Science Centers in a New World of Learning

by Dixie Clough on February 19, 2013

Abstract. By creating new media channels that enable anyone to reach the public directly, the Internet has reduced the need for a middleman, resulting in the “disintermediation” of science communication. New providers of informal science learning are emerging in community settings, as well as in sources online. These changes raise the critical question of how science centers can adapt to an expanding ecosystem of mediated and unmediated sources. This article points out strengths of science centers that offer some grounds for optimism. Promising efforts are identified and possible directions are proposed at the community and institutional level.

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David A. Ucko

Article first published online: 7 JAN 2013

DOI: 10.1111/cura.12004

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Portal to the Public: Museum Educators Collaborating with Scientists to Engage Museum Visitors with Current Science

by Dixie Clough on February 19, 2013

Abstract. Science museums play a role in creating visitor experiences that relate to contemporary issues in science, and in linking audiences to the scientific enterprise and the community of scientists. In the Portal to the Public approach, science researchers are trained by museum educators with experience in inquiry-based learning, and are then given opportunities to translate their current research for museum audiences. Portal to the Public offers one solution to museums seeking to sustain a commitment to delivering experiences that reflect the dynamic pace of research, and the need to connect local communities to scientific research occurring in their midst.

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Meena Selvakumar and Martin Storksdieck

Article first published online: 7 JAN 2013

DOI: 10.1111/cura.12007

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From Parachutes to Partnerships: An “Integrated” Natural History Museum Expedition in the Philippines

February 19, 2013

Abstract. The 2011 Hearst Philippine Biodiversity Expedition was the largest ever launched by the California Academy of Sciences, and was also the largest and most diverse expedition to ever take place in the Philippines. Filipino collaboration and participation were vitally important from the outset. Scientists of both nations documented biodiversity in a variety of habitats and [...]

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The Great Immensity: A Theatrical Approach to Climate Change

February 19, 2013

Abstract. In 2010, the Civilians—a New York based investigative theater company—received a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation to develop The Great Immensity, a play addressing the complexity of climate change. The rigorous research that the Civilians puts into each production, the balance of scientific content and public engagement, the inclusion of scientists within the artistic [...]

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New Ways of Looking and Learning in Natural History Museums: The Use of Gigapixel Imaging to Bring Science and Publics Together

February 19, 2013

Abstract. This article describes a series of demonstration projects that use multiscalar gigapixel image technology to iteratively design, test, and study how visitors learn to observe more scientifically in museums, online, and through museum-based programming. We consider how the particular affordances of systems like these can move science communication and learning from didactic approaches centered on [...]

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Crowdsourcing—an Introduction: From Public Goods to Public Good

February 19, 2013

Abstract. “Crowdsourcing” is a practice that combines the concepts of “the crowd” and “outsourcing.” Introducing two articles on crowdsourcing in this issue, Nancy Proctor argues that—although we associate crowdsourcing with Web 2.0 and the social media revolution—its origins stretch back to the nineteenth century. Crowdsourcing is examined for its usefulness in creating radical new relationships between [...]

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Mutualizing Museum Knowledge: Folksonomies and the Changing Shape of Expertise

February 19, 2013

Abstract. The networking of knowledge in the Internet age is calling into question the relationship between experts and non-experts in the development, preservation, and communication of knowledge. There is a growing movement towards knowledge co-creation and “mutualization.” These changes in the roles of expertise will have implications for museums as traditional gatekeepers of knowledge. This paper [...]

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Interview: Ben Lillie on Science and the Storytelling Revival

February 19, 2013

Abstract. Ben Lillie is the co-founder and host of the Story Collider, a live storytelling series, podcast, and online magazine devoted to presenting true, personal stories about the effect of science on people’s lives. Since 2010, scientists and non-scientists alike have told stories at events held at bars and other casual venues in Brooklyn and [...]

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Digital Cultural Heritage and the Crowd

February 19, 2013

Abstract. Libraries, archives, and museums have a long history of collaboration with members of the public. There is already considerable interest in extending this relationship, inviting members of the public, often referred to as “the crowd,” to tag and classify, transcribe, organize, and otherwise add value to digital cultural heritage collection content. In this essay, current [...]

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The Right Kind of Wrong: A “Knowledge in Pieces” Approach to Science Learning in Museums

February 19, 2013

Abstract. Research has highlighted the vast gulf that exists between experts’ and novices’ understandings of science, and how difficult it is to bridge this gulf. When this research is applied to the design of museum exhibits and outreach material, it becomes clear that there is a tension between being scientifically correct and communicating effectively to a [...]

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