In old monster movies, the mad scientist was always a focal point. All those whirling dials and electricity leaping about was exciting stuff, but it was only the stuff of the movies.

Today, in Peoria, any kid, or adult, for that matter, can don the title mad scientist, according to Susan Naschert, president of Mad Science, at 7501 N. University.

Naschert, and her husband, Don, both come from science backgrounds. She is a chemist, and her husband taught science at ICC for 38 years.

They began looking for a business opportunity in retirement and found it in a Mad Science franchise.

“We had a lot of energy and wanted to give something back,” Naschert said.

With five children and one grandchild, something the Nascherts know is that to get people excited about science, it often has to involve hands-on experiences. That is exactly what Mad Science offers in a variety of oddball ways.

“The teachers and students end up loving science. There’s a lot of learning going on at all levels,” Naschert said.
For more on this story see the 4/2/08 issue of the Peoria Times-Observer