By Cristin Dorgelo Charting a course for the future is one of the more difficult things we are called upon to do as leaders and as individuals. The futures of our institutions, the future of our communities, and the future frontiers of science and technology are inextricably linked. As we scan those horizons and set …
IN THIS ISSUE January/February 2019 At the forefront of informal science learning, we are, in some ways, naturally good at gazing fearlessly into the future. But while we may be better equipped than those in many other fields to strategize for upcoming changes, it’s difficult to see very far ahead, or to know the best …
Dimensions, January/February 2019—The Future of Science Centers Read More »
By David A. Ucko From Dimensions January/February 2019 Science centers may seem commonplace today. However, that was not so four decades ago, when total attendance at my first ASTC conference was about 50. Reviewing the history of the field, beginning with those institutions that influenced its development, can offer perspective for considering future directions. Natural history …
Looking Back to Look Ahead Read More »
By Pat Hamilton From Dimensions November/December 2018 Something momentous happened on December 12, 2015. After years of negotiations, 197 nations came together in Paris and agreed by voice acclamation to the world’s first binding commitments to fighting climate change. Then something alarming happened on June 1, 2017. President Trump announced that he was withdrawing the …
Science Museum of Minnesota Is Still In Read More »
ASTC is proud to be part of the ever-growing We Are Still In coalition supporting climate action, an alliance of U.S. cultural institutions, businesses and investors, cities and counties, colleges and universities, faith groups, health care organizations, states, tribes, and other non-federal actors. We Are Still In, at nearly 3,600 signatories, demonstrates America’s enduring commitment …
ASTC, Members Join “We Are Still In” U.S. Climate Action Movement Read More »
Interviewed by Susan Straight This interview appeared in the November/December 2018 issue of Dimensions magazine. Ed Yong is an award-winning science writer for The Atlantic magazine. His work has appeared in National Geographic, the New Yorker, Wired, Nature, New Scientist, and Scientific American. He is originally from the United Kingdom but currently lives in Washington, …
By Lesley Markham From Dimensions November/December 2018 Why is it important for science center and museum professionals to cultivate soft skills? What is their relevance to our work and to the wider informal science learning field? For more than a century, researchers have recognized that soft skills—critical thinking, communication, and creativity—are as valuable as technical …
The Place of Soft Skills in Informal Science Learning Read More »
IN THIS ISSUE November/December 2018 General skills, soft skills, 21st-century skills: simple names for critical proficiencies. They include communication, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, curiosity, cultural competency, caring, empathy, the ability to listen, and the capacity to support and be supportive of colleagues and mentors. Whether we excel at them or are only just starting to …
Dimensions, November/December 2018—Beyond STEM: 21st-century Skills Read More »
By Cristin Dorgelo In this issue, we explore 21st-century skills,often called general skills or soft skills. To thrive in today’s workforce, and to play a part in solving the tough challenges facing society, each of us must develop and demonstrate curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, persistence, and teamwork. As science center and related industry professionals, most …
Praise for Soft Skills Read More »
By the Center for the Advancement of Informal Science Education’s Broadening Participation Task Force From Dimensions September/October 2018 There is widespread agreement about the urgent need to broaden the diversity of people who participate in, contribute to, and benefit from science, technology, engineering, and math—the disciplines collectively known as STEM. Nondominant populations in the United …
Access Isn’t Enough Read More »
IN THIS ISSUE September/October 2018 The articles in this issue feature organizations and individuals who have worked to broaden participation in some way. Broadening participation is widely regarded as a worthy goal in our industry, but to what end? Why does broader participation matter? It matters because we need the best innovators, nurses, and engineers. …
Dimensions, September/October 2018—Broadening Participation Read More »
By Cristin Dorgelo The theme of this issue is “Broadening Participation.” What we at ASTC mean when we talk about broadening participation is our commitment to increasing diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and equity in all aspects of our work—paramount values in our increasingly connected global society. Our field has made strides in offering inclusive opportunities in …
A Place at the Table Read More »
By Cristin Dorgelo Our global community is three years into an ambitious agenda. On September 25, 2015, the 193 countries of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Development Agenda titled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” The agenda includes 17 goals with 169 specific actions, or targets. These goals, known …
By Maarten Okkersen From Dimensions July/August 2018 One Planet at the Museon, Netherlands’ premier museum for science and culture in The Hague, is a new, action-oriented exhibition that shows real solutions for solving the great global issues currently facing humankind. The exhibition fulfills the Museon’s role, as an official partner of the United Nations, to …
One Planet: Building a Better World Read More »
IN THIS ISSUE July/August 2018 The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (also known as the Global Goals) are the ambitious targets set by UN member countries in 2015 to guide Earth to a better future. The world’s deadline is 2030 to achieve them. Here is a quick overview of each. They include: No Poverty; Zero …
Dimensions, July/August 2018—Are You Ready for 2030? Read More »
Interviewed by Susan Straight This interview appeared in the July/August 2018 issue of Dimensions magazine. Commander Chris Hadfield, astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station became an internet sensation for his YouTube videos of life in microgravity as well as for his album, Space Sessions: Songs from a Tin Can, recorded onboard the …
Q&A with Chris Hadfield: The Future of Space Exploration Read More »
Interviewed by Susan Straight This interview appeared in the May/June 2018 issue of Dimensions magazine. Ellen Stofan, the former chief scientist of NASA, recently accepted the position of John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Stofan spoke with Dimensions about her new role and why the …
Q&A with Ellen Stofan: New Director of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Read More »
IN THIS ISSUE May/June 2018 As science centers and institutions, we embrace a certain level of risk in the name of discovery and innovation, and we encourage visitors to do the same. But we also must handle the risk that would lead to negative outcomes. The ways in which we manage risk vary greatly, according …
Dimensions, May/June 2018—Risky Business Read More »
By Charlie Trautmann and Dean Briere From Dimensions May/June 2018 Ask a dozen people what “risk” means, and you’re likely to get two dozen answers, or maybe three. That’s because risk, a concept brought into the English language from the French some 400 years ago, is so multifaceted. Why is risk important? It’s because how …
By Cristin Dorgelo In this May/June issue of Dimensions, we take a close look at the challenging topic of “risk,” a concept that manifests in all aspects of our lives. As individuals, we regularly face financial, personal, professional, and social risks. As leaders, we seek to manage, share, and distribute risk, while at the same …
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