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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Dear Jason,

The higher level credentials can be quite important if you are going to lead a museum that significantly focuses on collections or research, particularly if you are expected to lead a museum heavily staffed with doctorate level specialists, or if you will be expected to speak often as a subject matter expert in a particular field.  For many science centers and science museums, this is not the case.

For a start up situation, you need to consider the credentials that your initial donor base will want to see in the museum's leader.  Most local businesses, community foundations, or individual philanthropists will likely be more interested in your drive and passion, your sound comprehensive business plan, list of other supporters, who you have recruited to serve on the founding board, what critical need you plan to fill in the community, etc.  They will expect you to be well spoken and able to write convincingly. Do the leading potential funders see the need for a science museum or is that need being met through other means or through a museum in a nearby community? Can you and your board convince your community leadership that your science museum would meet the need better? 

Many funders today look for organizations that share resources or facilities so that they are not supporting high overhead costs--do you plan to meaningfully partner with any existing organizations? If you can convince the most senior of your community's philanthropists of the worthiness of your cause and gain a commitment of support from them, many of the mid-level community philanthropists and businesses will often follow. Do you have enthusiastic heavy hitters on your board with connections to these people?  Has your business plan been reviewed outside of your group?  Are the school districts in your area strongly supportive of your plan?

As the IRS can attest--since they issue the 503(c)3 rulings and then see the annual 990's--there is no shortage of visionary people who think their community needs a new museum, different charitable organization, or better arts program and then manage to start one. However, if they do not build a sufficient base of support, involve the right people, and clearly demonstrate they fill an important need, they are not around long. 

I only point out a few of the issues that impact a start up science museum to show that these are all criteria completely unrelated to your personal academic credentials. In my opinion, you should rest easy about the question of credentials. Your challenges will likely come from other directions.  I wish you the very best of luck!

Bill Buckingham
Program Manager
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Visitor Center


-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Your Name
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2013 11:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Credentials for startup museum

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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Dear ASTC Community,

How important are credentials for the chairman and/or director of a startup science museum? I hold only a B.S. in Computer Science, and I see that most museum directors have a PhD. Will my lack of advanced degree hinder my attempts to start the first science museum in the history of my city? I am starting this effort from the ground and wonder about my efficacy as a visionary in such an ambitious project.

Thank you for your empirical and anecdotal input, Jason
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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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