Archives: Dimensions

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.

An image of Linda Kekelis, seated at a desk, smiling broadly. A large, colorful bouquet of flowers sits on the desk.

With Passion and Innovation, Linda Kekelis Charts a Path for Girls in STEM

February 25, 2026

Linda Kekelis was a 2025 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awardee for her body of work in the field of informal education, including her role in founding Techbridge Girls. The awards—presented each year by ASTC—honor member institutions and/or their staff and volunteers whose work represents exceptional achievement. These awards celebrate

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Four students, wearing hard hats and team shirts reading "Drop and Dash" assemble a device made of wood, string, tape, and a plastic wheel base. They carefully hang it from a hanging support.

Empowering One Million Teachers to Close the STEM Gap

February 17, 2026

This project from The Tech Interactive was a 2025 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

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On left, two people, wearing winter coats, pose in front of a large stack of boxes. On right, an open box reveals a collection of hands-on STEM learning supplies, including baking soda, vials, and measuring utensils.

North Carolina STEM Boxes: Delivering Curiosity and Comfort Amidst the Storm

February 5, 2026

This project from the North Carolina Children’s Museum and Hands On! Children’s Museum 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

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A woman poses in front of a sign reading "Deb Klima."

From a Small Island to the World: Rethinking Science Engagement Through Youth Voices and Climate Action

January 27, 2026

Dimensions invited Bhamini Kamudu Applasawmy, PhD, the 2025 Lee Kimche McGrath Worldwide Fellow, to share about a project important to her work in Mauritius, while reflecting on her experience attending the ASTC 2025 Annual Conference in the San Francisco Bay Area. The McGrath Fellowship is a key part of ASTC’s

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Two adults and three children strike a celebratory pose in front of the VENOMventure, inflatable escape room. They hold signs saying "We did it!" and "Lo logramos!"

Play the Game, Save the World! Using an Immersive Escape Game to Teach Families Evolutionary Thinking

January 27, 2026

This project from the University of Kansas Natural History Museum and the UC Museum of Paleontology was a 2025 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

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Image of Mar Dixon, from the waist up. She is smiling and casually dressed, wearing a denim jacket, scarf, and earbuds.

Brilliant on a Budget: How Mar Dixon Connected Millions to Museums

January 12, 2026

The late Mar Dixon helped millions of people see themselves in cultural spaces. Her legacy continues through #MuseumSelfieDay. Mar Dixon’s Legacy of Good Troublemaking Mar Dixon, a self-proclaimed “troublemaker for sectors that need a kick up the bum,” was a self-taught digital strategist who became a global champion for cultural

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The Wild Center Youth Climate Program: Empowering Youth Everywhere!

January 5, 2026

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

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X Studio at Explora: STEM workforce development for teens in New Mexico

December 5, 2025

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

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Evolving Together: ASTC’s New Natural History Network

December 4, 2025

The Osher Rainforest inspires awe at the California Academy of Sciences “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

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