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Subject:
Re: emergence of science centers
From:
Rita Mukherjee Hoffstadt <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:46:03 -0400
Content-Type:
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ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Hi Andrea (and Everyone),

The traditional definition of science centers vs. museums has been the possession of a collection. Thus, older informal science institutions have been "museums" while younger institutions are called "centers." This applies to children's museums as well. For an excellent quick overview of the evolution of science museums/centers, I recommend Alan Freidman's 1996 article in The Informal Science Review. The full citation is listed below:


Friedman, A. 1996. " The Evolution of Science and Technology Museums" The Informal Science Review (pp.1, 14-17) (March/April 1996)

Hope this helps,
Rita

--
Rita Mukherjee Hoffstadt
Assistant Director of Traveling Exhibits and Special Projects
Franklin Institute
222 North 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215 448 1309
Fax: 215 448 1188




On 3/30/11 1:33 PM, "Kim Hunter" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

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

You have asked questions that I think really don't have clear cut
answers-that's been a problem many of us have wrestled with for many
years-the identity of the science center in the community-the ones we
serve, and the community of institutions.  For example, if you ask 10
different science center people for the criteria of a science center,
you would likely get 10 different answers.  And the distinction between
science center and museum?  There are science centers with the word
museum in their name, and there are science centers who don't even put
the word science in their name. There are museums who are moving closer
and closer to informal, interactive experiences but science centers are
very hesitant to embrace anything too 'museum'  So while museum
experiences become increasingly rich, many science centers are still
largely one dimensional.  And they are often confused with childrens
museums.  And I can guarantee you the public is also not sure what a
science center is.  So the issue of us wrestling with our identity is
still alive and well.

And other good science center/museums--Museum of Science in Boston, and
also Science Museum of Minnesota.  You might also want to look at the
Franklin Institute in Philly.  These institutions are leaders in the
science center industry, and ironically, they all began as traditional
museums

Kim Hunter
Senior Director, Exhibit Development
Orlando Science Center
407/514-2061
[log in to unmask]

Inspire Science Learning for Life


-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric Siegel
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 12:25 PM
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.
************************************************************************
*****

Museum of science and industry for sure. If Alan is listening he is
probably the leading expert on this.  If we asked nicely maybe he would
write a book. It would be timely and valuable. I think explo published a
book on their history. First time I understood how oppenheim. Fostered
the whole idea of informal science Ed and the funding stream through NSF



Eric Siegel
Sent from my handheld, so please forgive the misspellings and awkward
abbreviations.

On Mar 30, 2011, at 12:13 PM, Andrea Motto <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
>
************************************************************************
*****
>
> Hello friends and smart people,
> I'm working on a paper for a History of Science class regarding the
> social and political climate surrounding the emergence of science
> centers and I would love to get some perspective from the field. What
> are your criteria for a "science center" (as opposed to a museum,
> though there is certainly crossover) and which institutions do you
> consider to be the firsts in the field, that is, the people and places
> who founded our industry. How, if at all, do you make the distinction
> between a science center and a museum? When was the science center
> born and how do I know one when I see it? I'm sure there is no clear
> answer, but I would love to hear some opinions. Once I know the "what"
> and "when" I can start looking at the "how" and "why." I know of work
> on the history of the Exploratorium, but what other institutional
> histories are worthy of exploration?
>
> --
> Andrea Motto
> Graduate Research Assistant
> Virginia Tech
> Blacksburg, VA
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
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>
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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
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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.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
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To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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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.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
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