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

On April 2, NISE Net brought interactive exhibits and activities to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., inviting House and Senate members of the STEM Education and Nanotechnology Caucuses, legislative staffers, and the general public to learn more about nanotechnology’s potential transformative impact on such fields as healthcare, information processing, and energy production. In addition to small indoor exhibits, NanoExpress, a mobile nanoscale science lab from Washington’s Howard University, was set up near the Capitol, giving passersby the opportunity to explore real research equipment. ASTC participants included the Museum of Science, Boston; the Museum of Life and Science, Durham, North Carolina; and the Exploratorium, San Francisco, California.

In the evening,  the events continued downtown at the Woodrow Wilson Center with a reception and screening of the new PBS three-part series, The Power of Small, hosted by the National Science Foundation and the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies. Special guests included Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, NSF Director Arden Bement, and Project Science Advisor Andrew Maynard.

About the image: Howard University’s NanoExpress lets visitors explore real nanoscale science research equipment. Photo by Lynn Lim

From March 29 through April 6, the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) presents NanoDays, the first nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science.  Through activities like NanoDays, the NISE Net is working to build partnerships between science museums and research centers to increase the capacity of both kinds of institutions to engage the public in learning about nanoscale science and engineering. Kits with hands-on activities, reference materials, short films, and a public forums manual were distributed to over 100 U.S. participating science museums, research centers, and universities in early January.

ASTC members have a variety of activities planned, from community forums and presentations by researchers to nano-themed exhibitions and demonstrations. Additionally, ASTC and the NISE Net will be hosting NanoDays activities in and around Washington, D.C. On April 2, the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education and Nanotechnology Caucuses will host an event featuring hands-on exhibits and demonstrations for legislators, staffers, and the public on Capitol Hill. The following day, the NISE Net will bring those same activities to the National Science Foundation’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.

For more information, including a list of participating institutions, please visit the NISE Net website.

 About the image: Staff members build a giant balloon model of carbon nanotube at the Museum of Science, Boston. Photo by Margaret Glass

The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, recently asked Harris Interactive to seek the opinions of Americans on the state of science and science education in the United States. The nationwide survey results, released last week, reveal what average Americans think about their own knowledge of science, the state of science education in our country, and the leadership role the United States plays in science.

Although most adults named entertainers and athletes as role models to today’s youth (and almost half were unable to name a science role model when specifically asked), respondents do recognize the importance of science. 87 percent agree they personally benefit from science every day. Only 26 percent, though, feel they have a good understanding of science, and a majority believe science education deserves increased funding and attention. Those surveyed also see a role for our field—93 percent agree that science museums can help improve the quality of science education.

For more information, please visit the survey website.

Image courtesy Museum of Science and Industry