Youth Lead the Way: Science Centers can Foster Empowering Settings for Youth-Led Climate Action

Responding to urgent climate-related needs, youth around the world are leading collective actions. Below a team from OMSI shares examples about how a collaboration between youth and a science center supported youth empowerment for collective climate action. OMSI would like to encourage colleagues to continue learning about following youth leadership for similar social goals. By Maria …

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Blooloop 50 Museum Influencer List features many from ASTC community

Once again, the Blooloop 50 Museum Influencer List 2023 includes a number of individuals affiliated with ASTC-member organizations and partners. This fourth annual list highlights 50 key individuals whose innovation and creativity have been integral to developing today’s museums. The Blooloop 50 Museum Influencer List is again launched in partnership with Barco, which develops networked …

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COSI and MODS receive National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Two ASTC members are among eight institutions honored with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities. The award is bestowed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. In a release, IMLS Director Crosby Kemper said, “the staff …

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ASTC members recognized by AAM

Several ASTC-member institutions and science center professionals have been recognized by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) with 2023 awards for their leadership and excellence within the museum field. Awards will be presented at the 2023 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo later this month in Denver, Colorado. Nancy Hanks Award for Rising Stars To highlight …

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Six ASTC members named finalists for National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Six ASTC-member institutions are among the 15 museums named as finalists for the 2023 National Medal for Museum and Library Services. Awarded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities. Fifteen libraries …

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NASA TEAM II program awards STEM engagement projects

NASA has announced the recipients of the latest round of funding in the agency’s Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) program and TEAM II Community Anchor Awards. Among the new grantees are twelve ASTC members. Both are funded through NASA’s Next Generation STEM (Next Gen STEM), which supports kindergarten to 12-grade students, …

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USA TODAY 10Best lists recognize ASTC members

Earlier today, USA TODAY announced the winners in its 10Best Reader’s Choice awards for Best Science Museum and Best Children’s Museum. As in the past, these lists include many ASTC-member institutions (n bold, below). Twenty nominees in each category were chosen by a panel of experts including a combination of editors from USA TODAY, editors …

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Digital Engagement: 10 Tips for Science Centers and Museums

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, some science centers and museums had developed online and digital programs, but more often science museums’ digital engagement efforts focused on incorporating technology into exhibits within museum walls. During the pandemic, the closure of public spaces prompted science museums to be innovative in their approach to reaching their audiences digitally—and often …

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Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards presented for Business Practice, Individual Leadership, and Visitor Experience

The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) has presented its Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards to three additional member organizations and one individual in three categories. The virtual awards ceremony, which was incorporated into the program for #ASTCvirtual, completes a process that began with the presentation of awards in two other categories—Community Science …

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ASTC members named to Blooloop 50 Museum Influencers List

The Blooloop 50 Museum Influencers List 2022 includes a number of individuals affiliated with ASTC-member organizations. The list highlights 50 key individuals whose innovation and creativity have been integral to developing today’s museums. As the museum industry continues to reinvent itself, it is not surprising to see so many names familiar to ASTC on the …

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Blooloop Zoo & Aquarium Influencer List 2022 includes members of ASTC community

Two members of the ASTC community have been named to the first Blooloop 50 Zoo & Aquarium Influencer list. The Blooloop 50 highlights 50 key individuals working in the sector whose work has made a real impact; the 2022 list for museum professionals will be announced soon, following on similar lists in 2020 and 2021. …

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Seven ASTC members honored with Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards

Over the last three years, science centers and museums have faced challenges that have sometimes seemed insurmountable. But the ingenuity and creativity alive in these organizations have helped turn those challenges into opportunities. The closing session of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) 2022 Annual Conference highlighted some of the most innovative—and impactful—work …

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IMLS makes funding awards of more than $8.4 million to ASTC members

The U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services has announced the fiscal year (FY) 2022 recipient of funding awards through several of its competitive grant programs. This includes $6.3 million in National Leadership Grants for Museums and $29.7 million for the Museums for America program—including the Museums Empowered and Inspire! Grants for Small Museums. National …

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ASTC members share in $1M Museum Initiative from Verizon and NYC MediaLab

Earlier this year, Verizon and NYC MediaLab announced the winners of the $1M Museum Initiative, which asked museums and other cultural institutions to develop new immersive educational content for educators. ASTC helped spread the word about this funding opportunity when applications were being accepted. Several ASTC-member institutions are among the 10 awarded up to $100,000 …

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Calling all makers! New resources for children and families available

By engaging in engineering design activities, children have the opportunity to bring together scientific and mathematical concepts to solve real world problems. However, sustaining children’s interest in engineering can be a challenge. Some students lack opportunities to learn about engineering in the first place; a 2010 report found that only 10% of K-12 students were …

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Twelve ASTC members receive awards from national STEM learning and literacy program

Twelve ASTC members from across the United States have been awarded funding in the latest NASA’s Universe of Learning Mini-funds cycle. NASA’s Universe of Learning is a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning and literacy program that provides resources and experiences related to NASA astrophysics. Using NASA resources, awardees are creating projects and programs …

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2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service finalists are named

Three ASTC-member institutions are among the 15 museums named as finalists for the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Awarded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities. Since 1996, …

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ASTC members named to 10Best lists for top museums

Many ASTC-member science centers and museums have been named among the best science museums and children’s museums in the United States, according to votes in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards for 2022. Twenty nominees in each category were chosen by a panel of experts including a combination of editors from USA TODAY, editors from …

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