On May 18, the Tech Virtual played host to an International Museum Day (IMD) event, the first to be staged in Second Life. The museum, which in real life is based in San Jose, California, partnered with the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to host the event, which focused on the theme “Museums as Agents of Social Change and Development.” The Tech and ICOM worked closely to develop a program that enabled people from around the world to interact in the virtual world, including tours and discussions hosted by curator-avatars from collaborating museums. Among those participating were visitors from France, Lebanon, and Tunisia. “While traditionally museums are known for their collections, more and more museums are taking an active key role in exploring social issues with communities to contribute to their development. International Museum Day shows that it is possible to gather together in a new way to interpret the past in light of the present to shape a better future,” said Alissandra Cummins, President of ICOM. By staging this event, she said, ICOM wanted to show how “museums can help bridge the divide between the virtual and real world through new creative interaction between museum professionals.”

From June 12 to 14, the Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC) will hold its annual conference in London, Ontario, focusing on the theme Learn to Play! Play to Learn! More than 200 delegates hailing from Canada’s science centers and museums, as well as the government, media, and business community, are expected to attend. Sessions will examine topics such as public programs, online communications, exhibit development, and staff recruitment. Silken Laumann, Olympic medalist and author of Child’s Play: Rediscovering the Joy of Play in Our Families and Communities, will present the keynote address.

For more information, visit the conference web site. “Early bird” registration ends May 12.

About the image: Michael Edwards, coordinator of Science East, Fredericton, New Brunswick, participates in the Demonstration Showcase at the CASC Conference. Photo by Neil Burkard.

Nine in 10 Canadian university students say that trips to science centers and museums increased their interest in science and technology, according to a survey released May 1. The survey was conducted by the Canadian Strategic Counsel for software company CA Canada.

At a time when many Canadian educators are concerned about students’ declining interest in science and technology, the survey reveals that students’ interest in these subjects increases with hands-on, interactive experiences. Among the findings:
• 94 percent of those surveyed said that trips to science centers and museums increase their interest in science and technology.
• 90 percent said high school math, science, and technology should include more hands-on learning.

The survey of 482 Canadian university students also revealed that the top three reasons for not pursuing science or technology as a career choice in post-secondary education are that these fields of study are seen as “too complex,” “too boring,” and provide “uninteresting” work.

Speaking at the unveiling of a newly refurbished planetarium at Toronto’s Ontario Science Centre, astronaut Marc Garneau commented on the study. “Students are clearly saying that high school science and technology classes should have more hands-on learning to increase their interest in these subjects, making it more important than ever to bring children on school visits to science centers, planetariums, and museums so they can see the excitement of science and technology in action,” he said.

The refurbishment of the Ontario Science Centre’s Planetarium was supported through CA’s Together Community Grants, a program that supports organizations that focus on promoting education and technology.

About the image: Marc Garneau, the first Canadian in space, shows grade nine students Raf Reza and Sivakami Mulvaganam galaxies beyond the Milky Way at the unveiling of the new CA Planeterium a the Ontario Science Centre.

Science centers across the United States have joined scientists and other concerned citizens in calling for a Presidential Debate on Science & Technology during this election year. Recognizing that science and technology lie at the center of a very large number of the policy issues facing our nation and the world, Science Debate 2008 organizers and supporters are asking the U.S. presidential candidates to share their views on issues related to the environment, medicine, and health and on science and technology policy. As of yet, no candidates have accepted the invitation, so the debate, originally planned for April 18 at the Franklin Institute, is now tentatively scheduled for national broadcast in May from Portland State University, Oregon.

ASTC and several of its member museums have signed on to support the debate, including the Museum of Science, Boston; the Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul; the Franklin Institute Science Museum and the Academy of Natural Sciences, both in Philadelphia; and the New York Hall of Science and the American Museum of Natural History, both in New York.

About the image: Shawn Lawrence Otto, CEO of Science Debate 2008, speaks at a press conference held at the Franklin Institute on March 14. Photo by Lisa Godfrey.

On the evening of April 17, following a week of activities celebrating science and the spirit of discovery, nine individuals will be honored with Benjamin Franklin Medals and two will be presented with prestigious Bower Awards at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Franklin Institute Awards, often a precursor to the Nobel Prize, are awarded for outstanding achievements that have directly and positively impacted and enhanced the quality of human life and deepened our understanding of the universe.

The awards program dates back to 1824, when the Institute was established to train artisans and mechanics in the fundamentals of engineering and science. Past laureates have included Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Marie Curie, Stephen Hawking, Francis Crick, Jacques Cousteau, Gordon Moore and Jane Goodall. 108 Franklin laureates have won 110 Nobel prizes (2 won twice), and over 50 were recognized by The Franklin Institute prior to Nobel—often decades before—for the same work. Spanning three centuries, this program is among the most widely known and effective awards programs in existence.

For more information on the Franklin Institute’s week of science and the Awards themselves, please visit their website.

Photo courtesy The Franklin Institute