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COMMUNITY:
Project Descriptions

Outreach To Space -- Collaborative Models for Rural Community Engagement -- Active Science Learning In Informal Public Venues

September 15, 2006 - August 31, 2010 | Public Programs, Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks, Exhibitions
SCITECH will develop and deliver ten sets of twelve portable interactive exhibits and educational programs on space exploration to 220 venues in five states. The project is based on a collaborative of ten small science museums: Imaginarium (Anchorage, AK); Bluedorn Imaginarium (Waterloo, IA); Science Station (Cedar Rapids, IA); Discovery Center (Rockford, IL); Lakeview Museum (Peoria, IL); SCITECH (Aurora, IL); Evansville Museum of Arts and Science (Evansville, IN); Science Central (Fort Wayne, IN); Children's Science Museum (Terre Haute, IN); Science Works (Ashland, OR). The Exploratorium will build the exhibits and conduct a residency program of professional development for staff from the participating museums. The exhibits and programs are intended to reach some 330,000 people in rural and lower-economic areas at 220 nontraditional destinations (fairs, festivals, libraries, scouts and youth clubs). These activities are designed to increase interest in and knowledge of astronomy and space exploration. In addition, this project will provide capacity building and professional development for the small museums, as well as a model that can be used by others not participating directly in this project.

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 0610320
Funding Amount: 2498009

TEAM MEMBERS

  • David James
    Principal Investigator
    Science and Technology Interactive Center (SCITECH)
  • Ronen Mir
    Former Principal Investigator
    Science and Technology Interactive Center (SCITECH)
  • Shawn Carlson
    Former Principal Investigator
    Science and Technology Interactive Center (SCITECH)
  • Kua Patten
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Exploratorium
  • Sheldon Schafer
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Lakeview Museum
  • Sarah Wolf
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Discovery Center
  • Mitch Luman
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Evansville Museum of Arts and Science
  • Ann Fumarolo
    Former Co-Principal Investigator
    Science Central
  • Discipline: Space science
    Audience: General Public | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Public Programs | Community Outreach Programs | Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks | Professional Development and Workshops | Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits
    Access and Inclusion: Rural

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