On March 13, two interactive videoconferences themed Our Changing Planet: Past and Present were sponsored by the International Polar Year (IPY) and ASTC’s IGLO initiative. A program of presentations by polar scientists and students was developed in partnership with NASA, MAGPI (an Internet2 consortium), and seven science centers from all over the world. Dr. Robert Bindschadler, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, United States, spoke to both groups about IPY and its first major scientific outcome, the new Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica (LIMA). “It is wonderful to be able to talk to so many young people in the world at once, including those who are watching us,” he said in his opening remarks. “The technological advances that allow us to develop events like this give scientists the chance to speak directly to the youth. As polar researchers, we can communicate what we do, why we do it, and why we should care. This is an opportunity to show that scientific research is fun and satisfying and to inspire students consider choosing careers in science and engineering.”

Students worked with Monash Science Centre, Melbourne, Australia; the Chinese Network Information Center at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Universum-UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico; the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, United States; the Pavilion of Knowledge–Ciencia Viva, Lisbon, Portugal; the Planetarium Science Centre at the Bibiliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt; and Techniquest, Cardiff, Wales.Ranging from ages 7 through 19, all students exhibited a passion for science and a willingness to address climate change. Using creative means of communication, they gave PowerPoint presentations, performed live demonstrations, and showed videos that they had animated themselves. Their contributions are archived in the IGLO Toolkit for use as an educational resource.

During Q&A sessions that followed each site’s presentations and concluded each videoconference, it was evident that dialogue is possible between scientists and students and also among young people of all nationalities. One Portuguese student who had traveled with Students on Ice said, “We all have the same issues and same concerns.” For more information about this event and how to participate in future videoconferences, please visit the IGLO web site or send an email to iglo@astc.org.

About the image: A view of Antarctica using LIMA.

The third annual GLOBE at Night program began on February 25, enlisting people around the world in reporting on sky brightness and star visibility. Through March 8, participating science centers are holding public events to encourage citizen-scientists to contribute observations and measurements to a growing global database.

Globe at Night is designed to teach about the impact of artificial lighting on local environments and the ongoing loss of a dark night sky as a natural resource for much of the world’s population. The program encourages participants to observe and record the number of stars visible in the constellation Orion, as seen from different locations. Observers then report their results online by comparing their view with a set of template images that shows the number of stars in the constellation for a range of visibilities. During the 2007 event, 8,491 observations were reported from 60 countries.

Science centers and amateur astronomy clubs that are part of the Astronomy from the Ground Up network, a partnership of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, ASTC, and National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), received special training in using digital sky quality monitors for Globe at Night observations. ASTC participants include DaVinci Science Center, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Headwaters Science Center, Bemidji, Minnesota, National Science Centre (NIHERST) and Bishop Planetarium, Port of Spain, Trinidad, and South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium, Bradenton.

About the image: Volunteer observers locate their observation positions on a map of the Bemidji, Minnesota area. Photo courtesy Headwaters Science Center

Science centers worldwide are preparing to convene in Toronto, June 15–20, for the 5th Science Centre World Congress, Science Centres as Agents of Change, hosted by the Ontario Science Centre. Global environmental sustainability and science centers’ social responsibility are key conference themes. Among those addressing them are two notable keynote speakers: Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Inuit leader, change activist, and nominee for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize; and Mohamed H. Hassan, expert on wind erosion and sand transport and executive director of the Third World Academy of Sciences.

In addition, Jennifer Corriero, co-founder and executive director of TakingItGlobal—an online community where young people connect to find inspiration, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities—will address the conference in collaboration with TakingItGlobal representatives in Argentina, Egypt, and China via live weblink.In keeping with its themes and “green” guiding principles, the 5th Science Centre World Congress is being run with a minimum of paper. To register and sign up for e-mail updates, visit the conference website. The advance registration deadline is March 30.

More than 30 science centers worldwide participated in an October 4 “conversation” about climate science and public policy coordinated by ASTC’s IGLO initiative (International Action on Global Warming). In the United States, the event was part of the National Conversation on Climate Action, sponsored by the Yale School of Environment and Forestry, ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), and IGLO. Many centers used the DECIDE (Deliberative Citizens’ Debate) “game” developed by Europe science centers and adapted for this event by IGLO partners. Participants considered alternative policies, agreed on consensus positions, and uploaded results to the DECIDE website. By October 7, 77 groups had recorded their results.

Groups meeting in science centers worldwide considered four policy positions suggested by game materials: adapt to climate change, invest in climate science, adopt economic incentives to increase energy efficiency and reduce deforestation, or adopt international agreements and a deadline of 2015 for major change. Most recommended a combination of strategies and suggested others. A group meeting in Finland summed up their discussion: “Climate change is a joint problem of us all, rich and poor. The fight against it could unite us all.”

Other October 4 programs included: a discussion panel at the Marian Koshland Science Museum, Washington, D.C.; a global warming “game show” at Questacon, Canberra, Australia; and science demonstrations and films at the Città della Scienza, Naples, Italy. Check the IGLO and PlayDECIDE web sites for updates.

Ongoing engagements with research scientists, mathematicians, and engineers help assure that the content of science centers remains strong and current. Starting September 24, we’ll be hosting an ongoing series of discussions and problem-solving sessions within a new ASTC Connect forum to help support those working to foster and strengthen these relationships.

The first, week-long discussion kicks off with a focus on exhibitions, hosted by Sheila Grinell, author of A Place for Learning Science and most recently CEO of the Arizona Science Center. Staff of ASTC-member institutions and their collaborators (in particular, their science advisors and partners) are invited to join.

The discussion takes off from the current issue of ASTC Dimensions, “The Engaged Scientist: Fostering Successful Museum-Researcher Collaborations” and Sheila Grinell’s article “In the Comfort Zone: Working with Scientists on Exhibitions.”

To sign up, go to ASTC Connect and set up an account. Then contact Margaret Glass at mglass[at]astc.org for access to the forum.