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

Jason,
We are currently running a successful evening Science Speaker Series  
under the auspices of The Discovery Center for Science & Technology in  
Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.  It's web site is:  www.ScienceSpeakerSeries.org
The goal is to present lectures on cutting edge topics relevant to the  
general public, given by scientists working in the area, and presented  
at a level that the general public can understand and enjoy.
We put on 5 lectures per season (Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar, Apr). We are in  
our second season now.
Topics & Speakers: We simultaneously look for topics and/or speakers  
that would be relevant.
There are a lot of good topics, e.g. Stem cells, Influenza, The  
oceans, Earthquakes, Renewable energy, ...
To be sure the speaker can present an interesting talk, we go see him/ 
her talk or get a reliable recommendation from someone who has.
Once we select a speaker, we brief him/her on the kind of presentation  
we want and perhaps on some aspects of his field to be sure to cover.
Most speakers have come from local universities (UCLA, UCSB, CSUCI),  
government agencies or companies. (And 1 environmentally active  
Hollywood actor.)
Our intended audience is high school and adults (age 14 and up).
Since we don't have a museum facility, we meet in a donated corporate  
auditorium.
No food or drink.
Typical attendance is 90.
The series is self supporting and we run on a very low budget.
The main challenge is getting the word out to the community that we  
exist. We do a few paid newspaper ads.

Dick Elsley

Doctor Discovery
Dr. Richard Elsley
[log in to unmask]
www.DoctorDiscovery.org
805-905-8168

>
> Date:    Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:43:12 -0500
> From:    Jason Archer <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: evening science lecture series
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> We are thinking about developing an evening science lecture series  
> here at the Connecticut Science Center.  We have done a few what I  
> would call "one-off" events but we have no formal program. This is  
> what I wish to create.  I have lots of questions...usually do.   
> Anyway, I would love to talk with others who have created such a  
> program and/or those who are currently running an evening lecture  
> series at their science center/museum.   I have question such as:
>
>
> *         How do you acquire your speakers?
>
> *         Do you and/or how do you review your speakers to ensure  
> they are appropriate?
>
> *         What topics work best?
>
> *         Do you provide refreshments, alcohol perhaps?
>
> *         How well attended are they?
>
> *         Do you do web casts as presentations?
>
> *         What format works well; traditional lecture, forum, panel  
> discussion, etc?
>
> *         What ages do you target?
>
> Feel free to contact me off the list and thanks.
>
> Jason
>
> Jason Archer
> Gallery Program Manager
> Connecticut Science Center
> 250 Columbus Boulevard
> Hartford, CT 06103
> direct: (860) 520-2122
>
> www.CTScienceCenter.org<http://www.CTScienceCenter.org>  |  (860)  
> SCIENCE
>
>


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