The Golden Gate Bridge As An Informal Science Education Resource

金门大桥高速公路运输区（GGBHTD）与地震工程研究大学联盟（CUREE）合作，并与普林斯顿大学、斯坦福大学、圣何塞州立大学、科学中心（纽约州伊萨卡）、探索博物馆（旧金山）、Eyethink、西风实验室、EHDD建筑事务所、美国公共工程协会和国际桥梁、隧道和收费公路协会合作，正在进行一个多方面的项目，关于金门大桥的科学和工程，以及全国各地的公共工程设施如何有可能成为公众理解和参与科学和工程的场所。GGBHTD负责大桥、渡轮和公共汽车的运营和维护，目前位于大桥南端（旧金山）的游客中心每年接待超过1000万游客，为另外200万渡轮用户提供服务，并拥有一个受欢迎的网站（http://goldengatebridge.org/）。工程的交付时间定于2012年，恰逢1937年大桥开通75周年。教育产品包括：金门大桥户外展览；该地区渡船上有关这座桥的展览；探索博物馆的室内展览；扩大网站，提供有关这座桥的教育资料；在周年纪念前后在旧金山召开的关于公共工程作为非正式科学教育场所的国际会议；为来自全国各地的公共工程工作人员提供教育文件和专业发展计划；并为公众和专业人士提供一系列有关公共工程研究的出版物。该项目涉及协调的评估工作。前端和形成性评价活动由因弗内斯研究协会进行。总结性评估将由David Heil &amp； Associates进行。

The Golden Gate Bridge Highway Transportation District (GGBHTD), in collaboration with the Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREE), and in partnership with Princeton University, Stanford University, San Jose State University, the Sciencenter (Ithaca, NY), the Exploratorium (San Francisco), Eyethink, West Wind Laboratory, EHDD Architects, the American Public Works Association, and the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, is conducting a multi-faceted project about the science and engineering of the Golden Gate Bridge and about how public works facilities around the country can potentially become sites for public understanding of and engagement with science and engineering. GGBHTD, which operates and maintains the bridge, ferries and buses, hosts over 10-million visitors annually to their current visitor center at the south end of the bridge (San Francisco), serves an additional 2-million users of their ferries, and hosts a popular Web site (http://goldengatebridge.org/). The project deliverables are scheduled to coincide in 2012 with the 75th anniversary of the 1937 opening of the bridge. Educational products include: outdoor exhibits at the Golden Gate Bridge; exhibits about the bridge on the District's ferries; indoor exhibits at the Exploratorium; an expanded Web site with educational material about the bridge; an international conference in San Francisco around the time of the anniversary about public works as sites for informal science education; educational documents and a professional development program for public works staff from around the country; and a suite of publications for the public and professionals on public works research.The project involves a coordinated evaluation effort. Front-end and formative evaluation activities are being conducted by Inverness Research Associates. Summative evaluation will be conducted by David Heil & Associates.