Science centers and museums worldwide are invited to join a discussion Forum on ASTC Connect, August 6-10, in preparation for the October 4 National Conversation on Climate Action. Led by Andrea Bandelli, project manager for the European project Decide, the forum will give participants an opportunity to try out a global warming “game” designed to foster and support public discussions about climate policy. To sign up, contact connect@astc.org. If you can’t participate actively this week, you’re still welcome to join the forum.

Discussion starts Monday, July 23, in ASTC Connect’s New Science Center Models Forum about how science centers can respond to new possibilities for customizing user experiences. As moderator Beverly Sheppard notes, many science centers are moving from an “attraction model” to an “engagement model.” Participants will share experiences and reflections about personal customization and user-generated content. Beverly Sheppard is president of the Institute for Learning Innovation, Annapolis, Maryland, and former acting director and deputy director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a U.S. federal agency.