Association of Science-Technology Centers

Association of Science-Technology Centers
Name	Association of Science-Technology Centers
Abbreviation	ASTC
Founded	1973
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	International
Membership	Science centers, museums, informal learning institutions

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Association of Science-Technology Centers

The Association of Science-Technology Centers is an international membership organization linking science centers, museums, and informal learning institutions. It serves as a hub for collaborations among institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, Exploratorium, American Museum of Natural History, Deutsches Museum, and Ontario Science Centre, supporting programs that connect audiences with exhibitions, research partnerships, and professional development. The organization works with partners including National Science Foundation, UNESCO, European Commission, Wellcome Trust, and Gates Foundation to advance public engagement in science and technology through networks, grants, and policy dialogues.

History

The organization originated in the early 1970s amid conversations among leaders from institutions like the Franklin Institute, Science Museum, London, Boston Museum of Science, Ontario Science Centre, and Exploratorium about cooperative development of exhibitions and resources; these discussions paralleled initiatives by the National Science Teachers Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Early formative meetings involved stakeholders from the National Air and Space Museum, Field Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Chicago Academy of Sciences, and representatives connected to projects funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the association expanded its remit connecting institutions such as MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry, Tampa), Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, Miraikan, and Perot Museum while engaging with policy actors like Congressional Research Service and international forums convened by OECD and UNESCO.

Membership comprises a wide range of institutions including large museums like the Natural History Museum, London, national centers such as Science Centre Singapore, university-affiliated centers like the Museum of Science, Boston, regional organizations like the California Academy of Sciences and community-focused sites such as Discovery Place. Institutional categories mirror counterparts in networks including American Alliance of Museums, International Council of Museums, and regional consortia like European Museum Forum and Asia Pacific Network of Science & Technology Centres. Governance typically involves a board with leaders drawn from institutions such as the Exploratorium, Science Museum Group, Deutsches Museum, Royal Society, and funders like the Wellcome Trust and Gates Foundation. Membership services align with initiatives run by organizations like Institute of Museum and Library Services and accreditation frameworks influenced by the Council on Accreditation and standards promoted by ISO.

The association operates programs spanning exhibition exchange, traveling exhibitions co-developed with institutions like Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, STEM-focused initiatives modeled on partnerships with National Science Foundation and Wellcome Trust, and community engagement pilots reflecting collaborations with UNESCO and World Health Organization on public health communication. Signature initiatives mirror efforts by the Exploratorium and Science Museum, London to prototype interactive learning technologies, and the organization facilitates grant programs alongside partners such as European Commission Horizon 2020, Gates Foundation, and MacArthur Foundation. Collaborative projects have linked museums including the American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago), California Academy of Sciences, and the Natural History Museum, London to research institutions like MIT, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, and University of Tokyo.

Annual and regional conferences convene representatives from venues like the Exploratorium, Science Museum Group, Deutsches Museum, Ontario Science Centre, National Air and Space Museum, and Museum of Natural History to present case studies, workshops, and exhibition symposia. Professional development offerings include leadership institutes influenced by programs at Harvard Graduate School of Education, curatorial exchanges comparable to those hosted by the Smithsonian Institution, and training modules developed in partnership with organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. These events often feature speakers from universities like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Oxford, University of California, Berkeley, and policy experts from National Science Foundation and UNESCO.

The association publishes toolkits, white papers, and guidance documents comparable to those produced by the American Alliance of Museums, International Council of Museums, and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Resources address exhibition design, evaluation frameworks influenced by methods from RAND Corporation and WestEd, audience research drawing on studies from Pew Research Center and Gallup, and best practices in inclusive programming consistent with guidance from UNESCO and World Health Organization. The organization curates online repositories akin to the Smithsonian Institution's digital collections and collaborates with academic publishers such as Routledge and Elsevier to disseminate research on informal science learning.

Impact assessments draw on evaluation models used by the National Academies and consulting firms like McKinsey & Company and Deloitte to measure outcomes at partner institutions including the Exploratorium, American Museum of Natural History, Deutsches Museum, and California Academy of Sciences. Evaluations examine indicators similar to those in studies by the National Science Foundation, Pew Research Center, and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine—including audience reach, diversity metrics, and learning gains documented in collaborations with universities such as Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University College London. The association’s influence is reflected in strengthened networks among institutions like the Science Museum, London, Ontario Science Centre, Perot Museum, and Miraikan, and in policy dialogues with entities such as UNESCO, OECD, and national research councils.

Category:Science museums Category:Museum organizations