The digital publication of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)
The ASTC Dimensions Resource Library provides peer-reviewed guides, articles, and insights written by science engagement colleagues about topics relevant to science centers and museums and other organizations committed to engaging the public in science and technology. Interested in contributing to the resource library? Learn more about our quarterly submission cycle and our submission guidelines.
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The organizational and contributor characteristics reflect the ways that ASTC classifies member organizations and individuals in our data collection and reflect categorization at the time the article was originally published.
IN THIS ISSUE January/February 2014 Exhibits are central to the work of science centers and museums, and to the experience of our visitors. This issue of Dimensions draws upon the wisdom of our field, compiling practical tips and guidelines from exhibit professionals working in a variety of museums and companies
These case studies complement the article Inside the Process: Three Exhibit Development Case Studies, which appeared in the January/February 2014 issue of Dimensions magazine. Innovation Labs in Indian Science Centers To promote national competitiveness in the 21st century, the president of India declared the present decade (2010–20) as the “decade
This is an extended version of an article that appeared in the January/February 2014 issue of Dimensions magazine. On building interactive exhibits to last I am convinced that small and seemingly insignificant parts can make the difference between an exhibit that will last for years with almost no maintenance and
By Kathy Krafft and Harry White From Dimensions January/February 2014 If you say that visitors can do anything they like—and we do say that—then you can’t be surprised at anything they actually do. At-Bristol, in the United Kingdom, has 250 exhibits and receives 250,000 visitors per year. If each exhibit
This is an extended discussion of the question that appeared in the Viewpoints department of the January/February 2014 issue of Dimensions magazine. Good examples of technology gone bad can often be traced to poor design. Does the design of an interactive cause visitors to isolate from others, or does it
By Eli Kuslansky and Gregory Peduto From Dimensions September/October 2013 Science centers: bastions of fun and exploration, destinations where children can let loose, providers of hands-on learning to spark a lifelong love of science. However, when children grow into adulthood in our technologically accelerating society, are they still called to
By Mary Ann Wojton From Dimensions September/October 2013 Student field trips to COSI in Columbus, Ohio, attract approximately 75,000 visitors annually. We wanted to understand how teachers perceive our science center and field trip offerings in order to better serve them and to represent ourselves to them in the most
We asked public relations (PR) professionals from science centers and museums around the world to send us their best practices, guidelines, practical tips, and pieces of advice. Here’s what they told us. (This is an extended version of an article that appeared in the September/October 2013 issue of Dimensions magazine.)
Interviewed by Joelle Seligson This interview appeared in the September/October 2013 issue of Dimensions magazine. How can a child follow the paths of a musically inclined mother and a science-oriented father? Chevy Humphrey, president and CEO of the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, managed to do both. She worked with
This is an extended discussion of the question that appeared in the Viewpoints department of the September/October 2013 issue of Dimensions magazine. Evaluation is a powerful tool for providing visitors with a voice, which then enables us to stay relevant to their needs and motivations. The goal of any exhibit