Math is uniquely associated with anxiety and phobia. When was the last time you heard anyone say they were “history-phobic”?
Place-Based Learning Meets AI: Reimagining Math Learning Read More »
Children are naturally curious about the world around them. They ask questions, notice patterns, and try to make sense of what they observe. For children’s museums and science centers, this innate curiosity is a powerful starting point. When we give young visitors tools to explore their questions, we help them develop the skills they need
The Power of Data Play: Helping Kids Explore the World Through Graphs Read More »
This project from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science was a 2025 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awardee. The awards—presented each year by ASTC—honor member institutions and/or their staff and volunteers whose work represents exceptional achievement. These awards celebrate efforts that not only enhance the performance of an individual institution but also advance the
Inside the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science Read More »
Succession planning isn’t planned extinction; it’s a collective look towards the horizon. — Photo courtesy of The Lawrence Hall of Science For science centers and museums, succession planning is a strategic response to longstanding workforce challenges, including staff recruitment, turnover, and professional growth. Disruptions over the past six years—from the pandemic to present day—have exacerbated these
Linda Kekelis was a 2025 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awardee for her body of work in the field of informal education, including her role in founding Techbridge Girls. The awards—presented each year by ASTC—honor member institutions and/or their staff and volunteers whose work represents exceptional achievement. These awards celebrate efforts that not only enhance
With Passion and Innovation, Linda Kekelis Charts a Path for Girls in STEM Read More »
This project from The Tech Interactive was a 2025 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awardee. The awards—presented each year by ASTC—honor member institutions and/or their staff and volunteers whose work represents exceptional achievement. These awards celebrate efforts that not only enhance the performance of an individual institution but also advance the entire field of informal
Empowering One Million Teachers to Close the STEM Gap Read More »
This project from the North Carolina Children’s Museum and Hands On! Children’s Museum was a 2024 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awardee. The awards—presented each year by ASTC—honor member institutions and/or their staff and volunteers whose work represents exceptional achievement. These awards celebrate efforts that not only enhance the performance of an individual institution but
North Carolina STEM Boxes: Delivering Curiosity and Comfort Amidst the Storm Read More »
Dimensions invited Bhamini Kamudu Applasawmy, PhD, the 2025 Lee Kimche McGrath Worldwide Fellow, to share about a project important to her work in Mauritius, while reflecting on her experience attending the ASTC 2025 Annual Conference in the San Francisco Bay Area. The McGrath Fellowship is a key part of ASTC’s global outreach, strengthening international dialogue
This project from the University of Kansas Natural History Museum and the UC Museum of Paleontology was a 2025 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awardee. The awards—presented each year by ASTC—honor member institutions and/or their staff and volunteers whose work represents exceptional achievement. These awards celebrate efforts that not only enhance the performance of an individual
The late Mar Dixon helped millions of people see themselves in cultural spaces. Her legacy continues through #MuseumSelfieDay. Mar Dixon’s Legacy of Good Troublemaking Mar Dixon, a self-proclaimed “troublemaker for sectors that need a kick up the bum,” was a self-taught digital strategist who became a global champion for cultural access. She did not merely
Brilliant on a Budget: How Mar Dixon Connected Millions to Museums Read More »
The Osher Rainforest inspires awe at the California Academy of Sciences “The work taking place in natural history museums has never been more important, and the role that they play in safeguarding humanity’s future is only just starting to be realized.” (Jack Ashby, in Nature’s Memory, 2025) With the launch of ASTC’s Natural History Network
Evolving Together: ASTC’s New Natural History Network Read More »