Around the world, science centers and museums employ tens of thousands of staff and serve millions of learners each year. This work has a rich history and global impact. It’s a broad story that includes everyone who works in this field—from the classroom to the board room, the exhibit hall to the outreach van.
Ready to find your place in our field?
Science Centers and Museums 101 is a free, virtual workshop designed to help professionals of all levels develop a deeper understanding of the people, organizations, and ideas that shape the global science museum community. It encourages and equips staff with foundational knowledge to tie their own work to the broader work of the science engagement field around the world.
Who should participate
Science Centers and Museums 101 is open to anyone working for, or with, science centers and museums. This includes aspiring, emerging, and established professionals from all roles, backgrounds, and organizations.
It is particularly relevant for:
- New hires getting oriented to their organization and the science museum field. We encourage HR staff and hiring managers to consider assigning this workshop as part of their regular onboarding process for new staff.
- Emerging professionals, including students, interns, or volunteers, seeking to build knowledge as they advance their careers.
- Organizational leaders seeking deeper connection to peer organizations, along with an understanding of how their institution aligns with fieldwide trends in workforce, operations, mission, and more.
What to expect
The 90-minute workshop includes a mix of presentation and interaction, with the final 30 minutes reserved for structured networking, to encourage participants to connect with peers with shared job roles, geography, organization type, and professional interests.
Key topics include:
Understand the breadth of the science center and museum field, including the diversity of institution types, sizes, geographies, and audiences, and how your organization fits into that ecosystem.
Get insight into the business models, workforce trends, and programmatic offerings at the heart of museum operations.
Buckle up for a fast-paced history of the field, spanning from “curiosity cabinets” of the 18th Century to today’s institutions that serve communities and promote science for all people.
Learn about practical resources available to ASTC members, from professional development to funding opportunities.
How to participate
Science Centers and Museums 101 is a standalone workshop that ASTC offers on a recurring basis. There are multiple ways to participate, whether as an individual or a team.
Register for an upcoming session
Wednesday, August 12th, 2026
12:00–1:30 p.m. ET
cost: $0
Book a session for your team
Want to bring Science Centers and Museums 101 to your whole team? Talk to ASTC about scheduling a custom workshop.
Subscribe for professional learning updates
Sign up for our Professional Learning Interest List to receive email updates about ASTC’s Science Centers and Museums 101 series, including dates of future sessions.
Additional Resources for Professional Learning
ASTC offers a range of professional learning opportunities for the science center and museum field, including:
- Year-round events – ASTC’s event calendar includes a wide range of webinars, meet-ups, and virtual workshops on topics of professional practice.
- Professional Pathways in Informal STEM Learning – This suite of tools—including a Framework, Self-Assessment, and Learning Plan—can be used by individuals and organizations to help identify and develop professional competencies important for science center and museum work.
- Curated Resources for Informal STEM Learning Professionals – This selection of foundational articles, toolkits, and other resources is focused on informing and strengthening practice, research, and evaluation.
Questions or ideas related to professional learning? Contact programs@astc.org.