Embedding Environmental Scientists in Informal Science Education Institutions: Strategies and Rewards

With news about extreme weather events and the impacts of increased carbon in the atmosphere and ocean, access to accurate and timely environmental research has become critically important to society. More and better communication between scientists and the public can help fill this need, yet most people have never met a working environmental scientist, much less heard about the research they conduct. With funding from NOAA's Environmental Literacy Grant program, the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco hosted four teams of NOAA ocean and atmosphere scientists in three-week residencies at the museum providing them communication training and direct access to public audiences. Scientists led training sessions for youth and front-line Explainers (docents) and presented current weather, climate and ocean research on the museum floor.

Exploratorium staff members and scientists-in-residence collaborated in creating physical demonstrations, mini-exhibitions and visual displays using iPads that connected current environmental research to exhibits and programs at the Exploratorium. An independent learning researcher from Oregon State University's Free Choice Learning Program evaluated impacts on the museum staff and visiting scientists as well as the public audience.

Preliminary results of that research along with perspectives from Exploratorium staff about lessons learned in hosting scientists will be presented. While time and resource commitments from NOAA and the Exploratorium were significant, the benefits of these collaborations were considered well worth the effort. This program can serve as a model for educational collaborations between working research scientists and aquariums, science and natural history museums, and other informal science institutions.

Note: This presentation from the science museum perspective is paired with a presentation from a scientist's perspective by DaNa Carlis of NOAA's National Center for Environmental Prediction who participated in the Exploratorium's Scientist-in-Residence program.