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

I think this is great discussion topic,  and it points up a potential for museum collaboration through ASTC.  Why not establish an ASTC based IRB that might regulate visitor research studies, such a regulatory bodies might issue guidelines and approvals for studies, as well as establish parameters and guidelines for such activities.  Such a body would aid in developing the consistency research,help to develop standardized metrics, and serve as a simple clearing point, and focal point for data repository.
C

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Charles Carlson
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On Mar 29, 2011, at 7:39 AM, Martin Weiss <[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.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> Well, Beryl, not really. With approval from an IRB you can use human
> subjects and we do it all the time in research projects related to
> understanding use of exhibitions in science centers. You just have to follow
> the rules very carefully. For example, we did research with children around
> our evolution exhibition here at the Hall; our researcher did research with
> children at the University Museum in Ann Arbor; and Denver, I think, is
> doing research with visitors in their health exhibition; all with IRB
> approval.
> 
> There are limitations as to what you can realistically do given space,
> equipment and visitation patterns. So, yes Diana it would be interesting to
> know what kinds of experiments you are referring to?
> 
> Martin.
> 
> On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 8:32 AM, Beryl Rosenthal <
> [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.
>> 
>> *****************************************************************************
>> 
>> Ouch!  In the US we are bound to regulations regarding use of human
>> subjects, it can get dicey and complicated.  How are you defining research,
>> subjects, and experiments?
>> Beryl
>> 
>> On Mar 29, 2011, at 2:15 AM, Diana Issidorides 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 everyone,
>>> 
>>> I would like to know which science museums and centers have opened up the
>> museum floor to researchers who conduct real scientific experiments with
>> their visitors as experimental subjects.
>>> Science center NEMO, in the Netherlands, initiated such a program last
>> year and would like to exchange experiences. In Europe, the Science Museum
>> London and Science Gallery Dublin have such programs in place. What about
>> the rest of the science center community?
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> 
>>> Diana
>>> 
>>> 
>>> =================================
>>> Dr. Diana C. Issidorides
>>> Senior Scientist & Exhibition Developer
>>> Science Center NEMO
>>> P.O. Box 421
>>> 1000 AK Amsterdam
>>> The Netherlands
>>> T: +31205313201
>>> [log in to unmask] / [log in to unmask]
>>> www.e-nemo.nl
>>> 
>>> ***********************************************************************
>>> 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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>> 
>> Beryl Rosenthal, PhD
>> Executive Director, Waterworks Museum
>> [log in to unmask]
>> www.waterworksmuseum.org
>> 2450 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02467
>> 617.277.0065
>> "Get Pumped!"
>> 
>> ***********************************************************************
>> 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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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
> Martin Weiss, PhD
> Science Interpretation, Consultant
> New York Hall of Science
> mweiss at nyscience.org
> 347-460-1858
> 
> ***********************************************************************
> 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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