ASTC is committed to making the Annual Conference accessible to our community, including holding registration rates as low as possible and securing discounted rates at our official conference hotels.
But we understand that some will have limited financial resources and are making available several opportunities to receive financial support to participate in ASTC 2023:
Todd Happer Memorial Scholarship
The Todd Happer Memorial Scholarship Fund enables current and emerging leaders at small or remote science centers and museums to attend the ASTC Annual Conference—one of the premier professional development opportunities for this field. This Fund will provide registration as well as a stipend for travel, lodging, and per diem to staff members at ASTC-member institutions who do not otherwise have the funds to attend the ASTC Annual Conference.
The Scholarship award is intended to support professionals who have genuine need for financial assistance in order to attend conference.
Eligible individuals must currently be in a leadership position at an ASTC-member science center or museum (open or in development) within the United States that meets one or more of the following criteria:
Science Center and Museum member in good standing, with annual operating revenue of less than $500,000*
Science Center and Museum member in good standing, located in a rural/non-metropolitan area**
Allied member in good standing, that is a new emerging science center or museum not yet open to the public
*Annual operating revenue includes all earned revenue including gross revenue from all museum operations, all private and public (government) support, all restricted and unrestricted grants, and all interest and endowment income.
**Rural/Non-metropolitan areasreferred to in this application are determined using the USDA 2013 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) official metro and nonmetro categories. View the list of eligible rural/non-metropolitan areas.
Applications were due on August 9, 2023, and applicants will be informed of their status in August 2023.
Applicants for the Todd Happer Memorial Scholarship will be eligible to receive early-bird registration rates, even after August 7. You will receive additional information about how to register after recipients have been selected.
Lee Kimche McGrath Worldwide Fellowship
The Lee Kimche McGrath Worldwide Fellowship supports participation in the ASTC Annual Conference by individuals from science centers and museums outside the United States. The purpose of the Fellowship is to foster greater understanding among international colleagues and encourage global participation in ASTC. The Fellowship was established in 2004 with a gift from ASTC’s first executive director, Lee Kimche McGrath, who died in 2002.
The Fellowship award is intended to support professionals who have genuine need for financial assistance in order to attend conference. An individual from a science center or museum (open or in development) outside the United States may submit an application.
Preference will be given to applicants:
Whose institution is not normally in a position to afford to send a representative to an ASTC conference
Whose participation will benefit other science centers in addition to their own
Who have limited opportunities to meet professionally with science center colleagues
Who are willing to participate in a conference session or write about their experience or institution for an ASTC publication
Who are from ASTC-member institutions (not required)
Applications were due on August 9, 2023, and applicants will be informed of their status in August 2023.
Applicants for the Lee Kimche McGrath Worldwide Fellowship will be eligible to receive early-bird registration rates, even after August 7. You will receive additional information about how to register after recipients have been selected.
Student Registration
Full-time students are welcome to register for the full conference at a discounted rate of $360. A valid student ID and/or proof of enrollment is required at the time of registration.
If you do not meet the criteria for any of these opportunities but are still unable to attend, please contact us at conference@astc.org to discuss how we can help facilitate your participation.
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