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With its members and partners, ASTC works towards a vision of increased understanding of—and engagement with—science and technology among all people. Members include not only science centers and museums, but also nature centers, aquariums, planetariums, zoos, botanical gardens, and natural history and children's museums, as well as companies, consultants, and other organizations that share an interest in informal science education.
Mission: Founded in 1973, ASTC is a network of nearly 700 science and technology centers and museums, and allied organizations, engaging more than 110 million people annually across North America and in almost 50 countries. With its members and partners, ASTC works towards a vision of increased understanding of—and engagement with—science and technology among all people.
Operating as usual
Go deep on a topic by participating in Preconference ASTC Intensives: from budgets to climate, equity to space science. Register now at only $15 per session. #ASTC2020
ASTC Intensives are a chance for conference attendees to participate in focused learning experiences on a single topic, as well as to connect and network with peers with similar occupational and … Preconference ASTC Intensives Read More »
With the support of a #GenderEquityGrant from IF/THEN and ASTC, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is taking their Girls in STEM initiative to the next level by offering new and enhanced programs, including the Talk with Docs virtual event.
The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is an IF/THEN Gender Equity Grant recipient. Twenty-six ASTC-member museums received funding to launch projects aimed at increasing the representation of women and gender minorities in STEM … Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts takes its STEM ...
The Museum of Science, Boston is part of an international consortium designing a series of large-scale citizen assemblies to consider the far reaching, societal implications of human genome editing. #CommunityScience in action with leadership from the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes at Arizona State University.
ASU Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes joins global efforts to bring public values for anticipatory governance of gene editing technologies.
ASTC members have been at the forefront of combating food insecurity, including by hosting farmers markets, distributing fresh produce, and related food outreach. A new feature in Dimensions highlights examples from spectrUM Discovery Area (Missoula, Montana), Mid-Hudson Children's Museum (including Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market in Poughkeepsie, New York), Nurture Nature Center (Easton, Pennsylvania), and Minnetrista (Muncie, Indiana).
As the pandemic and social unrest have continued to ravage what remains of the status quo, science and technology centers and museums are stepping up their efforts to serve their … Combating food insecurity, ASTC members share fresh food with communities Read More »
The 2020 Ig Nobel Prizes have been awarded by Improbable Research to "honor achievements that make people laugh, then think." Recipients at the "30th First Annual" ceremony, held online for the first time, had their awards presented by six actual Nobel laureates. They also received an historic $10 trillion Zimbabwean note (equivalent to a few U.S. cents) and a PDF to print and assemble into a cube-shaped trophy.
Other recipients of the award for laugh-worthy achievements experimented with alligators on helium and vibrating worms.
ASTC Virtual 2020 Annual Conference starts in only four weeks from today. Register now and take advantage of deeply discounted registration rates, which reflect our current reality. #ASTC2020 #sciencecenter #sciencemuseum #sciengage #scicomm
ASTC Virtual 2020 Annual Conference The ASTC Annual Conference is one of the premier annual events for science-engagement professionals and leaders in science and technology centers and museums as well … ASTC Virtual 2020 Annual Conference Read More »
Remember that nominations and applications for Institute of Museum and Library Services' National Medal for Museum and Library Service are due by November 2. This is the nation’s highest honor awarded to libraries and museums for service to their communities, and many ASTC members have been recipients.
The U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is now accepting nominations for the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor awarded to libraries … IMLS seeking nominations for National Medal for Museum and Library Service Read More »
A new article in BioScience looks at the value of biodiversity collections for research and education—including for public health—and the threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several ASTC member institutions are mentioned including the Field Museum, Florida Museum of Natural History, Milwaukee Public Museum, and Delaware Museum of Natural History.
At this writing, more than 24 million cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been tracked around the globe, and there have been more than 825,000 deaths.
What are the health implications of breathing smoke from wildfires? Science News Magazine compiles the research. #ScienceSunday
As wildfires become more frequent and severe in California, Oregon and throughout the West Coast, concerns rise about harmful air pollution.
Scientists have discovered phosphine gas in the clouds of Venus, which is associated with microbes on Earth. Is it a sign that there might be life 30 miles above the planet's scorching hot surface? #ScienceSaturday
Scientists have found a gas associated with living organisms in a region of Venus' atmosphere. They can't figure out how it got there if it didn't come from life.
Andrea from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is looking forward to connecting with colleagues at #ASTC2020.
Join her and many others by registering now: https://www.astc.org/conference
The Bobcat Fire in Southern California came within 500 feet of Mount Wilson Observatory, but has been beaten back...at least for the moment. Among the major discoveries at the observatory was Edwin Hubble's determination that there was a universe beyond our Milky Way galaxy.
The Bobcat Fire came within 500 feet of the observatory on Tuesday. The same dry, isolated conditions that make Mount Wilson susceptible to fire also made it perfect for stargazing.
Nominations for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, the nation’s highest honor for individuals and organizations who work with and serve those that are underrepresented in STEM education and the workforce, are due by December 18.
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) is seeking nominations for the 2020–2021 cycle. The awards represent the nation’s highest honor for individuals and organizations … Nominations open for Presidential Awards for Excellence in Sc...
Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater President & CEO Curt Simmons was a guest on Iowa Public Radio's Talk of Iowa to talk about the future of museums in the state.
On this edition of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe speaks with museum professionals from around the state, including the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum, the Museum of Danish America, the Science Center of Iowa and the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, about how they see....
This morning was the launch of Million Girls Moonshot, an effort to engage one million school-age girls in the U.S. in STEM learning opportunities over the next five years, especially by engaging afterschool networks in all 50 states.
ASTC is proud to be a coalition partner in this effort led by the STEM Next Opportunity Fund, the Intel Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
The Million Girls Moonshot seeks to re-imagine who can engineer, who can build, who can make. It will inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer programs over the next 5 years.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is hosting a webinar this Thursday, September 17, on the recently released report Biological Collections: Ensuring Critical Research and Education for the 21st Century.
Learn more from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
The opportunity for the ultrawealthy to help solve some of our biggest challenges, including those listed in the Moonshot Catalog.
If the richest American gave just 1 percent more than they do now, they could make a difference on the scale of the original moon landing. An in-depth exploration of what they might fund points to the successful endpoints.
The Science Alliance of Tennessee, a consortium of non-profit science museums—and ASTC members—across the state, write in The Tennessean that "science education is more important than ever" and call on philanthropic and government funders to keep cultural institutions like science centers thriving.
"No one wants to imagine a world void of unique spaces that celebrate curiosity, creativity and problem-solving."
Now more than ever, cultural institutions such as science museums must be a major focus of philanthropic and government funding priorities.
There's a new book that charts the emergence of modern science communication in 39 countries around the world, including the growth of science centers, university courses and research, publications and conferences, and more.
Communicating Science: A Global Perspective, which is available for free online reading and downloading, is edited by Toss Gascoigne, Bernard Schiele, Joan Leach, Michelle Riedlinger, Bruce V. Lewenstein, Luisa Massarani, and Peter Broks—and published by ANU Press.
Modern science communication has emerged in the twentieth century as a field of study, a body of practice and a profession—and it is a practice with deep historical roots. We have seen the birth of interactive science centres, the first university actions in teaching and conducting research, and a...
Museums in Philadelphia are among those feeling the financial impacts of COVID-19. ASTC Board chair Larry Dubinski, who is president and CEO of The Franklin Institute, is among those quoted: "What I can tell you, primarily for science centers, is that a majority of our revenue is earned revenue.... When an institution shuts down and can no longer have visitors or rent out facilities for events, it is a devastating blow."
Even the strongest of the region's cultural institutions face an economic threat from the coronavirus and its impact on public activity.
Five weeks from today, we'll be kicking off ASTC Virtual 2020 Annual Conference. And starting the Preconference ASTC Intensives a week before that. Have you registered yet? Join us for #ASTC2020 online.
Registration for ASTC Virtual 2020 Annual Conference ASTC is committed to making this year’s Annual Conference as accessible as possible to the community, reflecting the deep impact many have experienced … Registration Information Read More »
Terroir, which Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines as "the combination of factors including soil, climate, and sunlight that gives wine grapes their distinctive character," isn't just for wine anymore. Scientists find detectable differences in coffee, chocolate, and hops.
Scientific explorations of terroir — the soil, climate and orientation in which crops grow — hint at influences on flavors and aromas.
The #REALMproject began its fifth round of testing on the length of time the COVID-19 virus lives on materials commonly used in archives, libraries, and museums. Materials in this round include polyolefin fabric, polyvinyl chloride "vinyl," 100% cotton, and nylon webbing (which was provided by the American Museum of Natural History). Results are expected in early October.
REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM) is a research partnership between OCLC, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Battelle to create and distribute science-based information and recommended practices designed to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to staff and visit...
Only 14% of Americans think a coronavirus vaccine will be widely available before the November election, and even if it is, most Americans say they won't take it, according to a new poll by KFF.
Even if it is, most Americans say they won't take it.
Registration for the ASTC Virtual 2020 Annual Conference is now open and will close on October 14. Don't forget: register today! #ASTC2020
The conference theme focuses on our community's collective work to orient the future of research, innovation, education, and our communities toward a more equitable future. We look forward to the conversations that the sessions from the ASTC community will inspire.
Registration for ASTC Virtual 2020 Annual Conference ASTC is committed to making this year’s Annual Conference as accessible as possible to the community, reflecting the deep impact many have experienced … Registration Information Read More »
A year after being named as IF/THEN Ambassadors, three STEM professionals at ASTC-member museums—Olivia Castellini (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago), Becca Peixotto (Perot Museum of Nature and Science) and Myria Perez (Perot Museum)—reflect on their first year.
They also offer suggestions on how science centers can partner with the Ambassadors and use the assets in the IF/THEN Collection to increase the representation of women and gender minorities in their programs and exhibits.
Last September, 125 women innovators across a variety of industries were named as AAAS IF/THEN® Ambassadors by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Lyda Hill Philanthropies. … IF/THEN Ambassadors reflect on their first year Read More »
ASTC's Senior Advisor for Science Engagement Policy and Partnerships, Erica Kimmerling, will be moderating a September 16 discussion on trust in the age of the pandemic. The free webinar, organized by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences will explore the complex relationship between public trust and vaccines.
Speakers include NIH Director Francis Collins, Harvard professor Evelynn Hammonds, MIT professor Seth Mnookin, and Johns Hopkins scholar Monica Schoch-Spana.
Join us for a discussion on the multifaceted perception of vaccine safety, and the importance of creating and sustaining public trust.
MinnPost talks to Alison Rempel Brown, President and CEO of the Science Museum of Minnesota, as the museum reopens to the public after being closed for almost six months.
As the Science Museum of Minnesota reopens, MinnPost talked with President and CEO Alison Rempel Brown.
Using data from an app that tracks self-reported symptoms, researchers in the UK find that fatigue, headache, and fever are the most common symptoms of coronavirus in children, with few developing the cough or loss of sense of taste or smell that are more common in adults.
Researchers call for age-based symptom checklists as virus presents differently in children
This fall, IF/THEN #GenderEquityGrant recipient Paleontological Research Institution and its Museum of the Earth has something exciting in store! The museum's online exhibit, Daring to Dig: Women in American Paleontology, will feature women paleontologists throughout history & today.
The Paleontological Research Institution is an IF/THEN Gender Equity Grant recipient. Twenty-six ASTC-member museums received funding to launch projects aimed at increasing the representation of women and gender minorities in STEM across their museums’ content. … Daring to Dig: Women in Ame...
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Andrea from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is looking forward to connecting with colleagues at #ASTC2020. Join her and many others by registering now: https://www.astc.org/conference
National Air and Space Museum's #Apollo50 celebration projected onto the Washington Monument
Happy #PiDay from the ASTC office, where we always strive to go a little.bit.farther.
On November 10th, we’re joining institutions of science learning all over the world on to celebrate International Science Center and Science Museum Day and the vital role they have in building lifelong interest in science and encouraging sustainability for our planet! #ISCSMD2018! Find one near you and learn more www.iscsmd.org/map
Yes, we are! dancing in September!
Beat a path to the ASTC Community Space in the heart of the Exhibit Hall. We have so much to talk about! Well, mostly about you . . .
From Ramsey Lake in Sudbury, Ontario: @ScienceNorth.
It’s a special day at Science North, as CEO Guy Labine explains . . .
Congratulations to Science North, Paul Lefebvre & FedNor on the announcement of $1.6M+ for the new THINK project (Think, Hack, Innovate, Network, and Know) at the science center and THINK hubs across Northern Ontario.
Getting ready for a big announcement at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario.🎊🍾🎈
The ASTC board is meeting at Science North, and has the best breaks exploring the exhibits and talking with the wonderful Bluecoat science engagers throughout the facility.
Seeing the wonders, including a robot that wields its own “Applause” sign, at Ontario Science Centre in Toronto; thank you to all the OSC Hosts and staff who shared how they get people engaged in science and technology!
On the way to the ASTC board meeting in Sudbury, a stop at Ontario Science Centre in Toronto.
DON'T BLOW IT! Early Bird savings for the 2018 ASTC Annual Conference end on Sunday, June 17—and you don't want to miss out. Be there this year for the reinvention of ASTC and the conference, all the networking, great speakers, and the Wind Tunnel at the Connecticut Science Center: https://goo.gl/Qi9AY8
ASTC member Museum of Science, Boston, at the Capitol Hill Maker Faire tonight in Washington, D.C, hosted by Nation of Makers, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Congressional Maker Caucus. #CapMakerFaire
Sparking discussion at #NIHSciEd2018, ASTC's President & CEO Cristin Dorgelo talks about impact and asks some big questions about science and society. Find out more about the SEPA - Science Education Partnership Award program at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and upcoming funding opportunities: nihsepa.org #SciEd2018
ASTC staff picnic today in Farragut Square, Washington, D.C. #CreatingCulture #TeamBuilding #StrongestLinks
Find out about blood and cell-level microphotographs with ASTC member South Florida Science Center and Aquarium in Booth 502 at the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., today. #SciFest #STEM #STEAM
Perfecting the paint-by-numbers picture with pipettes in Booth 6139 at the USA Science & Engineering Festival. #SciFest #STEM #STEAM
Taking a galactic trip in the Exploring Space exhibition at Connecticut Science Center, host of the #ASTC2018 conference, September 29-October 2.
Messing around in KidSpace at Connecticut Science Center, host of the #ASTC2018 conference, September 29-October 2.
Playing around in the Wind Tunnel at Connecticut Science Center, host of the #ASTC2018 conference, Sept. 29-Oct. 2.
Experimenting and exploring at the "Tinkering with a Making Space" workshop happening now at Imagination Station Toledo in Ohio. Developed by the ASTC Making/Tinkering Community of Practice, the event is bringing together science center and museum professionals from all over to reimagine tinkering spaces and programs—possibly at a place near you! (With Boston Children's Museum, COSI Columbus' Dynamic Hands-On Science Center!, Cranbrook Institute of Science, Discovery World, Explorit Science Center, Flint Children's Museum, Hagley Museum and Library, Hamilton East Public Library, Impression 5 Science Center, Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, Sloan Museum, Space Center Houston, The Henry Ford, and WonderLab Museum)
Things ASTC staff does . . . #ScienceCentersEclipse #SolarEclipse
"We need a strong Institute of Museum and Library Services to support individual museums in what they do so well." ASTC's Bud Rock #museumsadvocacy2017
Congratulations on 20 years of empowering museums and libraries, Institute of Museum and Library Services! Happy 20th Anniversary from all the science center and museum members of ASTC! #IMLSat20
You never know what will happen in an #ASTC2014 session!
[email protected] partying at @explora! #astc2013
The White House Historical Association
1610 H St NWDecatur House on Lafayette Square
1610 H St NWAAM Environment and Climate Network
1575 Eye Street, NW, Suite 400, WashingtonNeighbors to the President Consortium
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NWDACOR and DACOR Bacon House Foundation
1801 F St NW Fl 4
Smithsonian's Human Origins Program
The Museum is located at the intersection of 10th Street and Constitution Ave.