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Project Descriptions

Full-Scale Development: Ciencia Publica: Co-Creating Public Outdoor Learning Spaces with Latino Communities

October 1, 2012 - September 30, 2015 | Public Programs, Exhibitions
The Exploratorium, in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club Columbia Park (BGC) in the Mission District of San Francisco, is implementing a two-year exploratory project designed to support informal education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) within underserved Latino communities. Building off of and expanding on non-STEM-related efforts in a few major U.S. cities and Europe, the Exploratorium, BGC, and residents of the District will engage in a STEM exhibit and program co-development process that will physically convert metered parking spaces in front of the Club into transformative public places called "parklets." The BGC parklet will feature interactive, bilingual science and technology exhibits, programs and events targeting audiences including youth ages 8 - 17 and intergenerational families and groups primarily in the Mission District and users of the BGC. Parklet exhibits and programs will focus on STEM content related to "Observing the Urban Environment," with a focus on community sustainability. The project explores one approach to working with and engaging the public in their everyday environment with relevant STEM learning experiences. The development and evaluation processes are being positioned as a model for possible expansion throughout the city and to other cities.

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 1224151
Funding Amount: 525000

TEAM MEMBERS

  • IMG 20170905 161721
    Principal Investigator
    Exploratorium
  • IMG 6172
    Co-Principal Investigator
  • 2014 05 30 photo  4
    Evaluator
  • Discipline: Education and learning science | Engineering | General STEM | Mathematics | Technology
    Audience: Elementary School Children (6-10) | Middle School Children (11-13) | Youth/Teen (up to 17) | Families | General Public | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Public Programs | Community Outreach Programs | Exhibitions | Parks, Outdoor, and Garden Exhibits
    Access and Inclusion: Ethnic/Racial | Hispanic/Latinx Communities | English Language Learners | Urban

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