President Futter Goes to Washington

Tuesday, March 09 3:05 pm

Ellen V. Futter, President of the American Museum of Natural History, represented the “informal science education” sector during an important congressional hearing last week in Washington, DC on science education in our nation’s schools.

Speaking before the House Committee on Science and Technology on Thursday, March 4, she testified that it’s essential that the federal government continue to support and fund museums and other science-related cultural institutions as “powerful catalysts” and key players in reforming K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (or STEM) education.

Futter specifically mentioned several Museum programs, including its successful leadership role in the Urban Advantage Middle School Science Initiative in New York City, as national models for public-private partnerships that boost science literacy. To download the full text of the press release, click here and you can also read Ellen Futter’s full written testimony here.

Science Bulletins Bring the Research Home

Wednesday, February 03 2:46 pm

For years, visitors to the American Museum of Natural History have enjoyed award-winning Science Bulletin video productions—visually stunning updates on the latest in astrophysics, Earth sciences, biodiversity, and human biology—displayed on high-definition plasma screens in four permanent halls in the Museum.  All four Bulletins (Astro, Earth, Bio, and Human) use a blend of documentary videos, three-dimensional animation, and data visualization to bring scientific research to life for adults and children alike.

Science Bulletins are also distributed to nearly 40 museums and science centers around the world, bringing the latest science to an audience of more than 10 million people. Additionally, Science Bulletins are available online.

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Many of these features are six- to eight-minute documentaries that follow scientists to field sites and laboratories around the world to explore topics ranging from the search for ultra-high energy cosmic rays to the rapid evolution of fish species along the Lower Congo River, to the latest research on human papillomaviruses (HPV) and the various cancers they can trigger in humans. Read more »

Young Naturalist Program Accepting Essays

Thursday, January 21 11:55 am

The American Museum of Natural History invites students in grades 7 to 12 to tackle questions about the natural world just as a scientist would—by formulating hypotheses, planning investigations, gathering data—and to write about their findings for the 13th Annual Young Naturalist Awards, a nationwide essay contest for students presented by the Museum and supported by Alcoa Foundation.

Contestants are invited to plan and conduct research about the natural world stemming from their personal interest. Entrants share their data, conclusions, and experiences in essays that describe their observations and findings. Last year’s winners’ research included such diverse topics as the feeding preferences of birds in the Red Oak Nature Center in Aurora, Illinois, the effects of controlled prairie fires on invasive plants in southern Michigan, and the microbes living in coral mucus collected in Hawaii.

Each of the 12 winners, chosen for their insight, originality, and accuracy in observation and research as well as creativity in writing and documentation through illustrations and photography will receive a free trip to New York City, a behind-the-scenes tour at the Museum with working scientists, and a cash award ranging from $500 to $2,500. In addition, winning contestants will have their essays published on the Museum’s website.

“The Young Naturalist Awards is a unique program offered by the Museum that acknowledges young people for their engagement in scientific research,” said Rosamond Kinzler, Director of the National Center for Science, Education and Technology. “In addition to the recognition provided for the 12 winners, every student that enters the contest receives a letter with feedback from the Museum’s expert panel of scientists and educators about their work. And for teachers, the program is a powerful tool they can use to provide their students with direct experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics areas that are essential for standards-based science education.”

The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2010.  To learn more about the program, visit the Museum’s Young Naturalist Awards Web site, and for more information, email yna@amnh.org or call (212) 496-3498.

2009 Young Naturalist Awards winner Alexandra Day kayaks in Chesapeake Bay conducting research in nutrient pollution. Photo courtesy of Alexandra Day.