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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Please pardon the length of this note and cross-postings:

In the process of developing and evaluating a new exhibition on the 
science of networks (Connections: The Nature of Networks, which opened 
Fall, 2005), the Hall of Science has tried to engage scientists in both 
the process of developing the exhibition and understanding the way new 
science understanding gets to audiences. Because of the 
interdisciplinary nature of network science, the added challenge of 
engaging multiple science paradigms comes into play. One of the ways we 
are trying to accomplish this is by hosting a conference of among the 
top researchers in the science of complex networks. It is called 
NetSci07 and we are organizing it in collaboration with Harvard Medical 
School, Indiana University, Notre Dame, and Los Alamos National 
Laboratory. Here is a link for those who might be interested:
http://www.nd.edu/~netsci

By being directly involved in organizing this event, we expose a large 
number of researchers to informal science education methods (simply 
wading through the daily sea of children can have a profound effect on 
their perspective on informal science education). In addition it 
provides a venue for a dialog and discussion of the importance of the 
involvement of researchers in promoting science education and making 
complex science topics understandable and engaging for young people.

I would invite any of you who are interested in engaging scientists to 
contact me with any questions regarding the conference, the science of 
networks, or any aspect of our involvement with network scientists as 
part of the process of developing our exhibition on networks and 
furthering education about network science; which has been characterized 
and one of the most important areas of research for the 21st century 
(starting this past February, Nature took the unprecedented step of 
dedicating a weekly column to it, named, not too surprisingly 
"Connections.")  Of course you are welcome to come to the conference. It 
is after AAM here in New York City (May 20-25). Unfortunately, there is 
a registration fee (we have only minimal subsidy for running this event, 
so have to cover expenses), but is a unique opportunity to get 
significant face-to-face time with these scientists.

It would also be interesting to hear from those of you who may have 
hosted (or may be thinking about hosting) significant science 
conferences (in particular interdisciplinary ones) and your experience 
(interests) in doing these), as well as the role your institution played.

-- 
Stephen Miles Uzzo, Ph.D.
Director of Technology
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
New York 11368     U.S.A.
v. +1.718.699.0005 x377
f. +1.718.699.1341
http://www.nyscience.org

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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.

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