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

Kristy,
Thank you for your interest in involvement in public education and outreach.
As Eric Siegel mentioned, we are currently leading an effort to illuminate
these opportunities for scientists and engineers and how informal science
education institutions can support and collaborate in these efforts.
I encourage you and others who are interested in meeting at the ASTC
Conference to contact me so that I might organize a meeting for all of us
there.
You may be interested in joining an online conversation on this topic at
www.astc.org/astc_connect (archives from the series are avaiable now and new
conversations will be starting shortly).
Our IMLS-funded project, VolTS, points to a number of ways research
scientists can become involved.
You may already be aware of opportunities through professional societies
(e.g., the Society for Neuroscience, www.sfn.org, has strong efforts and a
committee focused on public education and communication) and UCSD has a
tradition in this arena (my alma mater - I can help you make connections if
you haven't already).
Also, you may wish to try to organize something local - perhaps an event for
the Dana Foundation's Brain Awareness Week (http://brainweek.dana.org/),
potentially in conjunction with the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
(www.rhfleet.org).
ASTC Conferences have included scientists and engineers in the past (we have
invited several to serve on panels).
Incidentally, for presenters (including scientists) not employed by a member
institution, ASTC waives the registration fee for the day of their session
only; however, these presenters are requires to complete a registration form
and pay for any ticketed events that day.
Another way to learn more is to subscribe to the publication ASTC Dimensions
(see our issue on this topic:
http://www.astc.org/blog/2007/09/24/the-engaged-scientist-fostering-successf
ul-museum-researcher-collaborations/). 
I look forward to hearing more about your interests (directly) from you and
from other scientists and engineers with similar interests.
Eric

_________________________________________
Eric Marshall, Ph.D.
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Innovation
Director, TryScience.org and VolTS (Volunteers TryScience)
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY  11368  USA
+1(718)699-0005   x379
[log in to unmask]
www.TryScience.org
  



 

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 7:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: scientist attendance at ASTC

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

I had recently graduated from my PhD program in Neuroscience in San Diego
when ASTC 2007 happened in LA.  Being a scientist who loves science museums
and is very interested in and enjoys teaching and discussing science with
the general public (adults and children) I was very tempted to attend the
conference.  My enthusiasm was quickly dampened when I notice the $600+
registration fee.  I can definitely imagine that having motivated research
scientists interested in outreach education mixing with the museum
representatives at the conference would go a long way toward facilitating
contacts for scientist/museum interactions and fostering enthusiasms for
public outreach by research scientists (something I don't think there is
enough of currently).  Having never been to the conference, however, I do
not know if my characterization here is correct or if maybe a number of
research scientists do attend despite the registration fee.  I'm just
curious if there have been any attempts to encourage attendance at the
meeting by research scientists or if the attendance by research scientists
is even considered particularly useful? 

Hoping to attend the conference at some point in the future. . . 
--Kristy

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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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