Association of Science and Technologies Centers

Dimensions, March/April 2018—Not Just for Kids: Engaging Adults in Science

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IN THIS ISSUE March/April 2018 Attracting adults to science museums and programs presents opportunities and challenges. Considerations include differences in: backgrounds, professions, experience with science, financial situations, availability, and comfort with museum settings—just to name a few. While many science institutions are engaging adults in meaningful ways, some are going the extra mile in providing accessible, relevant science and technology programming. Following are some of the many noteworthy […]

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The Mentor and the Protégé: What, Who, and How?

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By Julie I. Johnson From Dimensions July/August 2017 Mentoring is about establishing and nurturing mutually beneficial relationships, either face-to-face or virtually. The format of a mentoring relationship can vary widely. We are most familiar with the traditional one-on-one format, in which a senior person mentors a junior person. Other forms of mentoring are reverse mentoring (junior mentors senior),

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Diversity Initiatives: A Welcome, an Invitation, and a Voice

/ Dimensions, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion /

From Dimensions By Natalie Bortoli Special Edition At the entryway to Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM), a vibrant collection of nearly 400 self-portraits greets visitors, proclaiming, “We are Chicago Children’s Museum.” The faces of children, teachers, community leaders, parents, and caregivers from a variety of backgrounds are intermingled with mirrors so that all visitors are reflected

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Researching Long-Term Impacts of an Out-of-School Time Program

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By C. Aaron Price and Faith R. Kares From Dimensions July/August 2016 In the 11 years since the inception of the Science Minors and Achievers program, the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), Chicago, has had plenty of anecdotal evidence that this out-of-school time program has a meaningful impact on its participants. Word of mouth

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Dimensions, May/June 2016—The Power of Place

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IN THIS ISSUE May/June 2016 Read the full issue. Inspired by the centennial of the U.S. National Park Service, this issue of Dimensions focuses on an educational approach that many science centers and museums share with parks and heritage sites: place-based learning. A place-based approach draws upon an institution’s local context and historical, environmental, and

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A Science Center and a Community: Cultivating Hope and Resilience in Medellin

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By Claudia Aguirre From Dimensions January/February 2016 Today’s science centers are becoming more aware of changes in their local contexts and are concerned about playing a role in building and contributing to society. The Mechelen Declaration, resulting from the Science Centre World Summit 2014 held in Mechelen, Belgium, clearly expresses this commitment with two of

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A New Era for Marketing at Science Centers

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By Douglas Young From Dimensions November/December 2015 In the 1980s in the United States, the traditional science center business and mission models worked well. Science centers were the most prominent source for informal science learning with financial support from governments and donors and a quasi-monopoly on IMAX films, science store merchandise, and interactive exhibits. A

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The Fine Line Between Creating Curiosity and Creating Controversy

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By Jason Bosher From Dimensions November/December 2015 You’ve probably heard the adage, “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” A study published in Marketing Science concluded, “Although negative publicity is not always a good thing, in some cases, negative can actually be positive” (Berger, Sorensen, & Rasmussen, 2010). As a science center, you want

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The “Stuff” of Museums: Collections, Interactivity, and a Call to Action

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By Sarah B. George From Dimensions July/August 2015 People love stuff. It speaks to them; it reminds them of special moments or people in their lives. They collect it and they love to tell stories about it and show it off. Museums’ deepest roots are in the stuff of collections. But over the last 200

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Appreciating the Dynamic Process of Scientific Advancement

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By Anthony (Bud) Rock A recent report of the (U.S.) Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee contains federal nutritional recommendations indicating that there is now insufficient evidence to substantiate the recommended 300 milligram-per-day limit on cholesterol intake. While the conclusions were met positively by the “foodies” who have struggled to work around such dietary limitations, some characterized

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When Heureka Went Crazy

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By Heidi Rosenström From Dimensions January/February 2015 Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre, in Vantaa, developed a traveling exhibition that aims to decrease the stigma connected to mental health problems and encourage visitors to take care of their mental health. Called Heureka Goes Crazy, this award-winning interactive exhibition was developed in cooperation with Pavilion of Knowledge–Ciência

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Dimensions, November/December 2014—Reconstructing STEM in our Schools

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IN THIS ISSUE November/December 2014 Countries worldwide recognize the need to cultivate a scientifically literate population and prepare a strong science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce for the challenges and opportunities of the future. Many national and regional governments are therefore launching initiatives aimed at teaching STEM more effectively in schools. In this issue,

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How Can Museums Help Teachers with the Next Generation Science Standards?

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By Jim Short From Dimensions November/December 2014 Released in 2013, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have the potential to revolutionize science education in the United States, requiring a very different way of thinking about learning and teaching science. Now is an opportune moment to prepare teachers for these new approaches to science instruction and

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Teaching STEM with Real-World Relevance in Singapore

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By TM Lim From Dimensions November/December 2014 In September 2013, Singapore’s Minister for Education Swee Keat Heng shared his vision of making “Every School a Good School.” His idea of a good school is one that provides a solid education to all students and encourages them to become confident, self-motivated, lifelong learners. Minister Heng’s vision

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Dimensions, September/October 2014—Celebrating Community Engagement

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IN THIS ISSUE September/October 2014 Download the full issue. Science centers and museums are community-focused institutions. In this issue, we explore many ways science centers are engaging and empowering people in all parts of their communities. Working alongside community members and partners, science centers are addressing key issues, from protecting the environment, to increasing high

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Into the Light: Bringing Science Education to the Incarcerated

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By Nalini Nadkarni From Dimensions September/October 2014 Science belongs everywhere. Although informal science learning typically takes place in the bright spots of society—our museums, botanical gardens, and science centers—some science educators are creating programs for individuals who live in the darker parts of our communities, such as prisons. Over 2 million people are in prison

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STEPS: Where the Drama of Science Meets the Science of Drama

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By Brad McLain From Dimensions July/August 2014 “Once language was available to describe social scenarios from memory and anticipations, we became Homo narratus. We have become psychological beings who are incapable of not narrating our experiences both to ourselves and each other.” —Alan Parry, 1997 People are natural storytellers. We are also natural story hearers.

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