With three host institutions for the first time ever—Explora, the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, ASTC’s 2013 Annual Conference will have triple the value and excitement!

We’re making some changes—like Tuesday’s all-new public Science in the Park Festival (along with Open House Day at the host museums, Big Screen Day, and the Planetarium Demos)—and bringing more of what you love about ASTC’s annual conference, like Monday’s Super Session Day, featuring more concurrent educational sessions than ever before!

Here’s a can’t-miss special offer: Register by May 31 using the code SAVETD2013, and you’ll be eligible for one additional complimentary conference registration AND a free, three-night hotel stay during the conference! But you have to register by May 31 to have a chance!

Register at conference.astc.org and keep up to date with the latest news and information.

Don’t get left in the clouds…join us in Albuquerque!

The ASTC public engagement with science community of practice will be hosting regular webinars this summer. Please email profdev@astc.org with any questions.

Local Public Engagement with Science
May 7, 2PM EDT, 1PM CDT, 11AM PDT
This webinar focused on using PES strategies to engage communities on issues of local importance. It featured presentations from Kate Brandes, Science Program Director, The Nurture Nature Center; Jen Kretser, Director of Programs, The Wild Center; and David Sittenfeld, Program Manager (Forum), Museum of Science, Boston, followed by an audience Q&A.

PES CoP Webinar: Local Public Engagement with Science Programs from ASTC Professional Development on Vimeo.

Dan Kahan, Cultural Cognition Project, Yale University
June 4, 3 PM EDT, 2 CDT, 12 PDT

Research on cultural cognition suggests that members of the public process science-related information by assessing its coherence with values and commitments that connect them to important affinity groups. This suggests a two-channel science communication strategy that combines information content with cultural meanings selected to promote open-minded assessment of information across diverse groups. This webinar will provide an opportunity for ISE professionals to hear from and ask questions of Dan Kahan of the Cultural Cognition Project at Yale University.

Dietram Scheufele, University of Wisconsin—Madison
July 9, 3 PM EDT, 2 CDT, 12 PDT

This webinar will focus on scientists’ views on engaging with the public, how younger scientists in particular think about new ways of sharing findings and the ways in which engaging with the public measurably benefits their academic careers.

This is an extended version of an article that appeared in the May/June 2013 issue of Dimensions magazine.

Science center and museum professionals from around the world share their experiences using technology—including smartphones, barcodes, and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags—to personalize the visitor experience.

The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) opened in New York City in December 2012. From the beginning, founder Glen Whitney had a strong vision of bringing math to the masses in a new way, but critical to that vision was the ability to tailor the experience for individuals in ways that would be meaningful to each person. And that meant customization—at many levels.

Static signage found in most museums was set aside, replaced with “smart” electronic kiosks. Using RFID tags, exhibits “recognize” visitors, displaying information in their language and at their desired level and depth of mathematical content. The first stop at a kiosk allows data entry; from that point on, visitors are addressed in a way that makes sense to them.

The electronic signage has additional benefits. Content managers have the ability to modify signage on the spot, incorporating great ideas from visitors or even correcting errors. What better way to customize a visitor experience than for a visitor to see his or her feedback incorporated immediately into the fabric of the museum?

The concept is in its infancy, and there are still kinks to be worked out. RFID antennae need to be exposed or repositioned for some exhibits, and visitors need to be oriented to a new way of interacting with information. But after two months of experience, MoMath remains committed and energized.

Cindy Lawrence, associate director and chief of operations
National Museum of Mathematics, New York City

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Interviewed by Joelle Seligson

“It was a case of professional schizophrenia—but a very useful one,” laughs Ilan Chabay about his varied career path. He has dabbled in the natural sciences, exhibition design, museum administration, and higher education. Currently professor and senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, Germany, Chabay advocates taking a similarly multidimensional approach to addressing global change. Here he advises on how science centers and museums can become key partners in transdisciplinary research for sustainability, as he’ll discuss at the 2013 ASTC Annual Conference in Albuquerque this October.

Read the full transcript, or listen to the podcast.

This is an extended discussion of the question that appeared in the Viewpoints department of the May/June 2013 issue of Dimensions magazine.

Scitech has been running adults-only nights twice a year since 2009, the year we turned 21. We started doing these evenings as we realized that there must be an increasing number of young people who had experienced Scitech as children, but most likely hadn’t returned as they were either not yet parents, or felt that the center was just for kids, and they wouldn’t feel comfortable visiting during normal opening hours where they would be bumping shoulders with 5- to 12-year-olds. These nights have been a marked success with an average of 800 people visiting during the Saturday night opening from 6 to 10 p.m., and with regular inquiries about the date of the next event. Even though families with young children will continue to be our primary target market, we believe it’s still valuable to engage young adults at our center, as it helps foster an increasing appreciation of the value and impact of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the Western Australian community, regardless of whether these young people work in a STEM field.

Kate Elder, director of communications and marketing
Scitech, Perth, Australia

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