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Participants
from 15 countries attended a June 2004 RAP about mobile
exhibits hosted by Technopolis, the Flemish Science
Center, Belgium
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ASTC RAPs (Roundtables for Advancing
the Professions) held in 2005.
February 17—20
Successful Science Shows (3S)
Technopolis, the Flemish Science Center, Mechelen, Belgium
Science shows add unmistakable value to science center visits,
creating deep impressions that complement hands-on exhibits. RAP
participants will discuss the vital ingredients of a successful
show and consider whether it is possible to write a "universal"
manual. Participants are invited to present a show for fellow
participants and Technopolis visitors.
Contact: Steven Vols or Ann Clerbout, 32 15 34 20 20
e-mail: rap@technopolis.be
March 18—19
Marketing the Contemporary Science Center
Orlando Science Center, Orlando, Florida
Come to this dynamic workshop in sunny Orlando and share strategies
and ideas on advertising, membership, impact of membership on
your numbers, content and effect of your science center newsletter,
and internal communication with other marketing leaders. Attendees
will also experience Cocktails & the Cosmos, a monthly marketing
event held at Orlando Science Center. Cost is US $50.
Contact: Heidi Pinchal or Kirsten Reynen at 407/514-2021
or 2128; e-mail hpinchal@osc.org
or kreynen@osc.org.
May 13—14
Expanding Museum Outreach Through the Use of Multi-User Environments
SciCentr.org, Cornell Theory Center, Ithaca, New York
SciCentr.org is the online science museum of the Cornell Theory
Center (CTC), a high-performance computing and interdisciplinary
research center at Cornell University. CTC researchers are working
with multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs), new outreach tools
that combine online chat and 3D gaming technology with all the
features of the World Wide Web. MUVEs appeal to youth and offer
opportunities to engage them in constructivist learning activities
focused on research. In this workshop, to be held at CTC's New
York City office, attendees will experience student showcases
and virtual tours and participate in group brainstorming, discussions,
and hands-on, team-based "world building," using technologies
and content that can be integrated into a virtual science exhibit.
Contact: Suzanne Kolodziej, CTC, Education Outreach Coordinator,
607/255-4427; e-mail smk@tc.cornell.edu
June 16—17
Personal Mobile Devices and Science Centers
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, New Jersey
Liberty Science Center is offering this 2-day workshop for those
who are exploring the use of personal portable devices (MP3 players,
cell phones, PDAs, RFIDs) as learning tools. Liberty is researching
ways for guests to use their own devices to enrich their learning
experience. Your participation will assist this research project
in progress, as well as provide you with an opportunity to explore
your particular interests in applications for this technology.
If your science center is already doing this kind of work, you
are encouraged to share strategies and ideas.
Contact: Wayne LaBar, Vice President of Exhibition and
Theaters 201/451-0006 x347 or Julie Berger x546; e-mail wlabar@lsc.org.
August 11
Physics — the Most Simplistic of the Sciences
Utah Science Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
This RAP on physics for informal settings immediately follows
the Summer 2005 meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers
(www.aapt.org).
The major goal of the RAP is to explore informal learning
strategies for Overcoming Fear of Physics in
the general public—and in science center personnel—via new and
novel experiences that help generate personal revelations
about how the world works from a physics perspective.
Several sessions at the AAPT meeting are also
relevant to science centers, including
new and novel interactives and physics for the general public.
Although these are separate events, science center education and
exhibition staff registering for this RAP may also want to attend
the AAPT meeting—and AAPT members are invited to participate in
the RAP.
Contact: Joe Andrade, Director, 801/484-4904; e-mail joeandrade@uofu.net
August 26-27
NASA's Reduced Gravity Flight Program: Museum Opportunities
St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri
This weekend RAP hosted by NASA and the St. Louis Science Center (SLSC) will open the door to an exciting opportunity
for your institution to involve high school students, community members, and staff in an authentic scientific endeavor.
Participating museums will be able to fly experiments on NASA's reduced gravity aircraft, also known as the "Vomit Comet."
From NASA experts and current program participants at SLSC, RAP participants will learn about the conditions of the flight,
good experiment ideas, the proposal process, and how to make this an institution-wide activity. Travel stipends for the
workshop may be available.
 NASA Reduced Gravity Program for
science centers and museums.
Contact: Holly Hughes, SLSC Community Science Programs, 314/535-0104; e-mail hhughes@slsc.org.
November 10-11
A Different Angle: Mathematics Exhibits in the Science Center Museum of Life and Science, Durham, North Carolina
Science centers are beginning to approach science learning from a different angle—geometry, calculus, algebra,
numbers, and measurement—and apply their expertise in informal education to mathematics. Designing stand-alone
mathematics exhibits raises unique challenges, all of which can be exacerbated by math phobia on the part of exhibit
developers, institutional stakeholders, and the adult public. The Museum of Life and Science recently completed a math
exhibition and is eager to share the development experience. What are the best ways to create experiential mathematics
exhibits? How do we communicate that math is more than just arithmetic? What concepts do children need to master? How
should a mathematics exhibit be marketed to attract the public? Share your experiences and discuss your questions, as
RAP participants develop strategies for creating effective mathematics exhibits at their own institutions.
Contact: Suzanne Perin, Mathematics Exhibit Researcher, 919/220-5429 x352; e-mail
suzannep@ncmls.org
December 2-3
Innovative Techniques for Training Floor Interpreters
New York Hall of Science, Queens, New York
As we learn more about how our visitors learn, we must learn new techniques to train our interpretive staff. Come to
this interactive workshop and share your best practices for staff training. While you're there, you'll learn innovative
techniques used at the New York Hall of Science, jump into mock trainings, explore the role of technology and create
your own can-do tools for immediate implementation. Learn how to transform your interpretive staff into floor agents of
inquiry. The workshop, like our science centers, will be entirely hands-on, using exhibits in the museum's newly
developed north wing.
Contact: Sookram Ramsaroop, Supervisor of Interpretation and Demonstrations, 718/699-0005 x332, e-mail
sramsaroop@nyscience.org; or Preeti Gupta, Vice President
for Education, 718/699-0005 x349, pgupta@nyscience.org
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