Update 6, November 2005

What contributions are science centres and museums making in your community? What best-practice approaches by science centres and museums make a difference to important government agendas such as increasing young people's interest in science careers or communicating challenging science topics to the public? This is a monthly update on a project focusing on such questions in the APEC region.

Two international meetings about the APEC Science Centre Impact Project

On the last day of the recent Association of Science-Technology Centers 2005 Annual Conference in Richmond, Virginia USA, 23 people from 18 organisations in 8 APEC economies met over breakfast to discuss the project (photo at right). The group affirmed the value of the project to science centres and museums, and discussed directions for the future. Ten days later, APEC’s Industrial Science and Technology Working Group (ISTWG), meeting in Singapore, received a progress report on the project. This group, too, was satisfied with what it heard. Read the report (pdf, 76kb).

Effective professional development programs for teachers

At an OECD seminar in June 2005, Yasushi Ogura, of Japan’s National Institute for Educational Policy Research, summarised research results pointing to declining interest among Japan’s young people in studying science and technology (S&T) or taking up S&T-based careers. He also described some of the activities that have been shown in Japan to make statistically significant differences to students’ motivation to learn science – including visits to science museums. Find out more.

Making a difference to young people’s interest in S&T in Japan

In a paper presented at an OECD seminar in June 2005, Yasushi Ogura summarised research results pointing to declining interest among Japan's young people in studying science and technology (S&T), or taking up S&T-based careers. He also described some of the activities that have been shown in Japan to make statistically significant differences to students' motivation to learn science. Download the report (pdf, 106kB).

Dates for your diary – May 2006

The Asia Pacific Network of Science & Technology Centres (ASPAC) will hold its 2006 conference in Perth, Western Australia, next May. Use the link below for conference information and registration details.

In particular, note that the last day of the conference will be devoted to the APEC Science Centre Impact Project, with a special focus on how science centres and museums deal with the more challenging topics. APEC Project Day at ASPAC.

And just a few days after the ASPAC conference ends, Korea will be hosting the 2006 Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) conference. PCST conference website.

ASPAC 2006 in Perth website.

New on our website

For a summary of what’s new on the website each month, check on the main news page of the site.

Contact

APEC Science Centre Impact Project Secretariat
Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre
King Edward Terrace, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
E apecproject@questacon.edu.au