Association of Science and Technologies Centers

Association of Science and Technology Centers

ASTC Staff

New draft rule threatens to undermine existing merit-based government investment in science by creating a more opaque, politicized, and inefficient funding process

/ Policy /

By Erica Kimmerling and Amanda Vernon The United States has historically been at the forefront of science and technology innovation. This leadership is in large part due to decisions to build an infrastructure that allows any motivated parties to engage in a merit-based funding process. This competitive process requires a significant upfront investment of time […]

New draft rule threatens to undermine existing merit-based government investment in science by creating a more opaque, politicized, and inefficient funding process Read More »

New Survey Shows High Air Quality Concern Among Parents, Yet Gaps Remain Between Worry and Action

/ ASTC News & Announcements, Planetary Health /

Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. parents worry poor air quality is affecting their families, but few know what steps to take A new, nationally representative survey of parents found that 87% are concerned about how air quality affects their own health and that of their family. Nearly two-thirds (63%) believe their children have already experienced

New Survey Shows High Air Quality Concern Among Parents, Yet Gaps Remain Between Worry and Action Read More »

Seeding Action and iNaturalist Announce the Members of the 2026-2027 Cohort

/ ASTC News & Announcements, Planetary Health /

Seeding Action and iNaturalist are delighted to announce a new group of science centers, museums, and public engagement organizations selected to develop creative planetary health initiatives using iNaturalist, a free app that connects people and nature. With the generous support of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Seeding Action and iNaturalist have partnered as part of a multi-year program designed to promote planetary health action through engagement with iNaturalist.  

Seeding Action and iNaturalist Announce the Members of the 2026-2027 Cohort Read More »

The Air We Share: New Partnership between ASTC and Sanofi US

/ ASTC News & Announcements /

ASTC is delighted to announce a new partnership with Sanofi—The Air We Share, a program to support science centers and museums in the United States to engage with their local communities on the ways that environmental challenges like air pollution, wildfires, and extreme heat affect human health. Extensive research shows that these environmental threats harm

The Air We Share: New Partnership between ASTC and Sanofi US Read More »

ASTC Announces 2025 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award Winners

/ ASTC News & Announcements /

Washington, D.C. (August 29, 2025) — The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards. This year, five individuals and six organizations are being recognized for their extraordinary achievements in advancing informal science learning, community engagement, and organizational innovation.  The Roy

ASTC Announces 2025 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award Winners Read More »

ASTC requests proposals to host 2028 and 2029 conferences

/ ASTC Annual Conference, ASTC News & Announcements /

The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is requesting proposals to host the ASTC Annual Conference in the Fall of 2028 and/or 2029. The ASTC Annual Conference is one of the premier professional development events for science and technology centers and museums, as well as the broader science engagement field. This conference brings the

ASTC requests proposals to host 2028 and 2029 conferences Read More »

Open the Door to Future STEM Leaders AND Funding Opportunities!

/ ASTC News & Announcements, Impact & Initiatives /

Representation in STEM matters. When young people see adults who look like them thriving in science, technology, engineering, and math, they begin to see those futures as possibilities for themselves. The IF/THEN® Champions Network is working to make that vision a reality for girls and women in the STEM field. A collaboration between the Association

Open the Door to Future STEM Leaders AND Funding Opportunities! Read More »

ASTC Members Get Fresh Perspectives on Organizational Challenges at Voya ScopeAthon Event

/ ASTC News & Announcements /

As community-serving institutions as well as nonprofit organizations, science centers and museums experience unique business challenges. These range from mundane and everyday issues (How can we keep all the sand in the sandbox, and out of the exhibit hall?) to fundamental questions underlying organizational purpose and operations.  At the second annual Voya National Days of

ASTC Members Get Fresh Perspectives on Organizational Challenges at Voya ScopeAthon Event Read More »

Don’t miss these summer 2025 STEM funding opportunities!

/ ASTC News & Announcements, Impact & Initiatives, Resources & Learning /

We know the funding landscape is tough right now. That’s why we are even more pleased than usual to share three funding and resource opportunities for Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) members*. These opportunities are exclusively for ASTC members that join the IF/THEN® Champions Network—a national U.S. collaboration between ASTC and the National

Don’t miss these summer 2025 STEM funding opportunities! Read More »

Several private funders offer Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program for those with cancelled NSF education grants

/ Issues, Policy, and Advocacy /

Recent actions by the National Science Foundation (NSF) have led to terminations of many grants that supported STEM education initiatives, including at ASTC member organizations. Now, a group of private foundations has stepped up to offer a rapid response bridge funding opportunity that is designed to mitigate some of the immediate impacts on scholars, projects,

Several private funders offer Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program for those with cancelled NSF education grants Read More »

AAAS elects ASTC members and science engagement leaders as Fellows

/ Dimensions /

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has named its new class of AAAS Fellows. Election as a AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor in recognition of diverse accomplishments, including, research, leadership, teaching, mentoring, fostering collaborations, and advancing public understanding of science. Fellows are nominated by AAAS’ 24 disciplinary sections, three Fellows who are current AAAS members, or by

AAAS elects ASTC members and science engagement leaders as Fellows Read More »

The LEGO® Playful Learning Museum Network enters its biggest year yet!

/ ASTC News & Announcements /

The LEGO Group’s Playful Learning Museum Network is celebrating its fourth—and biggest—year yet! Hosted by the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and funded by the LEGO Foundation, the program brings 21 leading children’s and science museums together with a shared mission: to unlock the power of play for children. Since 2021, the network

The LEGO® Playful Learning Museum Network enters its biggest year yet! Read More »

ASTC welcomes eight new members

/ ASTC News & Announcements /

At its first meeting of the year, the ASTC Board of Directors approved eight organizations for membership in the association. Consistent with ASTC’s Bylaws, all members must be approved for membership by a majority vote of the ASTC Board of Directors. Organizations wishing to apply for membership should consult the Membership section of the ASTC website. Applications may

ASTC welcomes eight new members Read More »

Bell Museum honored with ARIS Impact Goals Award

/ Issues, Policy, and Advocacy, Science and Technology Center and Museum Stories /

The Bell Museum at the University of Minnesota, which serves as the state’s official natural history museum, has been honored with the Impact Goals Award from the Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS). The museum was recognized for Solution Studio, a recurring makerspace that showcases current science from the University of Minnesota and

Bell Museum honored with ARIS Impact Goals Award Read More »

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards honors ASTC members

/ Dimensions, Science and Technology Center and Museum Stories /

Newsweek has named the winners of Readers’ Choice Awards, and ASTC-member institutions are, once again, well-represented. The publication convened expert panels to identify a list of candidates that were then subject to a public vote; individuals could vote once per day in each category.   Best Science Museum In the Best Science Museum category, Lowell Observatory,

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards honors ASTC members Read More »

Scroll to Top