Mississippi Children’s Museum Unveils Updated World at Work Gallery with Hands-On STEM Experiences

The Mississippi Children’s Museum (MCM) is excited to announce the reopening of its World at Work gallery, featuring six brand-new interactive experiences designed to spark curiosity in science, technology, and creative design.

One of the gallery’s standout additions is the Nissan ARIYA, an all-electric vehicle donated by Nissan. Building on a long history of partnership with MCM, Nissan has supported exhibits, programs, and the annual Mississippi Science Festival. The new ARIYA exhibit allows children to sit behind the wheel and explore how electric vehicles work, giving them a hands-on look at cutting-edge automotive technology. Victor Taylor, Vice President of Manufacturing at Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant, emphasized the company’s mission: “By supporting MCM, we’re helping young minds explore innovation, creativity, and real-world applications of science and technology. Investing in STEM education is investing in the future.”

The gallery also introduces “Nikki the Cobot,” a collaborative robot from the Canton Nissan plant. Visitors can test their precision and speed against Nikki with adjustable challenge settings. Other highlights include the “Test Track Challenge,” where young designers experiment with vehicle design and performance, and the refreshed “House Build” structure with new siding, windows, and brick elements.

The Design Studio, created with support from the Mississippi Arts Commission, gives children a chance to think like designers and solve creative challenges. “Material World” lets children explore how materials impact product design, while artistic prompts encourage imagination and problem-solving. Rachel Myers, MCM Exhibits Director, explained, “Our team modeled the exhibits after the design process itself. We’re excited for visitors to put these ideas to the test and see how design thinking applies in so many fields across Mississippi.”

Art also takes center stage with “Ideas in the Sky,” an immersive acrylic installation by Meridian artist Cecelia Moseley. Rockets, robots, pencils, and tools appear to float above visitors, inspiring creativity and innovation.

The Mississippi Arts Commission’s support was instrumental in bringing these updates to life, funding key elements of the gallery including the Design Studio, Material World, House Build, and the art installation. David Lewis, executive director of MAC, said, “These exhibits inspire the next generation to create and think like working artists. We are grateful to the Mississippi Legislature for supporting this project.”

The public is invited to explore the updated World at Work gallery during the 10th Annual Mississippi Science Festival on Saturday, September 20. For more information and tickets, visit mssciencefest.org.