Skip to main content

ASTC Annual Conference 2012

Date

-

Columbus, OH

The NISE Network will have many activites and professional development opportunities at the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) annual conference:

Pre-conference workshop

The NISE Network will be offering the following workshop:

  • Really Great Programming: Best Practices in Development, Delivery, and Evaluation
    Friday, October 12, 2012
    8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

    This high-energy, hands-on workshop provides an overview of best practices in educational program development, delivery, and evaluation. Topics include program design, presentation techniques, diverse audiences, universal design, and team-based inquiry. Participants will work in small groups to share their experience and improve their skills, and will take home ready-to-use resources. Preregistration required. Workshop Fee: $25 (includes lunch). Limited to 35 participants.
    Presenters:
    Rae Ostman | Director of National Collaborations | Sciencenter | Ithaca, NY
    Heather Barnes | Director of Guest Experiences | Museum of Science and Industry | Chicago, IL
    Brad Herring | Director of Nanoscale Informal Education | Museum of Life and Science | Durham, NC
    Kevin Dilley | Education Program Manager | Sciencenter | Ithaca, NY
    Frank Kusiak | Educational Technology Project Manager | Lawrence Hall of Science | Berkeley, CA
    Anders Liljeholm | Manager of Technology Research and Development | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry | Portland, OR
    Keith Ostfeld | Director of Educational Technology and Exhibit Development | Children's Museum of Houston | Houston, TX
    Stephanie Long | Public Programs Manager | Science Museum of Minnesota | St. Paul, MN
    Karine Thate | Program Manager | Museum of Science | Boston, MA
    Scott Pattison | Research and Evaluation Strategist | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry | Portland, OR

The NISE Network will be participating in the following workshop:

  • Workshop on Roles, Best Practices, and Future of ISE Networks
    Friday, October 12, 2012
    Convention Center
    1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
    Workshop participants will: survey informal science education networks, such as NISEnet, the National Girls Collaborative, Science Festivals, and others; review their structure, what needs they serve, and evaluations about their roles and effectiveness; discuss best practices and the potential for linking networks; and identify gaps and needs for new networks. Preregistration required. Limited to 60 participants.
    Presenters
    Robert Russell | Senior Education Associate | National Center for Interactive Learning/Space Science Institute | Boulder, CO
    Jamie Bell | Project Director | CAISE | Washington, DC
    Paul Dusenbery | Executive Director | National Center for Interactive Learning/Space Science Institute | Boulder, CO
    Minda Borun | Director of Research and Evaluation | The Franklin Institute | Philadelphia, PA
    Dennis Schatz | Program Director | National Science Foundation | Arlington, VA
    Larry Bell | Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives | Museum of Science | Boston, MA
    Ben Wiehe | Manager | Science Festival Alliance, MIT Museum | Cambridge, MA
    Karen Peterson | Principal Investigator | National Girls Collaborative Project | Lynnwood, WA
    Carol Tang | Director of Coalition of Science | Lawrence Hall of Science | Berkeley, CA

NISE Network Happy Hour

NISE Network partners are invited to gather together informally: 

Exhibit Hal

The NISE Network will have a booth in the exhibit hall featuring public engagement activities.

  • Saturday, October 13, 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Sunday, October 14, 10:30 am - 5:30 pm

The grandstand "Great Ideas in STEM" booth will feature NISE Network programs

  • Saturday, October 13, 12:00 pm -1:00 pm

Sessions

The NISE Network activities and information about engaging the public in nanoscience, engineering, technology will be featured in the following sessions:

  • We Love Science: Wonderful Discoveries about Our Wondrous World
    Saturday, October 13, 2012
    12:30 PM - 1:45 PM
    Get your inner scientist excited with stories of science that inspire wonder about the universe. In this Pecha Kucha-style session, our dynamic speakers will take you on a whirlwind tour of the coolest new research in neurobiology, astronomy, physics, and more that will spark your imagination and passion for discovery.
    Presenters
    Jayatri Das | Senior Exhibit and Program Developer | The Franklin Institute | Philadelphia, PA
    Keith Ostfeld | Director of Educational Technology and Exhibit Development | Children's Museum of Houston | Houston, TX
    Paul Martin | Senior Vice President of Science Learning | Science Museum of Minnesota | St Paul, MN
    Derrick Pitts | Chief Astronomer | The Franklin Institute | Philadelphia, PA
    Cynthia Sharpe | Director of Exhibit Development | Thinkwell Group, Inc. | Burbank, CA
    Eric Siegel | Director and Chief Content Officer | New York Hall of Science | Queens, NY
    Katherine Ziff | Exhibit Developer | TELUS Spark | Calgary, AB
  • Extending the Learning: Floor Programs in Exhibit Spaces
    Saturday, October 13, 2012
    2:15 PM - 4:45 PM
    Event Description | This session will engage participants in a discussion about the challenges and successes of developing exhibits and programs that work well together. We'll explore exhibition and program development, staff training, evaluation, and new technologies to achieve maximum impact, making the most of visitor learning opportunities on the museum floor.
    Presenters
    Alexandra Jackson | Exhibit Project Manager | Sciencenter | Ithaca, NY
    Stephanie Long | Public Programs Manager | Science Museum of Minnesota | St. Paul, MN
    Cheryl McCallum | Director of Education | Children's Museum of Houston | Houston, TX
    Sookram Ramsaroop | Manager of SCL Operations and Training | New York Hall of Science | Queens, NY
    Sean Rooney | Senior Educator | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry | Portland, OR
  • Adding Unfamiliar Current Research to Science Museums
    Sunday, Oct 14, 2012
    9:00AM-10:15AM

    Nanotechnology was an unlikely subject for hands-on discovery learning. What mechanisms did Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISEnet) organizers use to help hundreds of organizations add this topic to their programming? This session will analyze five that others in our field could apply to other topics and projects to increase their impacts and broaden dissemination
    Presenters: 
    Larry Bell | Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives | Museum of Science | Boston, MA
    Paul Martin | Senior Vice President of Science Learning | Science Museum of Minnesota | St Paul, MN
    Rae Ostman | Director of National Collaborations | Sciencenter | Ithaca, NY
    Catherine McCarthy | Project Leader, NISE Network | Science Museum of Minnesota | St Paul, MN
    Vrylena Olney | Program Manager, NISE Network | Museum of Science | Boston, MA
    Christine Reich | Director of Research and Evaluation | Museum of Science | Boston, MA

    PDF of Adding Unfamiliar Current Research to Science Museums slides

 

  • Create and Implement Quality Experiences to Empower Latinos in STEM
    Sunday, October 14, 2012
    9:00 AM - 10:15 AM

    Many of us struggle to create lasting, trusting relationships with Latino families in our communities. Join representatives from several organizations as they share translation and graphics guides, program implementation strategies, and introduce networking through online support communities. Participants will engage in dialogue about best practices to empower Latinos in STEM.
    Presenters:
    Kari Jensen | Senior Exhibit Developer | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry | Portland, OR
    Lisa Regalla | Manager of Science Content & Outreach | Twin Cities Public Television | St. Paul, MN
    Sookram Ramsaroop | Manager of SCL Operations and Training | New York Hall of Science | Queens, NY
  • Indie Style Part 6: Advancing High Impact at Low Cost
    Sunday, October 14, 2012
    9:00 AM - 10:15 AM

    We love doing hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) activities with our visitors. But we can't always afford expensive materials and equipment. This sixth installment of the Indie Style series will showcase multiple low-cost, high-impact STEAM experiences guaranteed to help advance your visitors' curiosity, creativity, and comprehension.
    Presenters
    Keith Ostfeld | Director of Educational Technology and Exhibit Development | Children's Museum of Houston | Houston, TX
    Christopher Bernd | Outreach Coordinator | Discovery Center Museum | Rockford, IL
    Kevin Dilley | Education Program Manager | Sciencenter | Ithaca, NY
    Lewis Ferguson | Director of Art & Science Education | Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences | Charleston, WV
    Erich Goldstein | Math Faculty | Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Lancaster, PA
    Lianna Kali | Project Coordinator | Exploratorium | San Francisco, CA
    Anders Liljeholm | Manager of Technology Research and Development | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry | Portland, OR
    Darrell Porcello | Center Director, Center of Technology Innovation | Lawrence Hall of Science | Berkeley, CA
    Maura Thompson | Associate Director, Children's Outreach | Thirteen-WNET | New York, NY
    Adine Thoreen | Outreach Specialist, SciGirls | Twin Cities Public Television | Saint Paul, MN
    Adrienne Lalli Hills | Museum Studies Program Representative | Oklahoma University | Kansas City, KS
  • Playing Well With Others:  A Look at Multi-Museum Partnerships
    Sunday, October 14, 2012
    2:15 PM - 3:30 PM

    In a time when museum resources are stretched thin and many institutions are seeing declining visits, museums need to join together to accomplish their shared goals and promote themselves and their communities.  Come learn what makes multi-museum partnerships work and how they can accomplish your institution’s educational objectives.
    Presenters:
    Miriam Musco | Museum Educator | Sciencenter | Ithaca, NY
    Christina Akers | Exhibit Developer | Science Museum of Minnesota | St. Paul, MN
    Madlyn Runburg | Director of School Programs | Natural History Museum of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT
    Lara Litchfield-Kimber | Executive Director | Mid-Hudson Children's Museum | Poughkeepsie, NY
  • There's an app for that! Developing Apps for Science Museums
    Tuesday, October 16, 2012
    10:45 AM - 12:00 PM

    Presenters will discuss their experiences developing apps that enrich and extend the visitor experience at the museum, as well as apps that serve as tools for educators. We'll discuss as a group how (or whether) apps for mobile devices can become an integral part of science and technology centers' repertoire.
    Presenters
    Rae Ostman | Director of National Collaborations | Sciencenter | Ithaca, NY
    Sheila Bowman | Senior Outreach Manager, Seafood Watch Program | Monterey Bay Aquarium | Monterey, CA
    Frank Kusiak | Educational Technology Project Manager | Lawrence Hall of Science | Berkeley, CA
    Eric Nardone | Manager of Interpretive Media | Monterey Bay Aquarium | Monterey, CA
    Darrell Porcello | Center Director, Center of Technology Innovation | Lawrence Hall of Science | Berkeley, CA

NISE Network Partner Breakfast

The NISE Net is hosting an invitation-only breakfast for staff from partner institutions. Hear about our plans for the coming year, learn about new educational products and opportunities to get involved, and talk with other NISE Net partners from across the country. 

  • Monday, October 15, 7:30 am - 8:45 am
    Hyatt Regency Columbus, Franklin D Room

 

 

More Information

Please visit the confernece website: