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

June 10 & 11
Exhibits and expansion in the 21st century
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, New Jersey
Contact: Wayne LaBar, VP Exhibitions & Theaters: 201-451-0006 x347; [log in to unmask]
Web page: www.lsc.org

In recent years, the science center field has experienced an increased amount of facility expansion. The trend continues, even through economically challenging times, and a large part of the renewal energy is going into the development, design, and implementation of new exhibitry. At the same time, new philosophies of management, technology, and mission have become part of our field. How do these philosophies influence the way we think about exhibits and change our process for planning expansions? How have they affected the "standards," or "rules of thumb," that we developers and designers work with during expansion and at other times?

In this interactive RAP, we will attempt to discuss and share the new interplay of exhibit development, design, and implementation with other expansion efforts, such as architecture, construction, infrastructure, facility closures, education, marketing, and fund raising. Staff from three institutions in the New Jersey/New York City area that are at different phases in the expansion process will lead the discussions and share the most recent events and lessons from their processes. Chairs include Wayne LaBar, VP of Exhibitions and Theaters at Liberty Science Center, with 16 years of exhibit experience; Paul Pearson, VP of Programs, Brooklyn Children's Museum, with 19 years of exhibition experience; and Martin Weiss, Director of Science, New York Hall of Science, with 14 years of experience.

It is our hope that participants will provide an even wider representative sample of the ASTC community. Our goal is to share experiences, raise common issues, brainstorm solutions, and develop some sort of published guidelines that can document and inform the field.

The RAP will be hosted at Liberty Science Center, located in Liberty State Park, minutes from New York City and the Statue of Liberty. The science center lies directly across from the former site of the World Trade Center and the future home of the new Freedom Tower. Its distinctive building features hundreds of hands-on exhibits and the nation's largest IMAX® Dome theater. 

Wayne J LaBar
Vice President, Exhibitions and Theaters
Liberty Science Center
251 Phillip Street
Liberty State Park
Jersey City, NJ 07305

voice: 201.451.0006 x-347
fax: 201.451.7046

***********************************************************************
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
[log in to unmask]