ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Chris, You might be interested in the MITS program which has been going
since 1986. Our mission is to promote and improve the teaching of STEM at
the K-8 level using informal science educational institutions. We run Summer
Institutes for k-8 teachers using educators from museums in nine regions of
Massachusetts and can have 44 museums involved. See our web page for more
information. Www.mits.org Paddy 
Emily V. Wade, President
MITS, Inc.
308 Congress St. Ste. 5D
Boston MA 02210-1027
617-695-9771
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-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris Burda
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 11:02 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Seeking Partnerships with Science Centers for Community Based
Research

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*

Rachel, hello

I'm interested in learning more about your 
project/initiative. It has a ring that resonates 
with SMM's Community Partnerships Serving Science 
(CPSS).

The Science Museum of Minnesota is entering year 
3 of the 3-year NSFfunded CPSS project. The goal 
has been to help community-based science 
organizations (CBSOs) maximize their capacity to 
deliver on their missions, strengthening the 
community science infrastructure overall. We've 
engaged dozens of CBSOs in either project 
development workshops, exhibit development, 
science summits and/or networking dinners. Our 
database of about 200 CBSOs is managed by grant 
partner, the St. Paul Public Library.

Regards,

Chris Burda
Senior Exhibit Developer
Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W. Kellogg Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-221-4719



>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
>***************************************************************************
**
>
>SEEKING PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCIENCE CENTERS FOR 
>COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH
>
>
>
>The Loka Institute (TLI), a national 501 (c) 3 
>non-profit research, advocacy, and training 
>institute is currently seeking to develop 
>strategic partnerships with interested Science 
>Centers to broaden and sustain participation, 
>engagement, and understanding of Informal 
>Science Learning through the use of 
>Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
>
>
>
>The Loka Institute has been in operation for 
>over a decade and its mission is to ensure that 
>democracy works through public engagement and 
>participation at all levels and in all matters 
>relating to science & technology and 
>development.  The Loka Institute has been a 
>leader in development and advocacy of various 
>participatory approaches and has developed 
>unique participatory methodologies such as 
>Deliberative Citizen's Panels and Scenario 
>Workshops that develop, adapt, and test 
>participatory models to evaluate the scientific 
>and technological developments.  Loka's 
>Community Research Network (CRN) - a worldwide 
>infrastructure of community-based providers and 
>workers, funders, and academicians offers tools, 
>resources, information, and training related to 
>greater citizen participation in issues central 
>to the lives of people, and provides support for 
>community-based research practitioners 
>worldwide, through conferences and research 
>projects.  
>
>
>
>Currently, Loka is proposing the use of 
>Community-Based Participatory Research,  truly 
>participatory and democratic methodology, to 
>advance and apply science, technology, 
>engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by 
>connecting community groups to Science Centers. 
>Through the use of CBPR, stakeholders 
>representing the different interests of a 
>pluralistic democracy can learn together and be 
>equitably involved in all aspects of the 
>research process.  Whereby, partners each are 
>given opportunity to contribute their expertise, 
>share responsibilities and ownership to enhance 
>understanding of a given phenomenon, and 
>integrate the knowledge gained with actions to 
>address disparities and/or issues of concern 
>within a specific community. 
>
>
>
>The worldwide movement for CBPR has demonstrated 
>that everyday residents who are affected 
>directly by problems in their communities are 
>capable of engaging the scientific aspects of 
>these issues and are interested in informal 
>science learning when they see how it is 
>connected to their issues or daily lives. 
>Community-Based Participatory Research practice 
>has grown worldwide over the past decade and the 
>Loka Institute has been at the forefront of a 
>popular movement for community-driven policies 
>in research, science, and technology to advance 
>democracy, social justice, and ecological 
>sustainability at every level - from 
>neighborhoods to nations.   
>
>
>
>In order to pursue this endeavor we need to hear 
>from you.  If you are interested and/or would 
>like more information please contact:
>
>
>
>Rachel Maldonado, MSW
>
>Regional Coordinator
>
>The Loka Institute
>
>512-295-4897
>
>[log in to unmask]
>
>www.lokainstitute.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Rachel Maldonado
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
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>http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>***********************************************************************
>More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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http://www.astc.org.
>To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
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***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
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