Dennis Wint, CEO of The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and former CEO of the Saint Louis Science Center, meets former Saint Louis colleagues Marti Cortez (left), Senior VP, Human Resources, and Deborah Washington (right), VP, Human Resources, at the 2008 ASTC Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Diversity in the science center workplace is a priority for ASTC supported by the 21st Century Fund.

Since its founding in 1973, ASTC has nurtured a generation of science center professionals as the field has grown into a global phenomenon. ASTC is now the largest organization of interactive science centers in the world, with member organizations in 44 countries and every U.S. state, and a cumulative visitation of nearly 90 million. Science Center programs inspire youth, train educators, and build public awareness about science's vital role in identifying and solving the crucial problems facing our global society. With the success of the field have come greater demands.

We need your help. The ASTC Board of Directors established the 21st Century Fund in 2006 to keep the science center field, as well as its executives and professionals, at the forefront of scientific innovation, education, and community involvement. Please consider lending us your support. Your contribution will certainly make a difference, as it will help fund innovation in informal science learning, promote the sharing of best practices, enhance the future successes of the science center field, and, ultimately, keep the spirit of scientific discovery alive for future generations.

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