If you want to share lessons learned, explore an issue in greater detail with the science center community, lead a workshop, present case study findings, discuss innovative strategies, or inspire the field, there’s no better way to do that than by submitting a session proposal for ASTC 2012, which will be held October 13-16, and hosted by COSI, in Columbus, Ohio.

Session proposals are due December 31, so start coming up with your new ideas! Session proposals should be submitted online at https://s3.goeshow.com/astc/annual/2012/abstract_submission.cfm.

Questions? Contact ASTC’s Conference Department at conference@astc.org.

The winners—four museums and eight libraries—will receive a total of $1.2 million in grants to plan and design the labs. Inspired by YOUMedia, a new teen space at the Chicago Public Library, and innovations in science and technology centers, these labs will help young people move beyond consuming content to making and creating it.

In addition to the three ASTC members that received Learning Labs grants, four additional ASTC members—California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; COSI, Columbus, Ohio; Institute for Learning Innovation, Edgewater, Maryland; and Science City at Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri—will partner with awarded libraries in their communities.

The learning labs will be based on new research about how young people learn today. Teens will use both digital and traditional media that promote creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning. The labs will connect teens to mentors and peers, as well as anytime, anywhere access to information through online social networks so that they can pursue their interests more deeply. The winning institutions will match the funds from the competition and partner with local educational, cultural, and civic organizations to build a network of learning opportunities for young people.

ASTC CEO Anthony (Bud) Rock remarked, “Science centers and museums nurture the innovative spirit so crucially needed for success in today’s world, and using digital media to further ignite the excitement of our nation’s youth about lifelong STEM learning will ensure that future generations cultivate the skills they need, such as problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. The fact that three of the four museums named as grant recipients are science centers is an exciting testament to the strength of our field as incubators of innovation in our communities.”

The 12 recipients of this round of grants were selected out of a pool of 98 applicants from 32 states. Applications were evaluated by professionals with relevant expertise in digital media and learning and museum and library management. Winners will participate—in-person and online—in a community of practice that will provide technical assistance, networking, and cross-project learning. In addition to the Da Vinci Center, New York Hall of Science, and OMSI, those institutions selected as grant recipients include: San Francisco Public Library, California; Rangeview Library District and Anythink Libraries, Thornton, Colorado; Howard County Public Library, Columbia, Maryland; St. Paul Public Library, Minnesota; Kansas City Public Library, Missouri; Columbus Metropolitan Library, Ohio; Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, Pennsylvania; Nashville Public Library Foundation, Tennessee; and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas.

For information on those museums and libraries chosen as Learning Labs grant recipients, visit www.imls.gov/news/21st_century_learning_lab_locations1.aspx. Application materials for a second round of grants will be available in spring 2012. More information is available at www.imls.gov.

“This competition was announced in answer to President Obama’s Educate to Innovate campaign, a nationwide effort to bring American students to the forefront in science and math, to provide the workers of tomorrow with the skills they need today,” said Susan Hildreth, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “Libraries and museums are part of re-envisioning learning in the 21st century; they are trusted community institutions where teens can follow their passions and imagine exciting futures.”

“Digital media are profoundly influencing young people’s lives, their behavior, their civic participation, and where and how they learn,” said Robert Gallucci, President of the MacArthur Foundation. “These innovative new teen labs are designed to provide young people with engaging and diverse opportunities for learning and exploration beyond the classroom. The nation’s libraries and museums play an important role in leveling the playing field by providing greater access to learning experiences that equip our young people with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the 21st Century.”

“Digital media are profoundly influencing young people’s lives, their behavior, their civic participation, and where and how they learn,” said Robert Gallucci, President of the MacArthur Foundation. “These innovative new teen labs are designed to provide young people with engaging and diverse opportunities for learning and exploration beyond the classroom. The nation’s libraries and museums play an important role in leveling the playing field by providing greater access to learning experiences that equip our young people with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the 21st Century.”

Locations for the 12 new learning labs include: San Francisco, CA; Thornton, CO; Columbia, MD; St. Paul, MN; Kansas City, MO; New York, NY; Columbus, OH; Portland, OR; Allentown, PA; Philadelphia, PA; Nashville, TN; and Houston, TX.

The learning labs will be based on new research about how young people learn today. Teens will use both digital and traditional media that promote creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning. The labs will connect teens to mentors and peers, as well as anytime, anywhere access to informationthrough online social networks so that they can pursue their interests more deeply. The winning institutions will match the funds from the competition and partner with local educational, cultural, and civic organizations to build a network of learning opportunities for young people.

IMLS and MacArthur selected the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) and the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) to manage the competition. They will ensure the new lab locations use best practice principles, based on research and evidence in the field of youth digital learning, to help young people gain 21st century skills and an effective STEM education.

The 12 recipients of this round of grants were selected out of a pool of 98 applicants from 32 states. Applications were evaluated by professionals with relevant expertise in digital media and learning and museum and library management. Winners will participate—in-person and online—in a community of practice that will provide technical assistance, networking, and cross-project learning. Application materials for a second round of grants will be available in spring 2012. More information is available at www.imls.gov.

Click here to view the list of locations that have been selected as part of the first round of a national competition to plan and design 21st Century learning labs in libraries and museums around the country.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

About the MacArthur Foundation’s Digital Media and Learning Initiative
The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society. The Foundation’s digital media and learning initiative aims to determine how digital media are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize, and participate in civic life. The goal is to build a base of evidence about how young people learn today, in an effort to re-imagine learning in the 21st century. More information is available at www.macfound.org/learning.

About the Association of Science-Technology Centers
The Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) is a global nonprofit organization of science centers and museums committed to raising public understanding of science’s role in solving critical societal issues, and its value in igniting and nurturing the innovative spirit that people of all ages need for success in today’s world. ASTC encourages excellence and innovation in informal science learning by serving and linking its members worldwide and advancing their common goals. Founded in 1973, ASTC’s nearly 600 members in 44 countries include not only science centers and museums, but also nature centers, aquariums, planetariums, space centers, zoos, botanical gardens, and natural history and children’s museums, as well as companies, consultants, and other organizations that share an interest in informal science education. Visit www.astc.org to learn more about ASTC and find a science center near you.

About the Urban Libraries Council
Urban Libraries Council (ULC) is a membership organization made up of North America’s premier public library systems and the corporations supporting them. While ULC’s members primarily represent urban and suburban settings, the work done by ULC is widely used by all libraries including those in rural settings. ULC strategically addresses issues important to all communities including education, workforce and economic development, public safety, environmental sustainability, health, and wellness. ULC’s members are thought leaders dedicated to the continuous evolution and strengthening of libraries to meet changing community needs. As ULC celebrates its forty-year anniversary, its work focuses on helping library leaders develop and utilize skills and strategies that match the challenges of the 21st century. Learn more at www.urbanlibraries.org.

In its recognition of EdVenture, IMLS highlighted several programs and initiatives, including: The Big ED Health Initiative, a year-round series of activities promoting healthy life skills, including facilitated programming that demonstrates healthy cooking skills; Body Detectives, a permanent exhibit which opened in 2011 to teach children about chronic disease prevention; World of Work, which allows children to recognize and appreciate the diversity of jobs such as farmer, mechanic, firefighter, scientist, and builder; and EDDIE®, the four-story-high, 17.5-ton, 10-year-old boy which is a hands-on exhibit large enough for children and adults to explore the inner wonders of the human body.

“EdVenture is honored to be recognized by IMLS with The National Medal,” said Catherine Wilson Horne, EdVenture’s President and CEO. “To be selected by IMLS from among the thousands of institutions in the United States is a tribute to our leadership, our staff, our volunteers, and our supporters who all give of themselves to fulfill our mission.”

In recognizing the Madison Children’s Museum (MCM), IMLS cited its strong community engagement. From 2007 to its grand opening in August 2010, MCM involved the community at every opportunity. With a commitment to using only local people and products, MCM engaged some 15,000 citizens who donated money, time, and even artwork. A permanent installation features bottle cap art, made by 13,000 local students. The museum is also proud of programs that enable families with limited means to visit often. They offer a $1 admission for anyone on public assistance, as well as an $8 Family Access annual membership for those on documented public assistance. For adults who are caregivers to both children and elders with early-stage memory loss, MCM also offers SPARK!, an art-making program that engages three generations and often sees children taking on the role of teacher.

“We have been humbled by numerous architectural awards in the past year, but this honor means the most of all because it speaks to the core of our mission: service,” said MCM Executive Director Ruth G. Shelly. “People readily recognize us as a great place for kids to learn through play, but we strive to take service to a deeper level by becoming a resource for parents, educators, and the entire community.”

The National Medal was created to celebrate the vital role museums and libraries play in American society, and is awarded to institutions that have developed innovative ways to serve their communities. In addition to EdVenture and MCM, 2011 recipients included: Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, Florida; Brooklyn Museum, New York; Columbus Metropolitan Library, Ohio; Erie Art Museum, Pennsylvania; Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, Collegeville, Minnesota; Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, Virginia; San Jose Public Library, California; and Weippe Public Library and Discovery Center, Idaho.

Nominations for the 2012 National Medal are due December 15; the nomination form can be accessed at www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=13. For more information on the 2011 recipients, visit www.imls.gov/medals.

But while this demonstration of quantum levitation by Tel-Aviv University’s Superconductivity Group, shot during the recent ASTC Annual Conference in Baltimore looks like something that Harry or Hermione may have conjured up, there is true physics behind it. To date, this video has gotten more than 5 million hits on YouTube and been featured in media outlets all across the globe.

Watch the video below, and for an explanation of how quantum levitation works, visit www.quantumlevitation.com/QuantumLevitation/The_physics.html. For more information on Tel-Aviv University’s Superconductivity Group, contact Dr. Boaz Almog at boazal@gmail.com.

“Coming out of this conference, I am even more energized about the power and potential of ASTC to help our members and partners move the world forward on science and science education,” Seidl remarked.

Joining Seidl as board officers are: Chevy Humphrey, president and CEO, Arizona Science Center, Phoenix, who will serve as secretary/treasurer; Linda Conlon, chief executive, International Centre for Life, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, who will serve as vice president; Joanna Haas, executive director, Louisville Science Center, Kentucky, who will serve as member-at-large; and Stueber, who assumes the position of immediate past president.

Two board members—Dennis Bartels, executive director of the Exploratorium in San Francisco, and Ann Fumarolo, president and CEO of SciPort: Louisiana’s Science Center in Shreveport—were re-elected to a second term. Four new board members were also elected: Nohora Elizabeth Hoyos, executive director, Maloka, Bogota, Colombia; Neville Petrie, CEO, Science Alive! The New Zealand Science Centre, Christchurch; Stephanie Ratcliffe, executive director, Wild Center, Tupper Lake, New York; and Barry Van Deman, president and CEO, North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, Durham.

ASTC board members not up for re-election this year include: Linda Abraham-Silver, president and executive director, Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland, Ohio; David Chesebrough, president and CEO, COSI, Columbus, Ohio; Joseph Hastings, executive director, Don Harrington Discovery Center, Amarillo, Texas; Ronen Mir, general director, MadaTech: Israel National Museum of Science, Haifa; David Mosena, president and CEO, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago; and Carol Valenta, senior vice president, Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri. Those individuals whose terms have ended include Immediate Past President Lesley Lewis, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto; Member-at-Large Erik Jacquemyn, Technopolis, the Flemish Science Center, Mechelen, Belgium; Graham Durant, Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre, Canberra, ACT, Australia; and Charlie Trautmann, Sciencenter, Ithaca, New York.

Niki Hord, Maryland Science Center, Baltimore

Adiel Fernandez, New York Hall of Science, Queens

Jonah Cohen, The Children’s Museum, West Hartford, Connecticut

Eddie Goldstein and Jodi Schoemer, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Colorado

Steve Spangler, Steve Spangler Science, Denver, Colorado

About the image: Jonah Cohen launches an air pressure rocket. Photo by Christine Ruffo

ASTC’s Youth Inspired Challenge is designed to expand the impact of science centers and museums to assist our youth to become the innovative and creative thinkers needed for the 21st-century workforce. ASTC-member institutions will offer valuable science education and youth employment programs outside the classroom to engage youth in a minimum of 2 million hours of science enrichment through STEM-centered youth development programs. In the program’s first year, nearly 14,000 youth across the globe were reached during more than 702,000 out-of-school hours. Click here to learn how your institution can join the program.

ASTC would like to thank the chaperones and youth participants for joining our celebration!

About the image: Libby Redda, Pacific Science Center, and Jeremy Martinez, National Aquarium. Photo by Christine Ruffo

We invite you to follow the 2011 ASTC Annual Conference online. The conference blog will be updated regularly through Tuesday. Follow us on Twitter (@ScienceCenters) and join in discussions using hash tag #ASTC2011. Photos and videos will also be posted in our Flickr pool and on our YouTube channel.

Thank you for joining us in Charm City for another fantastic ASTC Annual Conference.

About the image: A ship in Baltimore‘s Inner Harbor. Photo by Christine Ruffo, ASTC

ASTC partner jcpenney is making available $6,500 grants to cover the full cost of registration and initial materials for the FRC program. Additionally, jcpenney FRC grant recipients are paired with a jcpenney store, providing a source of support and partnership.

Dubbed a “varsity sport for the mind,” FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. It’s as close to “real world” engineering that a student can get, and volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Check out FIRST live on its YouTube channel.

The deadline for applications is October 15.

Interested institutions should contact their local FIRST regional director (www.usfirst.org/regionalcontact.aspx) for details. And for more information on this exciting program, visit www.usfirst.org and click on “FRC” at the top of the page.