COSI and MODS receive National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Two ASTC members are among eight institutions honored with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities. The award is bestowed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. In a release, IMLS Director Crosby Kemper said, “the staff …

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ASTC members recognized by AAM

Several ASTC-member institutions and science center professionals have been recognized by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) with 2023 awards for their leadership and excellence within the museum field. Awards will be presented at the 2023 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo later this month in Denver, Colorado. Nancy Hanks Award for Rising Stars To highlight …

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ASTC asks Congress for increased support for science engagement

As part of our ongoing efforts to champion public engagement with science and to build greater support for science engagement activities and institutions, ASTC submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Committee calling for increased funding at a range of federal agencies. ASTC was joined on our testimony by other national museum organizations including the American …

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What should everyone know about climate?

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is seeking suggestions from the community on revising a key climate literacy guide that is used by educators, policymakers, and scientists across the United States and around the world. What do you think everyone needs to know about climate change? The previous guide, Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles …

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Six ASTC members named finalists for National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Six ASTC-member institutions are among the 15 museums named as finalists for the 2023 National Medal for Museum and Library Services. Awarded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities. Fifteen libraries …

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NASA TEAM II program awards STEM engagement projects

NASA has announced the recipients of the latest round of funding in the agency’s Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) program and TEAM II Community Anchor Awards. Among the new grantees are twelve ASTC members. Both are funded through NASA’s Next Generation STEM (Next Gen STEM), which supports kindergarten to 12-grade students, …

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ASTC Board chair appointed to National Museum and Library Services Board

William T. Harris, President and CEO of Space Center Houston—and the Chair of the ASTC Board of Directors—has been appointed by President Biden to the National Museum and Library Services Board. The Board advises the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) on general policies with respect to the duties, powers, and authority of the …

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NASEM Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication adds ASTC friends

Several individuals with a connection to ASTC and the broader science engagement field have been named to the Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: James “Jamie” Bell (ASTC) has served as Project Director and Principal Investigator of the Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) …

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Department of Education launches YOU Belong in STEM initiative

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education held a National Coordinating Conference on STEM Education to launch the Department’s YOU Belong in STEM initiative. This effort is meant to convene the entire STEM education enterprise—including government agencies, non-governmental and community-based organizations, and leaders across the public and private sectors—to come together to help advance STEM …

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White House announces new national vision for STEMM Equity and Excellence

Earlier today at the White House Summit on STEMM Equity and Excellence, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced a set of actions to advance a national vision for equity and excellence in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine). The vision seeks to tear down barriers that have long stood …

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ASTC members named to Blooloop 50 Museum Influencers List

The Blooloop 50 Museum Influencers List 2022 includes a number of individuals affiliated with ASTC-member organizations. The list highlights 50 key individuals whose innovation and creativity have been integral to developing today’s museums. As the museum industry continues to reinvent itself, it is not surprising to see so many names familiar to ASTC on the …

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Blooloop Zoo & Aquarium Influencer List 2022 includes members of ASTC community

Two members of the ASTC community have been named to the first Blooloop 50 Zoo & Aquarium Influencer list. The Blooloop 50 highlights 50 key individuals working in the sector whose work has made a real impact; the 2022 list for museum professionals will be announced soon, following on similar lists in 2020 and 2021. …

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NEH supports projects at four ASTC members

The U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced $31.5 million in funding for 226 projects across the country—including four at ASTC-member organizations. This is the third and final round of awards in fiscal year (FY) 2022, which ends on September 30, 2022. NEH made awards in 14 categories including collaborative research, digital humanities …

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IMLS makes funding awards of more than $8.4 million to ASTC members

The U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services has announced the fiscal year (FY) 2022 recipient of funding awards through several of its competitive grant programs. This includes $6.3 million in National Leadership Grants for Museums and $29.7 million for the Museums for America program—including the Museums Empowered and Inspire! Grants for Small Museums. National …

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ASTC members share in $1M Museum Initiative from Verizon and NYC MediaLab

Earlier this year, Verizon and NYC MediaLab announced the winners of the $1M Museum Initiative, which asked museums and other cultural institutions to develop new immersive educational content for educators. ASTC helped spread the word about this funding opportunity when applications were being accepted. Several ASTC-member institutions are among the 10 awarded up to $100,000 …

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CHIPS and Science Act authorizes significant investment in STEM

Earlier today, President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act (H.R. 4346) into law, a sweeping piece of legislation impacting the country’s scientific enterprise. ASTC’s President and CEO Christofer Nelson was honored to be on the South Lawn of the White House for the signing. The CHIPS and Science Act brings together elements of several …

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Statement by ASTC’s President and CEO on gun violence in the United States

In the past two weeks, the United States has once again been saddened by horrific mass shootings targeting children at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, targeting Black shoppers at the Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and targeting Asian churchgoers in Laguna Woods, California—among more than 200 mass shootings so far this year, …

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ASTC joins with museum community to request increased funding for museum programs in FY 2023 Federal budget

ASTC joined with fellow museums associations to request increased funding for the Federal programs that support our field in the fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget, which begins on October 1, 2022. The public witness testimony was submitted to subcommittees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees that are currently at work developing the budgets for …

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Latest NEH grants support two ASTC-member projects

The U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced the recipients of $33.17 million in grants to support 245 projects. Among the list of projects are two led by ASTC-member institutions. The announcement includes grants in 13 different categories, including public humanities projects archaeological and ethnographic field research, infrastructure and capacity building, humanities collections, documentaries and …

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