Comments on: Science museums are disconnected from new science research

By: ideaorg

ideaorg — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:53:55 +0000

Typos fixed. Thx.

By: Mimi

Mimi — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:42:56 +0000

Greetings from New Mexico where we have a partnership between the NM Museum of Natural History & Science, the Santa Fe Institute (SFI, an international center for complexity science), and the Center for Cultural Technology, which is in itself a partnership between the Media Arts Program at New Mexico Highlands University and the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. SFI used education and outreach funding from a large NSF grant to underwrite the design and production of an exhibit for the museum, and their researchers provided content. The exhibit was primarily produced by students enrolled in PICT (the Program in Interactive Cultural Technology). The goals were threefold: to introduce complexity science into museum interpretation; to use social media to connect the exhibit to audiences beyond museum walls; and to use technology to expand and update the exhibit as research unfolds. The exhibit is scheduled to open in Albuquerque on June 30th. For more information contact me at mimi.roberts@state.nm.us. .

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:49:28 +0000

I think Carlson is being a bit unfair to a lot of science center staff who, like school teachers, work very hard for poor compensation. I doubt it's quite as severe as he says, that most staff don't want to read the literature, but rather, that they just don't have time as part of their job, or really, are encouraged to. I'd be curious to hear actual data on this, rather than what appears to be just his speculation. From my experience as a manager in a science center, I rarely had time myself to keep up to date with literature, and my staff, who were the ones usually talking to visitors, had none. There was no money or effort put toward this.

Your post could also use some good copyediting; the mistakes are pretty distracting: "converge" instead of "coverage," "peaked" instead of "piqued," among others.

Have museums considered asking their local university libraries to allow them access? Maybe this is also fodder for an IMLS grant …

Thanks for this very important post.

By: Glykeria

Glykeria — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:13:33 +0000

Three years ago, the e.Knownet project set off motivated exactly by this lack of information bridges between science centres and the research lab. The project was co-funded by the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commission and coordinated by the Eugenides Foundation, a Greek science centre. The project focused its efforts to help a fast and efficient sharing of new scientific knowledge produced in the research lab with various learning communities. Original information and learning material in the field of Photochemistry was produced by 65 researchers from various European labs in collaboration with science communicators and science educators. The main outcomes are showcased in a web-based platform titled ScienceTweets (http://www.sciencetweets.eu), focusing thematically on Photochemistry. researchers all over Europe.
This direct cooperation between researchers and transformers of specialised knowledge allowed Photochemistry researchers to decide upon what is actually ‘newsworthy’ in their study field by use of scientific standards, and also to decide upon the way that this knowledge should be shared with wider parts of society.
The project was concluded last December (2010). We really hope that it will find immitators!

By: tmcnichol

tmcnichol — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:53:27 +0000

Excellent research and report out on the availability of crucial literature for science museums. As an independent researcher, I obtain access to specific databases through the Princeton Research Forum, a group of independent scholars (and arm of National Coalition of Independent Scholars, NCIS) which purchases access to Princeton University libraries. However, this level of access does not include checking out books, which is a long standing problem for scholars and researchers working independently. As Jeff Courtman points out, his new status as a university student changed all that. As an adjunct professor at a local community college, I would recommend looking into whether your community college may provide access to the pertinent databases which are available to part-time students who sign up for even one class. Despite budget shortfalls, the college still offers interlibrary loan services–at least for now.