Last week, nearly 400 individuals from across the country came to Washington, D.C., to make the case for museums as part of Museum Advocacy Day. This annual event, organized by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), brings the entire museum together and raises the profile of our community to Members of Congress and Federal agency […]
Advocates Make the Case for Museums Read More »
Science centers and museums have a deep commitment to equity and inclusion in STEM, and to ensuring that those engaged in our work is representative of the diversity of the communities we serve. At present, we know that certain populations are underrepresented in the STEM workforce, obtain STEM degrees at lower rate, and score lower
An Updated Look at the State of Science and Engineering in the U.S. Read More »
Earlier this week, the White House released its proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2021, which will begin on October 1, 2020. The President’s budget is more a statement of administration priorities than an actual fiscal plan, as it is Congress’ responsibility to actually pass a budget. As with the several past budget requests, the
President Trump’s proposed budget includes cuts to science and education Read More »
Cristin Dorgelo, President and CEO of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget. Although we await the eventual release of details, the broad outlines of President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal made public today are acutely troubling for America’s scientific enterprise and
ASTC’s Statement on the U.S. President’s 2020 Budget Proposal Read More »
“The Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) commends the U.S. Congress for completing work on the Federal budget for Fiscal Year 2019 and for continuing to support science; research; and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. This bipartisan effort to resolve Fiscal Year 2019 funding is particularly welcome as the science community works to recover
U.S. Congress Again Saves, Increases Museum Funding Read More »
Earlier today the U.S. National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM) released the new U.S. Federal STEM Education 5-year Strategic Plan. Click here to download your copy. This new strategic plan lays out the topline vision of “a future where all Americans have lifelong access to high-quality STEM education and the United
United States Releases New Federal STEM Education 5-year Strategic Plan Read More »
Early this morning, the U.S. Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, a $1.3 trillion bill that will fund the U.S. government through the end of the current Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18), which ends on September 30. President Trump signed it shortly thereafter. In a bipartisan effort, members of both the House and Senate soundly
U.S. Congress Votes for More Science Read More »
Cristin Dorgelo, President and CEO of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget. At ASTC, we are deeply concerned that President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2019 proposed budget will devastate America’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education efforts, by eliminating or severely crippling many
ASTC’s Statement on the U.S. President’s 2019 Budget Proposal Read More »
“The Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) is pleased to see progress on the U.S. Federal budget for fiscal year 2018. Looking ahead, we encourage robust funding for programs in informal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Aeronautics and
ASTC’s Statement on the U.S. Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 Read More »
By Jane Sargent, Akerman, and Todd Happer, ASTC January 22 Update— This afternoon—about 60 hours after the U.S. federal government shutdown last Friday night—a bipartisan group of Senators negotiated a deal that is expected to lay the path for resuming normal government operations. Essentially, Senate Democrats lent their support for reopening the government in
U.S. Congressional Updates—January 15–22, 2018 Read More »
Linda Conlon took stock of the growing primacy of emotional resonance over fact during an address at the opening of the 2017 ASTC Annual Conference in San Jose, California. She is chief executive of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, and served as ASTC Board Chair, 2015–2017. The text of her speech
Scientific Evidence Is Proving No Match for Emotionalism Read More »
On Thursday, September 7, the U.S. Senate’s Appropriations Committee voted for funding bills that advance many science and museum programs for the 2018 fiscal year that begins on October 1, rejecting the Administration’s proposals for drastic cuts and eliminations. While this is just one step in a complex, ongoing process supported by the advocacy efforts of
Science and Museum Programs Advance in U.S. Senate Read More »
I’ve been watching The Last Kingdom, a historical fiction series set around the time of Alfred the Great and the formation of a unified English kingdom in response to invasions by the Vikings. It’s hard, sometimes, to just watch a series like this without running to the internet to look stuff up. Where was the kingdom
Raising an Army for Science Centers and Museums Read More »
The May 3 edition of ASTC On Air featured a conversation with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, as well as the Department’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Catherine Woteki. Interested in hearing more about the memorandum of understanding between ASTC and USDA, possible ways in which science centers
ASTC On Air with USDA Under Secretary Dr. Catherine Woteki Read More »
On Thursday, May 22, 2014, youth representatives from museum programs met with Members of Congress to advocate for afterschool programs as part of the Afterschool Alliance’s Afterschool for All Challenge. Held as part of the Afterschool Alliance’s National Network Meeting, the Afterschool for All Challenge “[provided] unique networking and professional development opportunities that empower participants
Youth Representatives Visit Capitol Hill to Advocate for Afterschool Programs Read More »