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COSI, officially the Center of Science and Industry, is a science museum and research center in Columbus, Ohio. COSI was opened to the public on 29 March 1964 and remained there for 35 years. In 1999, COSI was moved to a 320,000-square-foot (30,000 m2) facility, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki along a bend in the Scioto River in the Franklinton neighborhood. COSI features more than 300 interactive exhibits throughout themed exhibition areas. As a center of science and industry (rather than a standalone science center), COSI established embedded partnerships with local organizations. WOSU@COSI (Central Ohio's NPR member station and Public Broadcasting Service public media station) maintains a digital media center and offices; the Ohio State University maintains a center of research as well as health & medicine laboratories staffed by medical residents, and Columbus Historical Society maintains offices and exhibit space. COSI operates one of the largest outreach education program of any science museum in the United States. It includes "COSI in the Classroom", "21st Century Lab" field trip experiences, international distance education interactive video conferencing programs, and their "COSI On Wheels" traveling outreach program. In 1972, COSI originated the Camp-In overnight program for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts – a concept now commonplace in museums nationwide. Since 1964, COSI has engaged with nearly 30 million unique visitors through on-site and outreach programs. As a non-profit organization, COSI is supported by ticket sales, a network of community and statewide partnerships (including relationships with a variety of donors and sponsors), a volunteer program supported by 10,000 volunteers annually, and nearly 20,000 member households. In 2008, COSI was named the #1 science center in the United States for families by Parent Magazine. In 2020, it was named the #1 Science Museum in the United States by USA Today.
