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Project Descriptions

Portal to the Public

July 15, 2007 - June 30, 2012 | Media and Technology, Public Programs, Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks
Portal to the Public is a program designed to assist informal science education (ISE) institutions as they seek to bring scientists and public audiences together in face-to-face public interactions that promote appreciation and understanding of current scientific research and its application. Led by Pacific Science Center (WA), in collaboration with Explora (NM), the North Museum of Natural History and Science (PA) and the Institute for Learning Innovation (MD), the program model was implemented and evaluated at five additional museums and science centers during 2007-2011. The project goals were to create a flexible and scalable guiding framework that would support ISE institutions build relationships with their local scientific community, design professional development workshops for scientists, and create public program formats featuring scientists. The project included thorough research and evaluation of the guiding framework, dissemination process, and implementation at expansion sites. The Portal to the Public project team has produced an Implementation Manual as a guide for institutions planning to implement a Portal to the Public-type program, available for download at the project website (http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/Portal-to-the-Public/portal). It includes the Catalog of Professional Development Elements, a practical guide to creating and facilitating professional development experiences for scientists.

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 0639021
Funding Amount: 2020245

TEAM MEMBERS

  • 2014 01 22 Meena
    Principal Investigator
    Pacific Science Center
  • Dennis headshot   close in   June 2018
    Former Principal Investigator
    Pacific Science Center Foundation
  • REVISE logo
    Co-Principal Investigator
    North Museum of Natural History and Science
  • Kristin Leigh
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Explora
  • JS 149 sq small size
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Institute for Learning Innovation
  • Storksdieck Headshot small
    Former Co-Principal Investigator
    Institute for Learning Innovation
  • 2013 09 05 jpritchard
    Contributor
    Pacific Science Center Foundation
  • Discipline: Education and learning science | General STEM | Nature of science
    Audience: General Public | Museum/ISE Professionals | Scientists | Evaluators
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Websites, Mobile Apps, and Online Media | Public Programs | Museum and Science Center Programs | Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks | Professional Development and Workshops | Resource Centers and Networks

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