(Session recaps provided by Jeremy Riga, ASTC 2012 communications volunteer from COSI)

We Love Science: Wonderful Discoveries about Our Wondrous World
“I love science. Do our visitors?” A 2010 poll of online readers asked, who do people trust when it comes to science? Scientists are mostly trusted, but that changes depending on the topic. People trust museums as sources of information. Nearly 30% of one museum’s visitors did not share the museum’s view of climate change. A speaker from another institution noticed that some visitors use the evolution display as a platform for teaching creationism. The point is that many visitors love science, but love it in different ways.

Creating Learning Spaces for Young Visitors
COSI wants to document and make visible the impact their work has had. Growing research partners to allow everyone access to the data. From early childhood perspective: height of visuals are important, taking into account kids riding in strollers. Adding small child elements to bigger museum pieces helps the younger audience engage. Dramatic play spaces have enhanced the visit for families. Young imaginations enjoy and appreciate the extra effort.
“My classroom is the museum.”

Communicating Climate Change: Building Global Awareness through Local Citizen Science
One institution uses “citizen scientists” that help them get temperature readings in the sand by having students and families collect data for them outside the museum. They give these people the GPS coordinates of the sensors and can then go locate the sites, download the data, and learn about temperature change and feel part of the process.

Product Demo: Increasing Revenue at Your Venue from a 3D Theater
3D growth: Theatrical, home consumer, aquariums, amusement parks, zoos, science centers, planetariums. 3D increases capture rate an average of 30%, but changes widely by geographical area. Raising revenue means mixing it up: moms and strollers, school groups, families.

(Session summary by Sean Smith, ASTC’s Director of Government and Public Relations)

In the first of what will be a number of sessions with a U.S. federal agency angle, Mike Shanahan (Bishop Museum, Honolulu) moderated the “Astronomy and Aerospace Showcase 2012,” which featured 10 panelists, including representatives from NASA facilities (Marshall Space Flight Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory), ASTC-member science centers (Bishop Museum, Pacific Science Center, the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis, and Adler Planetarium) and other institutions (Digitalis Education Solutions, Space Telescope Science Institute).

Panelists highlighted a variety of exciting new information and opportunities, including updates on the latest on upcoming space flights and the present and future of planetarium shows—like how to involve teens and younger children in astronomy and planetarium programming. Attendees were also provided with a detailed overview of NASA-related resources available to science centers and museums. Many ASTC members are already involved with the NASA Museum Alliance, but did you know that a Mars rover will be available for earth-bound travel to science centers and museums beginning next year? How about that through NASA’s artifacts program, you can gain access to flight-flown NASA hardware, materials, and garments, and even make inexpensive additions to your permanent collections? In addition, science centers can now receive Space Shuttle tiles and space food, which were both previously unavailable through the program. To date, more than 6,179 artifacts have been allocated, including 222 here in Ohio. For more information, visit gsaxcess.gov/nasawel.htm.

During the session, NASA announced the launch of a new website, www.nasawavelength.org, which will serve as an online repository for NASA resources for earth and space science education. The site, created in partnership with the Lawrence Hall of Science, serves as a digital library for resources developed through funding of the NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD), all of which have undergone a peer-review process through which educators and scientists ensure the content is accurate and useful in an educational setting. ASTC members can use NASA Wavelength to quickly and easily locate resources, connect them to other websites using atom feeds, and even share the resources you discover with others through social media and email.

ASTC Annual Conference attendees are encouraged to visit the NASA Exhibit Hall Booth (#728), for educational materials, DVDs, high-resolution images for download (plus the ever-popular tattoos and stickers), and everyone is encouraged to learn more via the NASA website, www.nasa.gov.

While you’re online, be sure to follow-up on International Observe the Moon Night (www.observethemoonnight.org), which was also highlighted during the session and will next take place on October 12, 2013. ASTC members are encouraged to get involved and to help get their visitors excited about lunar science and exploration. International Observe the Moon Night happens every year, and anyone can host an event; the website has great materials for hosts, including fliers, activity ideas, etc.

How can science centers effectively use online resources to increase awareness about their programs? Where can informal science educators search for vetted programs and opportunities specific to their needs? During an ASTC 2012 session, Leveraging Free Online Resources to Expand Awareness of Informal Learning Programs, Carol Tang, director of the Coalition for Science After School (CSAS), Tara DeGeorges, online content manager for Time Warner Cable, and Kalie Sacco, program manager for the Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE), touched on these issues.

Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds “Connectory” is powered by CSAS’ National After School Science Directory. This searchable database is designed to increase access to high-quality science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education beyond the classroom for youth and families across the nation. The directory houses thousands of STEM opportunities, submitted by science centers, museums, schools, and other youth-serving organizations. Click here to submit your organization’s programs to the directory.

CAISE is also offering two new online resources for the informal science community. The Informal Science Education Evidence Wiki, iseevidencewiki.org, supports a public discussion of the case for informal science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. The goal is to provide easy to read summaries of evidence that characterize the benefits and outcomes of ISE experiences. The Informal Commons is designed to help ISE professionals find resources quickly with one search engine accessing materials from many websites serving informal learning professionals.

Intel futurist Brian David Johnson helped officially launch ASTC’s 2012 Annual Conference earlier today, as the keynote speaker at the Opening General Session held in the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Johnson, who made a point of explaining to the crowd that as a futurist he does not predict the future, is a self-proclaimed “geek” and a fan of science centers. So much so, in fact, that he disclosed he and his wife were married in the planetarium at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland.

Johnson explained that one of the main objectives of his job is to determine what it will feel like to be a human 10-20 years from now. He took umbrage with the vision of the future put forth in so many movies and books—the vision of a person in a stark, sterile room with the sleekest of electronic devices surrounding them. As he put it, “If we’re going to envision the future, we need to envision a future for people, one that is comfortable.”

“We are all fire hydrants of data,” Johnson said. “We spew data—financial data, social networking data—all over the place. Yet data only has meaning when it comes back and touches the lives of humans. Humans make data and all technology meaningful.”

In his presentation, Waking the Algorithm, Johnson explained that algorithms are imbued with humanity and are, essentially, a story.

He urged the audience not to be passive about the future. “Don’t sit back and let the future happen to you,” he explained. “The future will be awesome because we’re going to build it; why would we build a future that is negative?”

Johnson emphasized the power of science centers and museums in building the future. “You will build the future in the minds of people who come to your science centers,” he said. “You put the visions of science and technology in people’s minds and let them touch it.”

We can change the future, he explained, by changing the story people tell themselves about the future they will live in. We need to focus on making the lives of people better.

“You have an incredible opportunity to shape the future through the work you do,” Johnson concluded. A worthy message to kick off four days of learning, sharing, connecting, and being inspired.

The Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards are presented annually to ASTC members and/or their employees in recognition of extraordinary accomplishments that not only enhance the performance of their own institutions, but also significantly advance the mission of science-technology centers and museums. The following awards were presented at the 2012 ASTC Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, October 13.

Leading Edge Award for Business Practice

Carnegie Science Center, Chevron Center for STEM Education and Career Development
The Chevron Center for STEM Education and Career Development at Carnegie Science Center is a “community connector,” bringing together a coalition of corporations, K-12 formal education, higher education, and foundations with the common goal to address challenges in STEM education and workforce development in the western Pennsylvania region. The Chevron STEM Center, launched in 2011 with $1.9 million in unrestricted funds, encompasses the Science Center’s existing informal science education programs for students and has embarked on new initiatives, including partnerships with area school districts to develop and strengthen STEM curriculum, a database of regional STEM programs, and a public awareness campaign aimed at parents.

Leading Edge Award for Visitor Experience (small center)

The National Ag Science Center, Ag In Motion
Ag In Motion is an innovative one-of-a-kind Ag Science Field Trip on wheels. This 53-foot (16-meter) mobile science lab is designed to be a memorable experience for every youth who steps through its doors. From the exterior graphics and trailer design to the laboratory lessons and on-board videos, the student experience is designed to excite, engage, and entice further science study.

Leading Edge Award for Visitor Experience (large center)

Scitech, Aboriginal Education Program
While providing science outreach in many of the regional areas of the vast state of Western Australia, it became apparent that Scitech’s capacity to serve the specific needs of the remote Indigenous Aboriginal communities was diminished through lack of resources and the need for more culturally relevant programs. Scitech’s Aboriginal Education Program has addressed the challenges of access and equity by shipping trucks with interactive exhibits out, and flying educators and explainers in. At the same time, the center developed a comprehensive suite of engaging science activities for children, parents, and teachers that recognize the communities’ unique Aboriginal culture and language.

Leading Edge Award for New Leadership in the Field

Denise Amyot, President and CEO, Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation
For developing an innovative and expansive pan-Canadian energy literacy initiative.

Leading Edge Award for Experienced Leadership in the Field

Joanna E. Haas, Executive Director, Kentucky Science Center
For leading her institution to fulfill its role as the state science center of Kentucky.

To see all the Leading Edge Award nominees, visit the ASTC YouTube channel.