Terms of Service

The Science Museum of Minnesota is committed to our mission to turn on the science: Inspire learning. Inform policy. Improve lives. We are also committed to protecting your privacy and data when you use smm.org or provide us with your personal information online or offline.


This Privacy Statement describes our current policies and practices related to information gathered from our constituents (visitors, Members, donors, customers, or anyone who provides us with personal information) online (via smm.org (the Site), our other web properties, social media, and advertising) and offline (via postal mail, telephone, fax, and in person). Any third-party sites we link to on our Site are not covered under this Privacy Statement; please consult them for their applicable policies. The Science Museum is committed to following both the letter and the spirit of all laws governing its operations, including those pertaining to privacy and use of information.


Information We Collect

Non-Personal Information

  • IP address
  • General geographical area
  • Date and time you access smm.org
  • Pages you view on smm.org
  • Tracking cookies (which retrieve saved data from your last visit to smm.org)

We collect non-personal information to make smm.org easier to use and tailored to the people who visit it. This information is aggregated, which means that none of the data can be linked back to an individual or identify an individual. This information may be provided to third parties (or come from third parties) and it will never be used to contact you personally.


The Science Museum of Minnesota uses Google Analytics, Mouseflow, and Facebook Pixel to collect non-personal information on smm.org. Mouseflow only records a portion of visits and is used to improve usability. If you would like to opt-out of Google Analytics, please install the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On. The Science Museum reserves the right to collect non-personal information via other digital means as it deems appropriate.


Personal Information

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Mailing address
  • Credit card or other financial information
  • Demographic information
  • Donor or Member status

Additionally, when you make a purchase or attempt to make a purchase through the Site, we collect certain information, including your name, billing address, shipping address, payment information (including credit card numbers), email address, and phone number. We refer to this information as Order Information. Per this Privacy Policy, personal information is referring to both Device Information and Order Information.


The Science Museum of Minnesosta collects personal information only when you voluntarily or knowingly provide it to us. Examples include purchasing an item on our website (including an admission ticket), signing up for our newsletter or an event, participating in a survey, becoming a Member or donor, or requesting any other type of communication from the Science Museum. Personal information can be used to contact you directly and can be used to ship products in the event you elect to purchase something from the online store. 


Upon request, the Science Museum does its best to provide access to our constituents’ unique identifier information (such as Member ID number), contact information, and a description of the information we maintain. If you would like access to your personal information, please contact us


We provide non-personal and personal information to our third-party vendors to the extent that is necessary to complete the services you have requested. Your information will not be used for any other purpose or redistributed. 


How do we use your personal information?

We use Order Information to fulfill any orders placed through the Site, including processing your payment information, arranging for shipping, and providing you with invoices and/or order confirmations.  Additionally, we use this Order Information to communicate with you; screen our orders for potential risk or fraud; and, when in line with the preferences you have shared with us, provide you with information or advertising relating to our products or services.


Device Information is used to help us screen for potential risk and fraud (in particular, your IP address), and more generally to improve and optimize our Site (for example, by generating analytics about how our customers browse and interact with the Site, and to assess the success of our marketing and advertising campaigns).

Sharing Your Personal Information

We share your Personal Information with third parties to help us use your Personal Information as described above. For example, we use Shopify to power our online store—you can read more about how Shopify uses your Personal Information here.


We also use Google Analytics to help us understand how our customers use the Site—you can read more about how Google uses your Personal Information here, and/or opt-out of Google Analytics here.


You can also opt out of targeted advertising for the following:

FACEBOOK

GOOGLE

BING


Visit the Digital Advertising Alliance’s opt-out portal for more information on opting out of these services.

Do Not Track

Please note that we do not alter our Site’s data collection and use practices when we see a Do Not Track signal from your browser.

Your Rights 

If you are a European resident, you have the right to access personal information we hold about you and to ask that your personal information be corrected, updated, or deleted. If you would like to exercise this right, please contact us


If you are a European resident, please note that we will need to process your information in order to fulfill contracts we might have with you (for example if you make an order through the Site), or otherwise to pursue our legitimate business interests listed above. Please note that in these instances your information will be transferred outside of Europe, including to Canada and the United States.

Data Retention

When you place an order through the Site, we will maintain your Order Information for our records unless and until you ask us to delete this information.

Cookies

Most web browsers are initially set up to accept cookies. The Science Museum of Minnesota currently uses cookies to store constituents' preferences and record session information such as items that consumers add to their online shopping carts. Cookies are also used to record page location to assist with navigation and menus on the Site. You can reset your web browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent, however some features of the Site may not function if you delete or disable cookies.


Email and Newsletter Privacy and Subscription Status

The Science Museum of Minnesota does not share constituent email addresses with third parties and does not send unsolicited email. Email addresses provided to the Museum are used to send responses to questions and queries, provide purchase and registration confirmation, and communicate follow-up information. The Science Museum does not share its mailing or telephone lists with political candidates, parties, or campaign organizations.


By using the Site, you agree to receive electronic communications from the Science Museum, subject to applicable law. Constituents who receive email newsletters and updates may request to be removed from these lists at any time. Instructions on how to unsubscribe are provided in the emails you receive from the Science Museum.


Museum Photography

By visiting the Science Museum of Minnesota, each person (and all accompanying minors) grants permission to photograph, videotape, record, or otherwise reproduce their image and/or voice, without compensation, for the Science Museum's marketing or publicity purposes, including copying, distribution, digital sharing, and other uses. We do not use photos of minors on field trips or at the Museum without permission.

Donor Privacy

The Science Museum of Minnesota is firmly committed to protecting the privacy of our donors. We do not share our membership or donor information with any outside entities, except for companies that we must work with to conduct our business that must comply with our Privacy Statement or unless we are legally obligated to provide such information. Certain aggregate data, which does not identify specific donors or their personal information, may be shared with funders, government organizations, and other groups. 

Children’s Privacy

In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, we do our best to protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of personal information collected from anyone, including a child under the age of 13. Further, the Museum makes appropriate efforts to delete any information we inadvertently collect from children under the age of 13 who visit our Site as soon as we gain knowledge of its existence. The only time the Museum knowingly collects personal information from parents/legal guardians about someone under the age of 13 is for summer camp registration. The information is only used for summer camp registration. If you learn or suspect that your child has provided personal information to the Science Museum that wasn’t for summer camps, please contact us. Additionally, the Museum would not require a child to disclose any information that is not reasonably necessary to participate in an activity. You, as a parent or legal guardian may:

  • Review your child’s personal information
  • Delete any information you do not wish collected
  • Refuse to allow further collection or use of the child’s information
  • Decline to allow use of the information to any third party unless it is needed for part of a service
  • Contact us to learn how to exercise these rights

Acceptance of the Privacy Statement Terms

By using store.smm.org or providing your personal information to the Science Museum of Minnesota, you imply acceptance of our Privacy Statement. If you do not agree with the terms, please do not visit our website.


The Museum reserves the right to modify, update, and alter the terms of this Policy. The most current version of this Policy shall govern the Museum’s use of your information. By using the Museum’s Sites, you agree to be bound by the terms. If you have questions about the Privacy Statement, please contact us