Earth Science Enterprise Museum Support
The goal of this program is to understand how NASA's Earth science education program can best support the needs of informal educators, especially at museums, science centers, aquaria and zoos. The project started in 1999 when NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) worked with the Denver Museum of Natural History and 11 other museums to develop and conduct a survey of informal education priorities in Earth science and interest in future programs. In 2000, development began on programs identified in the survey, including Earth science workshops and informal education partnerships. The project continues to develop relationships with a broad spectrum of informal science education organizations across the country.
Activities include providing professional development on NASA Earth science content and resources to staff of science centers and museums, in partnership with professional organizations. In 2003, JPL piloted this program with the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) by presenting an ASTC RAP (Roundtable for the Advancement of the Professions) entitled "Making NASA's Earth Science Resources Work for You." The goal of the program is to create a community of museum professionals who are knowledgeable about NASA resources; the objective of the RAP was to bring current research and information resources to the participants.
CONTACT: Anita Sohus, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109; Phone: 818-354-6613; Fax: 818-354-7586; Email: anita.w.sohus@jpl.nasa.gov.