore, featuring single self-paced activities designed for ages 5 through adult.
• Planetary Health Program Youth-focused climate action initiative encompassing projects on climate literacy, heat mapping, methane assessment, native plant research, respiratory health, and water management across the Tri-Valley region.
• Planetary Health Summer Institute One-week hands-on summer program for high school students (grades 9-12) working on real climate challenges with local PhD scientists and engineers, hosted at Las Positas College with $800 tuition and financial assistance available.
• Engineering Explorations Mobile fee-for-service engineering event bringing 8-10 hands-on challenges to schools and community organizations, serving up to 800 participants over a 2-hour session for $2,000 per event, including materials, staff, and promotional materials.
• Science@Stockmen's Park Free outdoor event series at Stockmen's Park featuring 8-20+ hands-on science activities organized by Quest and partner organizations, with Spanish-speaking volunteers included for bilingual access.
• Science Camp (Volts & Bolts) Weeklong half-day science and engineering camps for ages 11-14 (grades 6-8); VOLTS covers electrical current, circuits, and magnets; BOLTS covers mechanical engineering challenges and simple machines; includes materials and camp T-shirt; scholarships available.
• Quest on Stage Speaker Series Ticketed live speaker series held at the Bankhead Theater, featuring engaging science and technology conversations; tickets priced $25-$35 each.
• Quest Plaza (Outdoor Science Facility) 5,000-square-foot outdoor science exploration and community space at Stockmen's Park in downtown Livermore, hosting programs, special events, music, and partner activities for all ages.
• Expedition CO2 (Community Science Project) Community science project measuring and mapping CO2 concentrations across the Tri-Valley, where participants learn microprocessor and sensor assembly to build sensors that upload real-time data to an online map.
• Energy Quest Driving Tour Self-guided driving tour game exploring energy resources in Livermore, including local oil fields, nuclear fusion research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and wine production.
• Career Snapshots Interview Series Interview series featuring local Tri-Valley scientists and engineers sharing their career journeys, published to inspire youth STEM engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ children, teens, and families reached annually with hands-on science experiences
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Inspire-level sponsor and major programmatic partner providing scientific expertise, volunteers, and exhibits. Advisory board members from LLNL.
• Sandia National LaboratoriesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Inspire-level sponsor and exhibitor at Innovation Fair with scientific expertise and mentorship
• Las Positas CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Host venue for Planetary Health Summer Institute. Curiosity-level sponsor with educational programming presence.
• City of LivermoreflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Provided land for Quest Plaza at Stockmen's Park and ongoing support for outdoor science space development
• Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Climate Literacy Resolution adoption and student climate action programs. LVJUSD students benefit from climate education curriculum.
• Livermore Downtown Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Halloween Hijinks event as part of Kidz Town Halloween Hay Day
• Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization supporting planetary health initiatives through Seeding Action program
• The Wild CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in youth climate action programming and planetary health initiatives
• Topcon Positioning SystemsminorOthersDonated on-site weather station for Quest Plaza providing real-time data for activities
• Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization through Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group membership
• Livermore Valley Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization through chamber membership
• Tri-Valley NonProfit AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization through nonprofit alliance membership

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Exploratorium: San Francisco-based hands-on science museum offering interactive exhibits, public events, and learning programs. Closest direct peer to Quest given shared model of community-centered, inquiry-driven science exploration.
• Lawrence Hall of Science: UC Berkeley-affiliated public science center with hands-on exhibits, K-12 STEM curricula, and youth research programs. Comparable to Quest's combination of informal science education, school partnerships, and real-world research mentorship.
• The Tech Interactive: San Jose science and technology center with hands-on engineering exhibits, school programs, and youth STEM initiatives. Comparable to Quest's mix of mobile engineering events, camps, and free public programming in the same Bay Area region.
• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose: Hands-on children's museum in San Jose offering exhibits, camps, and family programming. Comparable to Quest's age-targeted hands-on programming and family-event-driven model.
• Chabot Space & Science Center: Oakland-based science center with exhibits, school programs, and community science events. Comparable in scale and East Bay community-focused science education model.

Broad incumbents

• Arizona Science Center: Phoenix-based science center with exhibits, school programs, and community events. Comparable nonprofit community science model but operates at larger scale with permanent indoor facility.
• California Academy of Sciences: San Francisco natural history and science institution with aquarium, planetarium, and research programs. Overlaps with Quest in community science engagement and youth programs but operates at vastly greater scale and endowment.
• Pacific Science Center: Established Seattle-based science center with permanent exhibits, IMAX theater, and major donor base. Comparable community science education mission at significantly larger scale and institutional footprint.

Regional players

• Bay Area Discovery Museum: Sausalito-based children's museum focused on early-childhood hands-on learning. Comparable to Quest's family programming and regional Bay Area outdoor learning focus.

Emerging players

• The Wild Center: Tupper Lake, NY natural history center with youth climate action programming. Direct programmatic overlap with Quest's Planetary Health initiative and a current partner organization in ASTC's Seeding Action network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/QuestScienceCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/questsciencecenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/questsciencecenter

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quest Science Center