The National Science Center opened in 1996 and was opened by the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad. The science fair here is divided into several different sections by theme. The concept used at the National Science Center is to link scientific discoveries with the environment, religious values, science and others related to its application in human daily life.

For those of you who are not particularly interested in science subjects, you will be thrilled with the way science and technology info is presented to visitors at this science-filled center. It is worth visiting if you have a few hours to spare with children especially who will find it fun and educational.

The science museum is located on 8 acres of manicured gardens at Bukit Kiara in north-west Kuala Lumpur. It is housed in a green glass building topped with a geodesic dome which is illuminated in various colours at night.The Centre contains over 1,000 interactive, hands-on exhibits arranged over 12 galleries which are designed to allow visitors to learn by experience.

The main highlights include an aquarium (the sort where you walk through a tunnel so you are surrounded by gliding sting rays and other monster fish), a section on computers and telecoms (difficult to keep that type of display up-to-date), and some basic sciences programmes and activities. There is also an outside section with gardens, activity area, water plaza etc.

The National Science Centre easily stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Petrosains Discovery Centre in KLCC: it is only the complex?s out-of-the-way location in Mont Kiara instead of the city centre that makes it second string. The museum has gone to great lengths to ensure that the content in the exhibits are thoroughly tourist-friendly with plenty of signage in English.