Frequently Asked Questions

Conference activities will begin on Friday, September 5 with preconference workshops, museum experiences, and special events. The opening event will be held on the morning of Saturday, September 6 in the Exhibit Hall. The conference will conclude on Monday September 8. See more information on the schedule overview.

The ASTC Annual Conference always provides an opportunity to learn from and connect with professionals from around the world who share our commitment to engaging the public in science and technology. The need to connect is even more important this year, given the current period of change and uncertainty—so we hope that you will be able to join us as we come together as a community for ASTC 2025.

In addition to this valuable connectedness, attendees will experience all of the valuable sessions, experiences, and networking they have come to expect at the ASTC Annual Conference. This year’s event is also notable for a few exciting reasons:

• This is our first conference on the West Coast since 2017, and our first ever in the city of San Francisco.
• We have eight host museums representing the full range of our science center and museum membership, and there are more opportunities to get out and explore these museums than ever before.
• In response to attendee feedback, we’ll have more experiences than ever before in our Exhibit Hall including hands-on and experiential learning opportunities, shows and performances, more networking spaces and events, and more.

No, ASTC does not offer CE credits.

Our consortium of host museums are responsible for selecting and assigning volunteers through their networks; if additional opportunities are available, ASTC will share those with attendees.

All on-site transactions with ASTC (including registration payments and ASTC 2026 exhibit booth purchases) will be cashless and must be paid via credit card, check, or ACH. This requirement applies to transactions with ASTC and doesn’t necessarily apply to all vendors at the conference (including those at Moscone Center).

We ask about needed accommodations as part of the registration process. If you require special assistance, auxiliary aids, or other reasonable accommodations to fully participate in this event, please indicate during registration or email conference@astc.org. Information regarding disabilities and special assistance will remain confidential.

As always, ASTC prioritizes the health and safety of our community. We encourage all conference participants to practice good health and hygiene practices everywhere they go, including staying home when sick, keeping up-to-date with vaccinations of all kinds, monitoring the local public health situation, testing for COVID-19 as warranted, and frequently washing your hands. We also encourage anyone to wear a well-fitting mask, especially if you are part of a sensitive group.

Yes, Moscone West hosts a Mamava Suite on Level 2 near Room 2024. See additional information on the Moscone Center website.

ASTC may take photographs and videos during its meetings and events for use in livestream and session recording, advertising, newsletters, and other promotional materials, whether in print, electronic, or other media, including the ASTC and conference websites. By participating in this conference, you grant ASTC the right to use your likeness for such purposes.

As the premier gathering of science engagement professionals worldwide, the ASTC Annual Conference is a great opportunity to convene your network for a meeting or event. ASTC traditionally allows selected groups to host meetings or other events during the Annual Conference, including at the convention center and at conference hotels. Please note that all costs for these events will be the responsibility of the organizer. Stay tuned for additional information or contact us at conference@astc.org with any immediate questions.

As part of registration, you can determine which information will be shared with other conference attendees. ASTC does not work with any third-party list broker. Please do not engage with and/or acquire/purchase any list from any company claiming to have access to the ASTC conference database, attendees, or contact information; even responding to these inquiries may put your and others’ information at risk.

As the premier gathering of science engagement professionals worldwide, the ASTC Annual Conference is a great opportunity to convene your network for a meeting or event. ASTC traditionally allows selected groups to host meetings or other events during the Annual Conference, including at the convention center and at conference hotels. Please note that all costs for these events will be the responsibility of the organizer. Stay tuned for additional information or contact us at conference@astc.org with any immediate questions.

ASTC is committed to making the conference as sustainable as possible. Please see this page for more specific actions and program decisions that reflect this.

No, we will not have childcare services available during the conference. If you plan to travel with family, we recommend arranging childcare in advance to ensure you can fully participate in conference programming.

This conference is designed for adult attendees, and programming is not geared toward younger audiences, and in general children will not be permitted to enter the conference facility. That said, we know many of our attendees will be traveling with their families to San Francisco. If you need to have your child with you, please check in at the Registration desk. Please note that children are always prohibited from the Exhibit Hall during set-up and tear-down for safety reasons. Please also note that all social events are 21+ and children will not be admitted.