Published: 10/02/2025
Gannon University is excited to host the grand opening of the Center for Lake Erie Education and Research (CLEER) at the from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5.
The weekend-long free event will feature family-friendly, water-focused activities hosted in collaboration with several community partners and offers the public’s first chance to explore interactive science exhibits in the center. Activities will take place in the CLEER Education Lab, in the library lobby, and outside the library.
There will also be tours of the space and facilitated programming on NOAA’s Science On a Sphere®, a room-sized, global display system that projects visualizations onto a six-foot diameter sphere to help illustrate earth science to people of all ages.
CLEER represents the next phase of ÂÒÂ×ÊÓÆµ’s Project NePTWNE (Nano & Polymer Technology for Water and Neural-network Exploration). This initiative brings together faculty, students, industry and community partners to address some of the most pressing challenges facing Lake Erie, including harmful algal blooms, water quality monitoring, and the sustainability of freshwater resources.
Here is the full lineup of activities for each day:
Saturday, Oct. 4:
Sunday, Oct. 5:
The EMTA will run a continuous bus loop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday to provide additional access to the center. This shuttle will run directly between the arch at Gannon University (on West Seventh Street) and the library.
Following the opening weekend, CLEER will be open in conjunction with Blasco Memorial Library’s standard operating hours.
“We are so excited to establish a hub on Erie’s waterfront that connects world-class research with fun, educational opportunities for our community,” said Dr. Sherri Mason, director of Project NePTWNE. “Our opening weekend marks the beginning of an incredible, collaborative effort to provide access to tools and activities that will instill a lifelong appreciation for our Great Lakes.”