ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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A discussion which has multiple correct answers.
I can best describe the difference between a museum and a science center by my experiences/expectations as a visitor (though I would never admit to expectations). At a museum I feel my overall experience is one of passive nature. Observe, read/view, discuss, reflect. At a science center I feel my experience is one of active nature. Participate, observe, read/view, discuss, reflect.
The confusing and wonderful part is so many institutions have varying names and hybrid experiences.
--Jeff Rosenblatt--
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From: Informal Science Education Network [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Erich Rose [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 8:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: emergence of science centers
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
I don't know if this would truly classify as a distinction between museums and science centers, but some of those older "museums" don't just collect, they also do research and publish. All directly related to the subjects they cover. We now see a great deal of publication in our world of Informal Learning but it is not quite the same. I would love to know how many science centers, children's museums and other non-traditional museums are doing peer-reviewed and published scientific or historical research?
I worry sometimes that we are getting much to self-referential and inwardly focused. As several folks pointed out this discussion is splitting hairs amongst the very people who already have internalized the differences and is 99% meaningless to the general public.
Erich Rose
Erich Rose Design
807 The Living End
Austin, TX 78746
512-626-9930; [log in to unmask]
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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