Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education: Advancing the Public Understanding of Research Through Science and Technology Centers -- A Planning Grant

波士顿的科学博物馆正提议与其他8个科学中心合作，研究科学中心如何合作以提高公众对研究的理解。规划工作的目的是确定和详细说明有希望的方法，以增加公众对科学研究的性质、技术创新的过程以及科学和技术与社会问题之间的相互作用的了解。计划将在三个主题（暂定）的背景下进行：全球气候变化，替代能源和转基因食品。要探讨的问题包括：每个科学中心如何提供关于这三个主题的展览和演讲，如何使展览保持最新，使科学中心了解当前研究的最佳机制是什么，什么会激励游客为了遵循一条研究路线而返回，游客如何在参观后最好地保持与科学中心的联系，科学中心将如何改变他们发展展览的方式为了展示当前的科学技术，需要考虑哪些成本和后勤因素，是“一劳常态”还是不同的科学中心需要不同的设计，以及如何设计展品和节目以鼓励当地资源的结合。该项目将与其他正在努力向公众传播正在进行的科学的媒体进行协调。WGBH NOVA的科学编辑埃文·哈丁汉姆将带来电视制作的视角；来自探索博物馆的Rob Semper将代表互联网；《公众理解科学》杂志的编辑布鲁斯·洛温斯坦将代表印刷业出席。参与规划工作的科学中心包括：波士顿科学博物馆、纽约科学馆、明尼苏达科学博物馆、亚利桑那科学中心、技术创新博物馆、加利福尼亚科学中心、探索博物馆、太平洋科学中心、美国自然历史博物馆

The Museum of Science in Boston is proposing to work with eight other science centers to investigate how science centers might collaborate to enhance the public understanding of research. The purpose of the planning effort is to identify and elaborate on promising approaches to increase the public understanding of the nature of scientific research, the process of technological innovation, and the interaction between science and technology and societal issues. Planning will be conducted in the context of three topics (tentative): global climate change, alternative energy sources, and genetically modified foods. Questions to be explored include:what it would take for each science center to offer exhibits and presentations on all three topics,how can the exhibits be kept current,what is the best mechanism for keeping science centers informed about current research,what would motivate visitors to return in order to follow a single line of research,how can visitors best continue their connection with the science centers after their visits,what will science centers change in the way they develop exhibits and programs in order to present current science and technology,what costs and logistical factors will need to be taken into consideration,will "one size fit all" or will different designs be needed for different science centers, andhow might the exhibits and programs be designed to encourage the incorporation of local resources.The project will be coordinated with other media that are developing efforts to convey on-going science to the public. Evan Hadingham, Science Editor for NOVA at WGBH, will bring the perspective of television production; Rob Semper from the Exploratorium will represent the Internet; and Bruce Lowenstein, Editor of Public Understanding of Science, will represent print. The science centers participating in the planning effort include: Museum of Science, BostonNew York Hall of ScienceScience Museum of MinnesotaArizona Science CenterTech Museum of InnovationCalifornia Science CenterThe ExploratoriumPacific Science CenterAmerican Museum of Natural History