Association of Science and Technologies Centers

Q&A with Caitlin O’Connell Rodwell: Communicating Elephant Science to a General Audience

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

Interviewed by Susan Straight This interview appeared in the March/April 2018 issue of Dimensions magazine. Caitlin O’Connell Rodwell is a behavioral ecologist at Stanford University and chief executive officer of Utopia Scientific. She is a world-renowned expert on elephants and vibrotactile sensitivity and is using her findings to develop hearing aid technologies for humans. She has given TED …

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Dimensions, March/April 2018—Not Just for Kids: Engaging Adults in Science

August 24, 2020 / Dimensions / By

IN THIS ISSUE March/April 2018 Attracting adults to science museums and programs presents opportunities and challenges. Considerations include differences in: backgrounds, professions, experience with science, financial situations, availability, and comfort with museum settings—just to name a few. While many science institutions are engaging adults in meaningful ways, some are going the extra mile in providing accessible, relevant science and technology programming. Following are some of the many noteworthy …

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The Path Forward

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

By Cristin Dorgelo I am thrilled to have taken the helm in January as ASTC’s president and CEO, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from, and serve, our members around the world. In my path to this point, I’ve focused on the role of science and technology in solving the grand challenges …

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The Subjectivity Paradox: A Cultural Look at Adult Public Engagement with Science

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

By Peter Linett From Dimensions March/April 2018 These are scary times for those of us who care about reason, objective facts, and the status of science in society. On some days it feels like we are indeed living in a “post truth” era, especially in the political sphere. And political ideology and identity increasingly seem …

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Our Boards in Action: Linda Conlon and Guy Labine

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

Interviewed by Todd Happer This interview appeared in the September/October 2017 issue of Dimensions magazine. At the 2017 ASTC Annual Conference, Guy Labine, CEO of Science North in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, will take the reins as ASTC’s Board chair from Linda Conlon, CEO of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United …

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Sustainable Development Goals and Achieving Gender Equality

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

During International Science Center and Science Museum Day (ISCSMD) on November 10, a new Girls: STEM-SDG Marathon will highlight how women and girls are using science to help achieve the world’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over the course of the day—across 30 global time zones—the marathon will showcase interviews with these amazing people who are working …

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Q&A with Diana Pardue: Museums, Immigration, and Controversy

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

Interviewed by Andrea Appleton This interview appeared in the September/October 2017 issue of Dimensions magazine. Since 1985, Diana Pardue has worked with two of the United States’ most treasured symbols. She is chief of the museum services division at the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island in New York City. She is also …

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Dimensions, September/October 2017—Co-Design for Transformation

August 24, 2020 / Dimensions / By

IN THIS ISSUE September/October 2017 Read the full issue. When delegates convene in Tokyo from November 15 to 17 for the Science Centre World Summit (hosted by Miraikan—the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation), they will examine ways to build connections and work toward a sustainable future. How can science centers and museums work …

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Dimensions, July/August 2017—Inspiring Growth Through Mentoring

August 24, 2020 / Dimensions / By

IN THIS ISSUE July/August 2017 The science center and museum field tends to be very supportive and collaborative. There are many stories of individuals and institutions mentoring one another, passing along knowledge and resources, and helping the field as a whole to grow and move forward. These mentoring relationships can be much more intricate than …

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The Mentor and the Protégé: What, Who, and How?

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

By Julie I. Johnson From Dimensions July/August 2017 Mentoring is about establishing and nurturing mutually beneficial relationships, either face-to-face or virtually. The format of a mentoring relationship can vary widely. We are most familiar with the traditional one-on-one format, in which a senior person mentors a junior person. Other forms of mentoring are reverse mentoring (junior mentors senior), …

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Q&A with Emily Graslie: Science, Art, Curiosity, and The Brain Scoop

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

Interviewed by Andrea Appleton This interview appeared in the July/August 2017 issue of Dimensions magazine. Emily Graslie has a pretty cool job. She is chief curiosity correspondent for Chicago’s Field Museum. She landed the position through her YouTube Channel, The Brain Scoop, in which she explores scientific topics with a disarming inquisitiveness. Graslie spoke with …

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Dimensions, May/June 2017—Building Your Business Model

August 24, 2020 / Dimensions / By

IN THIS ISSUE May/June 2017 Science centers and museums touch lives, spread awe and wonder, and inspire scientists and science enthusiasts of the future. But they can do none of these things without a solid, sustainable business model. Science centers’ business models are as diverse as the communities and nations in which they reside, with …

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Sustainable Science Center Business Models

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

By Linda Conlon From Dimensions May/June 2017 Science centers are the same—but different. Look at the mission statements of science centers worldwide. They use slightly different wording, but they all focus on making science accessible, relevant, and inspiring for people of all ages and backgrounds. We are united in our quest to do this. The scale …

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Q&A with Anthony Leiserowitz: Climate Change and the Current Political Climate

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

Interviewed by Andrea Appleton This interview appeared in the May/June 2017 issue of Dimensions magazine. The evidence is conclusive: the planet is warming and humans are to blame. But there are still those, some in powerful positions, who don’t believe in climate change. Yet Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, …

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What misconceptions about science centers and museums do you wish you could correct?

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2017 issue of Dimensions magazine. The biggest misconception about science centers that I would like to correct is the idea that a science center is a place for children only. Many people associate interactivity with “for children.” Many adults see the interaction with an exhibit as playing and …

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Migration and Museums

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion / By

This is an extended version of an article that appeared in a special edition of Dimensions magazine on equity, diversity, and inclusion. The majority of countries in the world have seen a rise in immigration since the beginning of this century. Between 2000 and 2013, the number of international migrants increased in 165 countries or …

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Dimensions, Special Edition—Growing Toward a Future Where All Feel Welcome and Heard

August 24, 2020 / Dimensions, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion / By

IN THIS ISSUE Special Edition In 2001, ASTC’s Board launched a fieldwide Equity and Diversity Initiative in an effort to lead science centers toward a future in which their audience, staff, and board members more closely reflect the diversity of their societies. Since that time, we have made progress as a field on the path …

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Diversity Initiatives: A Welcome, an Invitation, and a Voice

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion / By

From Dimensions By Natalie Bortoli Special Edition At the entryway to Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM), a vibrant collection of nearly 400 self-portraits greets visitors, proclaiming, “We are Chicago Children’s Museum.” The faces of children, teachers, community leaders, parents, and caregivers from a variety of backgrounds are intermingled with mirrors so that all visitors are reflected …

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Q&A with Ann Fumarolo: Making Diversity a Priority in Science Centers and Museums

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion / By

Interviewed by Joelle Seligson This interview appeared in a special edition of Dimensions magazine on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Having been part of the ASTC Equity and Diversity Committee for much of its history, outgoing committee chair Ann Fumarolo has seen the difference equity and diversity initiatives can make. Fumarolo, who serves as president and …

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Out-of-School Time Programs: Advice and Lessons Learned

May 27, 2020 / Dimensions / By

This is an extended version of an article that appeared in the July/August 2016 issue of Dimensions magazine. We asked science centers and museums to share their best pieces of advice and most important lessons learned regarding the following: 1) selecting topics and activities for out-of-school time programs, 2) partnering with afterschool providers and other …

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