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The Future Earth Initiative

Patrick Hamilton

Science Museum of Minnesota


The Science Museum of Minnesota, in collaboration with six NSF-funded Science and Technology Centers (STCs) around the country, are developing several deliverables around the theme of the Anthropocene epoch, i.e., the idea that the Earth is currently in a period of its history where humans are the dominant planetary agents of change. Deliverables include: (1) a 3,500 square-foot exhibit at the museum; (2) a changing set of small exhibits on sustainability science and design that will be both at the museum and the University of Minnesota; (3) an Earth Buzz Web site equivalent in intent to the museum's very popular Science Buzz site on current science; (4) kiosks with Earth Buzz experiences in selected public venues where the STCs are; (5) Talking Circle discussion groups with decision makers on the implications of the exhibit topic for policy; and (6) youth programs and activities that engage them with the exhibit, Web site, and careers in STEM. The exhibits and Web site will feature scientific visualizations and computational models adapted to public learning environments from the STCs research. Twin Cities Public Television will produce several first-person narrative videos of scientists and their research that will be incorporated into the deliverables as well as be packaged as a program for public television. The intended strategic impact on the field of informal STEM education is twofold: (1) to learn how to accelerate the dissemination of scientific research to public audiences; (2) to continue to explore ways science centers/museums can use exhibitions as educational frameworks for public policy dialogues.

Funding agency NSF
Through the funding program ISE

Award Numbers DRL - 0741760

Selection Year:
2008

Award Period:
9/1/2008 - 8/31/2012

Products

Future Earth dialogue event.

Audience Type: Educators, Decision Makers

Product Type: Civic Engagement

Earth Buzz Blog

http://www.sciencebuzz.org/buzz-tags/earth-buzz
Graduate students blog on Science Museum of Minnesota's Earth Buzz website

Grade Level: Graduate/Professional

Audience Type: Students

Product Type: Electronic Media & Tools

Earth Buzz Website & Kiosks

http://www.sciencebuzz.org/buzz-tags/earth-buzz
Earth Buzz website and kiosks with partner research centers.

Audience Type: Educators, Scientists, Informal Educators

Product Type: Electronic Media & Tools

Future Earth exhibits

Portable Future Earth exhibits displayed at the University of Minnesota.

Grade Level: College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

Audience Type: Students

Product Type: Exhibits

Future Earth exhibits

Future Earth exhibit opens at the Science Museum of Minnesota, featuring excerpts from the Future Earth broadcast.

Audience Type: Informal Educators

Product Type: Exhibits, Video/Radio/Webcasts

Future Earth iClicker "Science on a Sphere" program

Product Type: Field Trips/Facilitated Programs

Question of Carbon

Question of Carbon online curriculum.

Audience Type: Educators

Product Type: Curriculum, Professional Development

Scientific models adapted to run on Science Museum of Minnesota's "rain tables" (visualization exhibits).

Half hour Future Earth broadcast on Twin Cities Public TV

Audience Type: Media Professionals

Product Type: Video/Radio/Webcasts

Future Earth Science on a Sphere film for the Science on a Sphere community.

Product Type: Video/Radio/Webcasts

Global Food Security Science on a Sphere film for the Science on a Sphere community.

Product Type: Video/Radio/Webcasts