Amazeum opens new lab, CEO named to commission
by March 11, 2026 2:50 pm 413 views
The Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville recently opened Materials Lab and announced that CEO Sam Dean was appointed to the newly launched National Commission on Learning Ecosystems.
Materials Lab is a making and tinkering space allowing visitors to learn about materials through experiments, problem-solving and building. It opened in the 825-square-foot space of the former Hershey’s Lab, which closed at the end of 2025. The Amazeum invested about $200,000 into the new lab space and program development.
The first material visitors will learn about is cardboard. The featured material will remain the focus before rotating to a new material. New prompts, challenges and tools will be introduced over time.
“Materials Lab is designed to help visitors see everyday materials in a completely new way,” said Chip Lindsey, chief officer for exhibits and environments at the Scott Family Amazeum. “By focusing on one material at a time, families can really dig in, test ideas, and discover how creativity and problem-solving come to life through hands-on making. Cardboard is just the beginning; future rotations will introduce new materials like wood, metal, or fibers that bring fresh challenges, tools, and ways to build.”
The two-year commission, convened by New America, brings together leaders from across the nation to examine how partnerships can strengthen public education and expand access to learning opportunities for children, youth and families. The focus is to study how collaboration among schools, museums, libraries, early learning centers, youth development programs, and workforce partners can create more connected and accessible pathways for learning in and out of the classroom.
“Learning does not begin and end in a classroom,” Dean said. “When communities intentionally connect schools with informal learning organizations, children and families benefit from richer, more engaging opportunities to explore, create, and grow. The Amazeum is proud to contribute to this work and help shape what is possible nationwide.”