Update 9, February 2006

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.

Nanotechnology in science centres and museums

How do science centres and museums deal with topics such as nanotechnology, which are conceptually difficult and rapidly changing – and often part of important government agendas for the public understanding of science? Approaches already used in Japan and USA include both exhibitions and on-line resources, and a $20 million project in USA aims to deliver a range of educational materials on nanotehcnology to 100 informal education sites by the end of 2010. Find out more.

Technology and science for students with visual impairments

Chabot Space & Science Center, in Oakland CA, USA, has developed a set of resources for students with visual impairments. The set includes lesson plans for technology and science projects, career exploration activities, tips for role model visits and field trips, a case study of an internship and ideas for hosting a technology or science program. Many of the activities are accompanied by comments on the lessons learned by program developers during trials of the material. Visit the program website to download the resources.

Communicating science in Europe

In November 2005, delegates from several APEC economies were among the 2100 participants attending the second “Communicating European Research” conference in Brussels, hosted by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research. Topics discussed at the conference included new trends in communicating science and technology, science on television and radio, the role of science journalists, and science in schools. Visit the conference website.

Conferences coming up

Lots of interesting conferences are coming up this year – regional science centre network conferences, and also others for broader audiences interested in science communication.

In particular, the 6th ASPAC conference in Perth (Western Australia) in May will devote an entire day to the APEC Science Centre Impact Project, with a focus on how science centres and museums deal with challenging topics (see the item above on nanotechnology). Visit the ASPAC conference 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