This article was co-written by Emily Dawson, University College London, Louise Archer, King’s College London, Angela Calabrese Barton, Michigan State University, Lynn Dierking, Oregon State University, and Amy Seakins, King’s College London. Informal learning experiences about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or STEM) can provide youth with rich, innovative, and transformational ways to engage with … Read more
The Art of Science Learning (AOSL) is a National Science Foundation-funded initiative exploring innovation at the intersection of art, science and learning by using the arts to spark creativity in STEM education, and foster the development of an innovative 21st century STEM workforce. Our current project, funded by NSF grant DRL-1224111 (“Integrating Informal STEM and … Read more
The Cyberlaboratory – Exploring Customization and Continuity, or Cyberlab (part of National Science Foundation project #1114741), installed a suite of observation tools in the existing infrastructure of the Visitors Center at Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) in Newport, Oregon to unobtrusively observe visitors. The audio and video recording tools document visitor behaviors in order to understand … Read more
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently opened the 100th Science On a Sphere® installation at its headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. Science On a Sphere is an interactive 3D display system for scientists, educators, and the general public to simulate and interact with planetary data. The Sphere’s origins were discussed in a recent … Read more
This ISE-University Partnership Spotlight was co-authored by Rachel O’Neill, Professor and Head of Genetics and Genomics at the University of Connecticut, and Hank Gruner, Vice President or Programs at Connecticut Science Center. Challenges in Genomic Literacy Advances in genomics are rapidly increasing our understanding of not only the human body, disease, and health-related issues, but … Read more
Portal to the Public: Expanding the National Network (PoPNet) is an NSF-funded broad implementation project (DRL-1224129) led by Pacific Science Center (PSC) that builds the capacity for informal science education institutions (ISI) to bring scientists and public audiences together in face-to-face interactions to promote an appreciation and understanding of current scientific research. The project builds … Read more
The Community Science Workshop Network (CSW Network) exemplifies how a successful NSF project can carry on after federal funding ends. San Francisco’s Mission Science Workshop (MSW) was established in 1991 as a space where community members could drop in to tinker, make projects, and explore their world through science. From 1995 to 2010, the NSF … Read more
Introduction to CIRL and the MagLab The Center for Integrating Research and Learning (CIRL) facilitates all educational and community outreach for the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab). The MagLab is funded by the National Science Foundation and the State of Florida in a unique federal/state partnership model. Headquartered at a 370,000-square foot facility at … Read more
Introduction to FUSE The FUSE program engages young people ages 11-18 in science, technology, engineering, arts/design, and math (STEAM) through interest-driven activities in a youth-centric, free-choice environment. FUSE is designed specifically to engage young people who have not yet identified strong interests in STEAM topics. The project leverages young people’s existing interests in music, design, … Read more
Small Matters is a science storytelling project developed in response to a National Science Foundation (NSF) supplemental funding opportunity designed to partner an existing NSF Center for Chemical Innovation with an informal science educator or organization (Award #1004570; funded via NSF Chemistry and AISL). I (Meisa Salaita, Director for Education & Outreach for the Center … Read more