[Science centers] are generally more accessible in the community, and they allow one to playfully investigate one’s surroundings. Michael Templeton (in “Science Museums: Do-It-Yourself Teachers,” New York Times, April 22, 1979) With sadness, the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) shares that Michael Templeton, former executive director of ASTC, passed away on April 26, […]
In Memoriam: Michael Templeton Read More »
The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California, has received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). The awards represent the highest honor in the United States for individuals and organizations working with and serving those who are underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education fields
ASTC member receives prestigious STEM education award Read More »
In 2019, I joined the team developing ASTC’s IF/THEN® Gender Representation Toolkit as an advisor. I am an independent exhibit designer who also writes and consults with museums on matters of gender and sexuality and I was happy to lend my expertise. This toolkit is part of ASTC’s IF/THEN® Gender Equity project and its aim
The challenge of measuring gender Read More »
In 2019, the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and the IF/THEN® Initiative partnered to launch an ambitious data collection project designed to help museums across the United States not only see where they are when it comes to equitable gender representation in exhibits and other museum content, but where they could go. After
Science centers are transformative. That’s the message that Dr. DJ Patil, former U.S. Chief Data Scientist, emphasized during his remarks at ASTC’s Senior Leaders Summit earlier this week. The summit gathered chief executives, board members, and other senior leaders of ASTC-member science centers and museums to discuss approaches to recovery from the impacts of the
DJ Patil on the impact of science and technology centers and museums Read More »
Last week, the seventh cohort of CCLI (Cultural Competence Learning Institute) met in Washington, DC, to kick off their efforts toward advancing cultural competency at their institutions. The six museums selected for the competitive program are: The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, Massachusetts Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, Michigan International Museum of Art
New CCLI cohort wraps up kickoff meeting Read More »
Most museum directors believe increasing the diversity of boards of trustees is important to advancing their mission, according to a 2017 survey conducted by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and BoardSource. Museums are eager to address diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) issues at the leadership level, but may not always be sure where
Museums aim to build diversity among leadership Read More »
From original videos to free admission days to special family activities, museums marked International Science Center and Science Museum Day in a wide variety of ways: Domus, Museos Científicos Coruñeses in A Coruña, Spain, opened a new exhibit, Bocados, with several activities on water, equality, and health: preparing meals, an interactive screen display, and origami. Mid-Hudson
Science centers and museums celebrate ISCSMD 2019 Read More »
As we reflect on the 2019 ASTC Annual Conference, we are once again grateful for the passion, knowledge, and collaborative spirit of our field. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Toronto! This year, we recorded several plenary and concurrent sessions. Follow the links below to view these sessions. Keynote and Plenary Sessions Opening Keynote
ASTC 2019 session videos Read More »