ANNOUNCEMENT
 
                        Vision to Reality:
         Critical Dimensions in Science Center Development
                       A Review of Research
 
BRIEFING:
Thursday, July 28, 1994
12 noon - 1:30 pm
National Science Foundation
Room 730
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia
 
Over the past two decades, the number of science centers in
the United States has burgeoned.  Today, more than 200 such
centers serve communities large and small.  Nearly a quarter
of the American population visits them every year.
 
In an effort to understand this phenomenal growth and how it
fits into the mission of increasing public understanding of
science, the National Science Foundation asked the
Association of Science-Technology Centers in 1991 to
undertake a study both broad and deep in scope.  A research
team collected data from nearly a hundred institutions and
conducted case studies at half a dozen.
 
Mark St. John, principal of Inverness Research Associates in
California, and Sheila Grinell, now director of the Arizona
Museum of Science and Technology in Phoenix, will be in
Washington to present the research results and discuss the
implications of their findings.
 
Please join us in reviewing the research and envisioning how
to capitalize on these new resources to address national
science education needs.
 
FYI: NSF is located one block from the Ballston stop on the
Orange line of the Metro.
 
A light lunch will be available for purchase.
 
If you have any questions, or need a map showing directions
to NSF, please contact Amy Blankstein at ASTC (202/783-
7200).
 
RSVP: (July 27)
Telephone:202/783-7200