FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Developing and Funding
Informal Learning Programs
Professional Development Workshops
Presented by Informal Science, Inc. of
Washington, DC
Wednesday, May 27
Dallas Zoo
Dallas, Texas
Thursday, May 28
The Museum of Health and Medical Science
Houston, Texas
Presented by:
Informal Science, Inc.
P.O. Box 42328
Washington, DC 20015
Phone: 202/362-5823
Fax: 202/362-3596
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Overview
This full-day, “hands-on” workshop, presented at two Texas locations at the
end of May, addresses the conception, planning and funding of informal
education and exhibition projects for zoos, aquariums, gardens, nature
centers, children’s, technology, history and natural history museums, science
centers, community organizations and similar agencies.
It helps participants define their project goals and objectives, develop
effective project plans, identify potential funding sources, and present their
projects effectively to prospective funders. These matters are important to
zoos, museums, informal learning centers, science centers, nature centers and
related organizations of all disciplines and sizes.
Many museums and similar organizations with creative programming have
excellent ideas, but only a small proportion have received funding from a
national foundation, Federal or State agency, or significant local funder.
Many worth-while projects fail because funding was not sought or because
proposals submitted for funding were not properly developed and presented.
Many dollars for funding such projects are available from private foundations
such as the MacArthur Foundation and the Sloan Foundation, from Federal
agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for
the Humanities, the Department of Education, the National Park Service and the
Environmental Protection Agency, as well as from corporate foundations and
local and community foundations. Ongoing political changes in Washington make
current knowledge of Federal agencies especially important.
The workshop provides an overview of critical issues in project planning and
proposal presentation. Regardless of subject and approach, successful
projects emphasize well-defined educational goals and methods, strong
educational content, solid staff/advisor expertise, and effective project
planning and budgeting. Many funding sources require evidence of substantial
evaluation plans.
Program
The workshop includes open discussion of project ideas and alternatives and a
mock review session involving the evaluation of actual proposals submitted to
private and government funding agencies. Participants receive sample grant
proposals submitted to various public and private agencies and a 75-page
project development and funding manual.
Schedule:
8:30 - 9:00 Registration and coffee
9:00 - 10:30 Planning fundamentals
10:30 - 11:30 Discussion of project ideas
11:30 - 12:30 Funding strategies and priorities
12:30 - 1:00 Lunch (on-site)
1:00 - 2:00 Proposal preparation
2:00 - 3:30 Mock proposal review (group activity)
3:30-4:15 Proposal discussion
4:15-4:30 Wrap-up
Participants
The workshop is intended for executive directors, program directors, education
directors, exhibit directors, content specialists, and senior management.
Staff are encouraged to attend as a team.
Location and Registration
The workshop will be held on two consecutive days at different Texas
locations. The Wednesday, May 27, workshop will be held at the Dallas Zoo,
Dallas, Texas; the Thursday, May 28 workshop will be held at The Museum of
Health and Medical Science in Houston, Texas. Detailed arrival and location
information will be included in the materials package, mailed shortly before
the session.
Registration is $135 per person, $120 for additional registrants from a single
institution/organization. All registrants will receive proposals to be read
and evaluated prior to the workshop and a resource manual, which includes
information on program design and funding opportunities. Welcoming coffee and
rolls, lunch, and a mid-afternoon break are included.
Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
Faculty
The workshops will be conducted by Dr. Robert “Mac” West and Dr. Robert L.
“Bob” Russell. Dr. West has served as director of natural history and science
museums in Pennsylvania and Michigan and has advised the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute’s Museum program. Recently he has conducted museum and aquarium
feasibility studies and management analyses in addition to his work on
management issues and program development and implementation. Dr. Russell has
directed children’s and science museums in Nebraska and Michigan and served as
a program officer for the National Science Foundation. Recently he has worked
on exhibition enhancement, program development and evaluation projects and
multicultural programming.
Informal Science, Inc.’s clients include informal learning institutions
(science centers, history, children’s and natural history museums, nature
centers, gardens, zoos and aquariums, and media producers) as well as youth
organizations, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, YouthALIVE!, the Smithsonian, the Hispanic
Radio Network. the National Wildlife Society and the Association of
Science/Technology Centers. In addition, ISI publishes the bimonthly Informal
Science Review, the only serial publication devoted exclusively to informal
science learning, and the semi-annual Science/Natural History Traveling
Exhibitions Report.
Registration Form
Developing and Funding
Informal Learning Programs
____ May 27, Dallas Zoo, Dallas
____ May 28, Museum of Health and Medical Science, Houston
Name _________________________ Position _______________________
Organization __________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________
City ________________________ State _________ ZIP ___________
Telephone ___________________ Fax _____________________
Email _____________________________________
Registration fee: ______$135 ______$120
Check enclosed _____ Purchase Order No. ________________________
Credit Card Number ________________________ Expiration Date ______
Signature _____________________________________________________
(Required for credit card registrations)
Make checks payable to Informal Science, Inc., and mail to P. O. Box 42328,
Washington, DC 20015. Cancellations, less a $25 processing fee, will be
accepted until May 21, 1998.
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