Handbook for Small Science Centers

Comprehensive handbook for starting and running a small science center.

There has been, and continues to be, an explosion of interest in developing new small science centers that is changing the world of museums. This handbook is designed to be a one-stop source for future and current centers, and anyone interested in the important roles these institutions play in their communities. With articles—all written by leaders in field—covering everything from administration, staffing, finance, marketing, exhibit design, and beyond, this comprehensive resource will be essential reading for institutions that are operating successfully, struggling to survive, and those planning major expansions.

Chapter 1 Foreword
Chapter 2 Preface and Acknowledgments
Part 3 I. Central Case Study
Chapter 4 1. The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum: From Dream to Reality
Part 5 II. Case Studies of Other Small Science Centers and Start-Ups
Chapter 6 2. Developing in Phases:A Case History
Chapter 7 3. Hockey, Nickel Mines, and the Pursuit of a Vision: Getting it Done at Science North
Chapter 8 4. Once Small Center's Story: Grass Roots Thrive on Flexibility
Chapter 9 5. Focus and Balance for the Small Museum
Chapter 10 6. Discovery Center Start-Up: Launch Pad in a Mall
Chapter 11 7. Curious Kids' Museum
Chapter 12 8. Science Spectrum: A Science Center for the South Plains of Texas
Chapter 13 9. Science Center in a College: An Unabashadly Autobiographical Account
Chapter 14 10. Science Projects: The Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux and Inspire Discovery Centre, Norwich
Chapter 15 11. Experimentarium: A Fairy Tale from Hans Christian Andersen's Denmark
Part 16 III. Getting Started and Running a Science Center
Chapter 17 12. Planning the Building
Chapter 18 13. Sci-Port Discovery Center: How We Operate and Position Our Science Center for Ongoing Success
Chapter 19 14. Over the Top: Building Resources to Open and Grow
Chapter 20 15. Marketing Basics: Applications for Small Science Centers
Chapter 21 16. The Science Shop at Science Spectrum
Part 22 IV. Exhibits
Chapter 23 17. Decision Making on Purpose: Translating Organizational Identity into Effective Experiences
Chapter 24 18. Making Effective Exhibits for Rewarding Visitor Experiences
Chapter 25 19. Learning from My Mistakes
Chapter 26 20. The Use of Objects in a Small Science Center
Part 27 V. Creating Special Exhibits Spaces
Chapter 28 21. Discovery Spaces: Small Museums within a Large Museum
Chapter 29 22. Creating Developmentally Appropriate Early Childhood Spaces in Science Centers
Chapter 30 23. Outdoor Science Parks: Going Beyond the Walls
Chapter 31 24. Traveling Exhibitions: Rationales and Strategies for the Small Museums
Part 32 VI. Education Programs
Chapter 33 25. Developing an Educational Plan
Chapter 34 26. Building Capacity to Work with Schools
Chapter 35 27. The Why and How of Doing Outreach Programming: Fulfilling My Fantasy
Chapter 36 28. Fifty Years of Museum School
Chapter 37 29. Promoting Public Understanding of Research through Family Science Programs at MIT
Part 38 VII. Working in a Science Center
Chapter 39 30. Leading and Implementing Innovation in Your Science Museum
Chapter 40 31. Hiring, Supporting, and Developing Museum Educators for Your Science Center
Chapter 41 32. Explainers: Youth Development at the Exploratorium
Part 42 VIII. Audience
Chapter 43 33. Understanding Your Audience
Chapter 44 34. Girls, Boys, Moms, and Dads: Learning about Their Different Needs in Science Museums
Chapter 45 35. Evaluation 101
Part 46 IX. Governance
Chapter 47 36. Working Model: A Mechanism for the Effective Board
Chapter 48 37. Code of Ethics for Museums
Part 49 X. Transitions
Chapter 50 38. Building a Sustainable Future
Chapter 51 39. Renovation as Innovation: SciWorks, the Science Center and Environmental Park of Forsyth County
Chapter 52 40. Collaborations: From Sharing a Museum Site to Winning NSF Grants
Chapter 53 41. Exploration Place: Science Center and Children's Museum Combined
Chapter 54 42. From Little Acorns
Chapter 55 43. The Tech: The Challenges of Growing from Small to Large
Chapter 56 44. How to Foster Innovation within Your Science-Technology Center: Observations from Under the Seat Cushion
Part 57 XI. Overview of Science Centers
Chapter 58 45. Science Center History
Chapter 59 46. Fanning the Flames: The Exploratorium at the Birth of the Science Center Movement
Chapter 60 47. SESAME Program: The Impact of a PhD Program on Science Museums
Chapter 61 48. Science and Discovery Centers: The European Perspective
Part 62 XII. Science Centers and the Future
Chapter 63 49. Developing a New Business Model for Science Centers
Chapter 64 50. Reality, Variety, and Ingenuity: Futures for Science Centers
Part 65 XIII. Resources
Chapter 66 Appendix A. Resources for Exhibit Fabrication
Chapter 67 Appendix B. ASTC and Related Organizations
Chapter 68 Appendix C. Directory of Science Centers, Institutions, and Individuals Represented
Chapter 69 Index
Chapter 70 About the Authors