On October 9–13, Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri, invited visitors to celebrate and engage in science at SciFest 08. The new annual event featured sessions and demonstrations on topics ranging from the science of chocolate and the physics of rock & roll, to climate change and the future of cancer research. Physicist Mark Lewney used […]
Saint Louis Science Center hosts first annual SciFest Read More »
The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was honored yesterday at a White House ceremony as a 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Service recipient. The award is given annually by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in coordination with the White House, to 10 museums and libraries in recognition of their extraordinary civic,
Franklin Institute honored at White House ceremony Read More »
Two years after breaking ground, the new California Academy of Sciences opens its new green building’s doors to the public on September 27. The building, designed by architect Renzo Piano, features a 197,000-square-foot green roof that dips and slopes, mirroring its surroundings in Golden Gate Park. After experimenting with 30 native species, nine species were chosen to
California Academy of Sciences opens green building Read More »
Who stole the theater tickets out of the school dressing room? And what dastardly villain drank that cream soda? Over the past three summers, 160 girls, ages 10 to 14, have used science and advanced technology to solve such mysteries at Click!, a camp designed by the Girls, Math & Science Partnership (GMSP), a program of
Girls use science to crack the case Read More »
By Jim Spadaccini From ASTC Dimensions July/August 2008 As the Internet continues to evolve, it seems like I hear about a new web site or software service just about every day. The vast majority of these are free to use. Many of these sites or software packages are produced by start-ups looking to gain first-time
Nine Free or Nearly Free Ways Museums Can Take Advantage of Web 2.0 Read More »
As the 5th Science Centre World Congress (5SCWC) came to an end, delegates looked to the future with the unveiling of the Toronto Declaration. It is the international science center field’s first unified statement of its goals and beliefs. The document was read and endorsed at the 5SCWC closing ceremony in Toronto on June 19.
Toronto Declaration Sets Goals for Science Centers Worldwide Read More »
By Randi Korn From ASTC Dimensions May/June 2008 At museum conferences these days, people are talking about accountability, public impact, and relevance. These ideas are not new. A decade ago, in a 1997 keynote address for the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums’ 50th anniversary, the late Smithsonian scholar Stephen Weil spoke of the “in-your-face, bottom-line, hard-nosed
To What End? Achieving Mission Through Intentional Practice Read More »
By Paul Tatter and Kristin Leigh From ASTC Dimensions March/April 2008 “This is a wonderful atmosphere. Can I live here?” (Visitor comment card) At Explora we think of membership as a sense of belonging. “Belonging” comes from an old English word meaning a close and secure relationship. Relationships of belonging are personal. They are about
It Feels Like Home: The Value of Community Read More »
On January 14, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), Portland, was honored at a White House ceremony as a 2007 National Award for Museum and Library Service recipient. The award is given annually by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in coordination with the White House, to recognize institutions that have made exceptional
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