For a young Daniel Kamin, science provided answers to how the natural world worked.
“Not only what happened, but why did it happen,” said his wife, Carole.
Nearly a year ago, the Shadyside couple made something wonderful happen, a transformational $65 million gift to the Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore.
In recognition of their generosity, the Carnegie Science Center will be renamed the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center later this year while remaining part of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.
In November, on National Philanthropy Day, the Kamins received the Outstanding Philanthropists Award from the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Mr. Kamin, 83, has led Kamin Realty Management LLC for over 50 years.
“Dan works so hard,” his wife said. “This is the culmination of a lifetime of work. He enjoys doing something positive.”
Mrs. Kamin credits Jason Brown, the Henry Buhl Jr. director of the Carnegie Science Center, for allowing her and her husband to do so much more than write a check.
“Two to three years ago, we never thought that this would happen,” she said. “Then Jason made a presentation to us about what he wanted to do to take the Science Center into the future. And he gave us the opportunity to be included and be a part of the planning and execution. Sometimes it’s ‘how,’ not ‘when.’”
Mr. Kamin has had a nearly lifelong relationship with the Science Center. As a kid growing up in Squirrel Hill and Schenley Heights, he visited the Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, which became the Carnegie Science Center in 1991.
When he was 12 or 13, he even built a telescope for the planetarium. It will be displayed at the Science Center in coming months, Brown said.
The Kamins have become a “catalyst for the kids who want to build something like the telescope that Mr. Kamin did,” he said.
The gift is provided by the Kamins and the Daniel G. Kamin and Carole L. Kamin Family Foundation.
“The Kamins’ gift gives us the opportunity to grow into the future and respond to needs and to make changes in meaningful ways,” Brown said.
The Science Center relies mainly on ticket revenue and other income, not large grants. It is not typically able to update its 12 galleries, according to Brown.
“The Kamins’ gift allows us to update a huge portion of the visitor experience in a shorter period of time so the visitors can see something new,” he said.
“It allows us to think about the next evolution of the Science Center and to maintain anything that we build and create. I’m looking forward to sharing changes in late 2025. They will be noticeable and ongoing once they start.”
Brown’s vision is for the Science Center to be the “trusted voice for science. We want people to come to us for information and want to focus on the newest and most important issues that appeal to a broad audience.”
The strategy is to use a multi-faceted approach to build relationships with Pittsburgh communities to gain input when creating new exhibits or updating existing ones. Brown plans to connect with groups throughout the region for upcoming projects to bring diverse perspectives together.
“Mars: The Next Giant Leap,” an exhibit that opened in November 2022, is an example of the Science Center’s approach.
Originally, the exhibits team had planned to create a gallery to complement the exhibit. The team met with Pittsburgh Public Schools students and asked, “What do people want to know about space?” They got some surprising answers.
Instead of wanting to know more about Mars itself, the students asked how the red planet could impact life on Earth. Questions included: “Will there be healthcare on Mars?” and “Why should I care about space when I have friends on Earth who are struggling?”
After taking into consideration the students’ questions and comments, the team changed the focus of the Mars exhibit to knowledge we gain from space to make people’s lives better on Earth.
The exhibit explores climate-related scenarios and how they affect Mars and Earth, offering insight into the effects of climate change on Earth. Visitors can also explore how the issues of sustainability, social justice and equitable access to resources can impact humanity’s future,
“We never would have gone that way unless we asked the questions to the students,” Brown said.
The Kamins’ gift will allow the Science Center to not only innovate and create new programs but also sustain them for the long term.
“I just want to convey our gratitude,” Brown said. “It is hard to articulate how much this is going to change the way we work with the whole visitor experience.”
Mrs. Kamin is also excited for the future.
“It’s a great partnership and it works because we are working together,” she said.
“It’s great for the Science Center and it’s great for the city of Pittsburgh and beyond. We hope to do more for other organizations in the city in the coming years … Stay tuned.”
Abby Kirkland (abbykirkland77@gmail.com) is a freelance reporter living in Mt. Lebanon.
First Published: January 9, 2025, 5:30 a.m.
Updated: January 9, 2025, 7:30 p.m.