By Katherine I. Goodall From Dimensions July/August 2011 There is no question that recent years have been extraordinarily challenging for those responsible for the financial well being of science centers and museums. Since the global economic downturn began in 2008, every revenue stream has been under threat. Some organizations have been forced to make huge […]
The State of the Science Center Read More »
By Joelle Seligson From ASTC Dimensions May/June 2011 A few days before the 2011 Super Bowl became the most watched television program in U.S. history, President Barack Obama delivered his own live broadcast. His State of the Union address touched on the big game, but in relation to a very different goal. “We need to
Museum Schools: Up to the Standards Read More »
By Andresse St. Rose From ASTC Dimensions March/April 2011 Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are critical to the economies of the United States and nations around the world. Therefore, expanding and developing the STEM workforce is a crucial issue for governments, industry leaders, and educators. For example, although women and girls in the United
Why So Few? Barriers to Women’s Participation in STEM, and How Science Centers Can Help Read More »
By Cecilia Garibay From ASTC Dimensions January/February 2011 In recent decades, we’ve learned about visitors at science centers and museums and how their experiences can positively impact science learning (National Research Council, 2009). Excepting Hood’s work (1981) on non–museum goers, however, little attention has been paid to those who do not typically visit museums. Only
By Emily O’Hara and Beth Krusi From ASTC Dimensions July/August 2010 As a small, regional museum drawing from a small population, the Montshire Museum of Science in rural Norwich, Vermont, attracts a high proportion of repeat visitors. About 80 percent of visitors have been to the museum before, and we average 18 individual visits per
Repeat Engagement for Visitors Read More »
By Kirk Anne Taylor From ASTC Dimensions May/June 2010 “I always wanted to be able to connect what I taught in class to a real-world situation. [The Calumet Environmental Education Program (CEEP)] allows students to not only learn about environmental issues, but also take action on an issue. I feel my students learned more during
The Calumet Environmental Education Program: A Model for Science Learning Read More »
By Angela Wenger and Susan Foutz From ASTC Dimensions March/April 2010 The New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences (the Academy) in Camden is now in the 17th year of its Community and Urban Science Enrichment Program (CAUSE). The program was created to address one of the Academy’s key mission elements: to provide educational and economic
A Journey with CAUSE: Putting Positive Youth Development into Museum Youth Programs Read More »
By Julie I. Johnson and Randy C. Roberts From ASTC Dimensions November/December 2009 “Leadership is not a job or a position, but a way of influencing others towards ends recognized as valuable and fulfilling.” —Amanda Sinclair, Leadership for the Disillusioned: Moving Beyond Myths and Heroes to Leading That Liberates Who are the leaders in your
The Practice of Leadership in a Changing Environment Read More »