HAMPTON, Va., Oct. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MathAlive!®, a highly immersive and interactive traveling exhibition, opens Oct. 22 at the Virginia Air and Space Center. Presented by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), the MathAlive! exhibition has drawn record-breaking attendance around the world as visitors experience math in action. MathAlive! is on a multi-year engagement with museums on or near military installations.

Forty unique and interactive experiences make up the 5,000 square-foot MathAlive! exhibition with six themed galleries to show math in areas of design, engineering, technology and science. In each gallery, high-tech, mechanical and multimedia interactive experiences provide challenges with various types of mathematics as tools to help visitors compete, design, build and play.

"Our goal is to inspire today's students to be tomorrow's  STEM innovators and problem solvers. MathAlive! shows how math and science relates to their everyday lives," said Todd Probert, vice president of Raytheon's vice president of Mission Support and Modernization. "MathAlive! connects math with the things students love most, such as music, sports, movies and games." 

The U.S. faces a significant gap in the talent needed to fill current and future jobs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), according to an annual index introduced by Raytheon and U.S. News in 2014. The STEM Index, a comprehensive measure of key factors relating to STEM jobs and education, found the U.S. is making strides in some areas but continues to fall short in preparing students for tomorrow's innovation workforce.

MathAlive! will be at the Virginia Air and Space Center until Jan. 8 and is included with general admission. The exhibit appeals to visitors of all ages and levels of math ability, with particular relevance to students in grades 3-8.

"MathAlive! is undoubtedly the best science exhibit to feature math that has ever hit the travelling exhibit circuit. It is a must-see experience!" said Robert Griesmer, executive director and chief executive officer of the Virginia Air and Space Center.

About the Virginia Air & Space Center

The Virginia Air & Space Center is the visitor center for NASA Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base. The Virginia Air & Space Center opened April 5, 1992 in Hampton, Va. Touted as the birthplace of America's space program, the Virginia Air & Space Center features interactive aviation exhibits spanning 100 years of flight, more than 30 historic aircraft, a hands-on space exploration gallery, unique space flight artifacts, and more! The Center is home to the Apollo 12 Command Module and the Orion PA-1 Test Vehicle.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I™ products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

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