The Mad Science Group is the world’s leading fun science provider that delivers exciting, hands-on and educational science experiences! Each year we spark the imagination of millions of children through an established, global distribution network with offices in every major market in North America and many overseas.
Our Mission
We aim to spark the imagination and curiosity of children everywhere by providing them with fun, entertaining and educational activities that instill a clear understanding of what science is really about and how it affects the world around them. Using a technique of hands-on, inquiry based, FUN learning, we will go wherever elementary school aged children congregate to spark an interest in science!
Mad Science Group History
As children, brothers Ariel and Ron Shlien loved to conduct crazy science experiments for neighborhood children in Montreal, Canada. In January 1986 a friend who was teaching a science and technology course at a local Montreal YMCA desperately needed an exciting grand finale. Ariel brought a Helium-Neon laser and the children were amazed! The idea for Mad Science was born: kids like fun, cool science. The development of "edu-taining" birthday parties was a natural outgrowth of the popularity of Mad Science demonstrations, and within just a few years, thousands of children throughout the city were enjoying official Mad Science programs. In March 1990, the name "The Mad Science Group" was registered.
In August 1993, efforts were extended toward new markets and new products. Mad Science signed a contract to provide Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines with an exciting new breed of cruise programming, word of mouth took over, and Mad Science shows became an integral part of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' Adventure Ocean Programs. When enough parents, teachers and organizations started asking "how can we have Mad Science in our city?", the next step was obvious: franchising. In 1994, franchises were opened in Toronto and in Florida. Since then, over 200 franchises have been opened in 25 different countries over 6 continents.
Mad Science of Southern MA & RI
Mad Science of Southern Massachusetts began serving Southeastern New England as a Mad Science Group franchisee in September of 2002. Covering Cape Cod, Southern Plymouth County, and Barnstable County, we have been bringing FUN science "edu-tainment" to elementary school age children through Workshops (In-class Field Trips), After School Programs, Birthday Parties, and Special Events (science shows). In May of 2003, Mad Science of Southern Massachusetts added Rhode Island to its territory to bring Mad Science programming to more children of Southeastern New England!
Affiliations
Mad Science of Southern MA & RI and The Mad Science Group are affiliated with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). We are also a member in good standing of After School Activity Providers (ASAP).
Meet the Mad Scientists
Atomic Allen (Chief Mad Scientist) is passionate about kids and science and teaching, which makes him an ideal Chief Mad Scientist. Prior to starting Mad Science of Southern MA & RI in the summer of 2002, he had spent over 20 years in various aspects of the semiconductor industry. Mad Science is a welcome change. When he isn’t doing Mad Science, Atomic Allen stays active refereeing youth soccer, serving on community and school committees, and helping with international problem solving competitions; all while raising his own kids.
Laser Leigh (Operations Manager) grew up, relatively speaking, in Dartmouth, MA. After graduating from EmersonCollege, he spent nearly 10 years as an Attractions Lead at Walt Disney World. He currently lives in East Providence, RI and spends his outdoor time geocaching and his indoor time tending to his collection of over 450 films and their related books, scripts, soundtracks, props, and autographs. He joined Mad Science in 2003 and still can’t get the cotton candy out of his hair.
Jolting Jonathan (Sales & Marketing Manager) originally hails from northern New York State, so he still doesn't understand why people make such a big deal about New England winters. After spending time studying Shakespeare in London and a few years performing in NY and Boston, he found himself in RI and eventually found his way into the Mad Science family. He is thrilled to have found a place where he can prove that nerds can be cool! When not edutaining he can be found outside bicycling, kayaking or hiking. He is also an avid reader, but, much to his consternation, he still can't seem to get the hang of reading while on his bicycle or in his kayak.
Cyclone Cindy was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Development, and has worked as a preschool teacher and a contracted writer for Prevent Child Abuse Rhode Island, as well as a volunteer for a therapeutic children's theatre group and an advocate for youth in foster care. When not performing incredibly amazing experiments, Cyclone Cindy spends a lot of her time ferrying her own incredibly amazing children to and from dance class, cub scouts, and playdates. When she has free time, she likes to sculpt, create puppets, knit, read, and watch movies. Her kids love to brag that their incredibly amazing mommy is a real Mad Scientist!
