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.
This project from The Wild Center was a 2024 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awardee. The awards—presented each year by ASTC—honor member institutions and/or their staff and volunteers whose work represents exceptional achievement. These awards celebrate efforts that not only enhance the performance of an individual institution but also advance the entire field of informal […]
This project from Explora was a 2024 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awardee. The awards—presented each year by ASTC—honor member institutions and/or their staff and volunteers whose work represents exceptional achievement. These awards celebrate efforts that not only enhance the performance of an individual institution but also advance the entire field of informal science learning […]
“The work taking place in natural history museums has never been more important, and the role that they play in safeguarding humanity’s future is only just starting to be realized.” (Jack Ashby, in Nature’s Memory, 2025) With the launch of ASTC’s Natural History Network at the 2025 Annual Conference in San Francisco, ASTC is excited […]
This project from the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, California was a 2024 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awardee. The awards—presented each year by ASTC—honor member institutions and/or their staff and volunteers whose work represents exceptional achievement. These awards celebrate efforts that not only enhance the performance of an individual institution but […]
This project from the American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York was a 2024 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awardee. The awards—presented each year by ASTC—honor member institutions and/or their staff and volunteers whose work represents exceptional achievement. These awards celebrate efforts that not only enhance the performance of an individual institution but […]
ASTC recently launched Professional Pathways in Informal STEM Learning (ISL), a suite of tools—the Framework, Self-Assessment, and Learning Plan—and complementary resources that support professional learning and career development for ISL professionals across the field.Our Communications team sat down with four ASTC staff involved in the development of Pathways to learn more about their ISL career […]
When I started working in a natural history museum, I knew a lot about how people learn and how to facilitate and support learning. But I knew very little science—certainly not enough to help people understand evolution, climate change, or even why some birds have bright colors and others don’t. My colleague and co-author on […]
ASTC is delighted to partner with an incredible host consortium in the San Francisco Bay Area to welcome the science engagement field to Annual Conference 2025! We gave each of our eight host institutions an opportunity to answer a set of questions about their work and what they are excited to share with our community. […]
ASTC is delighted to partner with an incredible host consortium in the San Francisco Bay Area to welcome the science engagement field to Annual Conference 2025! We gave each of our eight host institutions an opportunity to answer a set of questions about their work and what they are excited to share with our community. […]
ASTC is delighted to partner with an incredible host consortium in the San Francisco Bay Area to welcome the science engagement field to Annual Conference 2025! We gave each of our eight host institutions an opportunity to answer a set of questions about their work and what they are excited to share with our community. […]