Join colleagues from across the ASTC Natural History Network, where we will preview natural history-related sessions happening at the ASTC 2026 Annual Conference and hear from special guests about current projects.
August Natural History Network Meet-up Read More »
Join your colleagues as ASTC Chair Erin Graham and ASTC President and CEO Christofer Nelson share updates from 2026. At the business meeting, Christofer, Erin, and other members of the ASTC Board of Directors will also share an overview of ASTC’s activities over the past year and unveil ASTC’s new Strategic Framework through 2030.
Annual Business Meeting for ASTC Members Read More »
Funders are increasingly expecting AI to be incorporated into grant proposals, either as the focus or as a supporting tool. How do you navigate this? Join us on August 12 for a conversation about grants and AI strategy. We’ll discuss strong approaches and risks for incorporating AI, share what’s out there in terms of AI-related
Navigating Grants and AI: Peer Strategy Session Read More »
Want to build champions for your museum? This session will help you develop effective strategies to engage elected officials, work with district offices, and secure meaningful site visits from federal representatives during the August recess. You’ll also hear a successful case study of statewide advocacy from the children’s museum community. Walk away with clear, practical
Advocacy Webinar: Fostering Children’s Museum Champions at Every Level of Government Read More »
Join us for our next Natural History Network Meet-up! Whether you work in research, collections, exhibits, education, public programs, or any other area of natural history, we welcome you to connect with colleagues across the natural history museum field.
May Natural History Network Meet-up Read More »
ASTC member organizations need AI professional learning – but what does that actually look like? Different teams need different things, and one-size-fits-all training won’t work. AI professional learning can mean: Technical skills (using AI tools) Critical literacy (understanding capabilities and risks) Pedagogical approaches (teaching with and about AI) Strategic thinking (when and whether to use
AI Professional Learning: What Do Your Teams Actually Need? Read More »
Network with other professionals in the field, share and find resources directly applicable to your collection, and get the support you need! Join our monthly open discussions and bring your ideas to the table. We look forward to meeting you!
August 2026 Live Collections CoP Open Discussion Read More »
Network with other professionals in the field, share and find resources directly applicable to your collection, and get the support you need! Join our monthly open discussions and bring your ideas to the table. We look forward to meeting you!
July 2026 Live Collections CoP Open Discussion Read More »
Network with other professionals in the field, share and find resources directly applicable to your collection, and get the support you need! Join our monthly open discussions and bring your ideas to the table. We look forward to meeting you!
June 2026 Live Collections CoP Open Discussion Read More »
Network with other professionals in the field, share and find resources directly applicable to your collection, and get the support you need. Join our monthly open discussions and bring your ideas to the table. We look forward to meeting you!
May 2026 Live Collections CoP Open Discussion Read More »
As ASTC approaches the conclusion of its current strategic plan, the Board of Directors is close to finalizing our association’s new strategic framework to 2030. Join us for a sneak peek of our progress, priorities, and overall direction. Hear from ASTC President and CEO Christofer Nelson about how the emerging strategy aims to help members
Allied Member Sneak Peek with ASTC CEO: ASTC Strategy to 2030 Read More »
Carrie Bassett has been involved with FrogWatch since 2015 and became the National Coordinator in 2022. She holds a degree in biology with an emphasis in secondary education and has worked at the Akron Zoo for over 20 years.
A Deep Dive into FrogWatch: An ASTC Living Collections Webinar Read More »
New to the science center and museum field—or looking for a clearer view of how it all fits together? Join ASTC for a welcoming introduction to the people, organizations, and ideas that shape the global science museum community. This interactive session will explore how science centers and museums operate, highlight key milestones and trends in
Science Centers and Museums 101: Foundations of the Field Read More »
Advocacy Office Hours are an informal space to connect with peers, bring questions, and share your own insights. As many organizations work to more fully activate their boards as advocates, our April conversation will be lightly themed around board engagement in advocacy and help you navigate questions about roles, boundaries, and confidence. Bring questions on board
Advocacy Office Hours: Engaging Board Members Read More »
Ready to strengthen your organization’s advocacy efforts? Join us for a workshop on coalition building at the state and local level—one of the most effective strategies for science centers and museums looking to expand their policy reach and community impact. The session will offer practical frameworks and peer conversation for those working to build new
Advocacy Workshop: State and Local Coalition Building Read More »
Every year, ASTC’s Annual Statistics Survey collects and shares a large dataset from hundreds of science center and science engagement organizations’ worldwide on their visitor attendance, workforce, facilities, financial models, engagement strategies, and more. In anticipation of opening this year’s call for data, we are hosting a webinar on how science engagement organizations around the
Using ASTC’s Annual Statistics Survey Data to Support Your Operations Read More »
Together, we’ll unpack the pressure between professionalism and authenticity, discuss strategies for self-advocacy and community support, and imagine workplaces where professionals can thrive without feeling the need to fragment themselves. With special guest speakers, Andrea Harp from Michigan Science Center and Veronica Garcia-Luis from Exploratorium.
Speak On It! A Conversation on Code Switching Read More »
The Nature Record is a national initiative bringing together knowledge and public participation to assess the state of nature and its benefits to people in the U.S. Their work encompasses both the production of a knowledge assessment and efforts that build on the assessment to inspire planetary health action. This gathering will explore how to become
Introduction to The Nature Record: Sharing Knowledge to Inspire Action Read More »
Join members of ASTC’s Natural History Network for our quarterly virtual meet-up, featuring presentations and discussion on current topics of interest for natural history settings.
Natural History Network Meet-up Read More »
This webinar will be focused on the role of science centers and museums to address misinformation, polarization, and distrust. We will begin with background on ASTC’s Global Trends Committee and what we have learned as we have worked to identify, articulate, and research the many global factors that are impacting our field. You will hear