News & Media

SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA – June 15, 2020 – CuriOdyssey, a science museum featuring exhibits, educational experiences and wildlife, is pleased to announce the appointment of Aragon Burlingham as Interim Executive Director, effective July 13, 2020.

"Aragon brings a wealth of leadership experience in science and education to our organization,” said Laurel Miranda, Board Chair. “In addition, as a former board member and chair of CuriOdyssey’s development committee, he is uniquely qualified to seamlessly step into this role. Aragon will be a tremendous asset to us as we take CuriOdyssey to the next level as the county’s leading champion for early science learning."

Burlingham has served in executive management roles at a diverse range of Silicon Valley companies for more than three decades, successfully leading teams that have taken products from concept to production. He switched careers in early 2008 to focus on his life-long passion of enhancing math and science learning experiences for kids. He founded the We Teach Science Foundation, pairing engineers and scientists with middle and high school students across the country for remote tutoring and mentoring, improving test scores, and bringing real-world relevance to the disciplines of math and science. Most recently, he was director of partnerships at Envision Learning Partners and is responsible for developing and growing a nationwide network of partners committed to “Deeper Learning” through their “High Quality Performance Assessment Systems.” Burlingham earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California and a Master of Science in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University.

Burlingham will succeed Rachel Meyer, who joined CuriOdyssey as Executive Director over a decade ago. “It was Rachel’s vision to create an organization where children can interact directly with natural phenomena, gain a deeper understanding of the way in which the world works, develop critical thinking skills and have the agency to participate in creating a better future,” Burlingham said. “I hope to build and expand upon her vision.”

In appreciation for all that Meyer has done on behalf of CuriOdyssey, the Board has conferred on her the title Executive Director Emeritus.

“Our history shows that kids learn about science best through in-person experiences,” said Miranda. “With the lasting legacy of Rachel’s rich content and Aragon’s extensive expertise in bringing science to life for students at scale, we believe we have the right leadership for the next phase in our growth."

About CuriOdyssey

CuriOdyssey is a science museum and zoo where more than 100,000 kids each year observe wild animals and experiment with real scientific phenomena. Due to the Covid-19 social distancing requirements, CuriOdyssey will be creating outdoor exhibits where families can interact safely with exhibits based on natural phenomena. CuriOdyssey’s mission is to inspire a love for science and curiosity about the world to create a better future. CuriOdyssey is located at Coyote Point Recreation Area in San Mateo.For more information, visit www.CuriOdyssey.org.

Media Contact:

Patricia Jenkins
Director of Visitor Engagement & Communications
(415) 850-7154
[email protected]