Policy

The Central Park West entrance of the American Museum of Natural History in the daytime. Alvaro Keding/© AMNH

The Museum’s aim, in conducting research and evaluation, is to be able to contribute to policy discussions, deliberations and decision-making through conducting and sharing our systematic, rigorous research on science teaching and learning.

Our research on how children and youth learn in the Museum, and in contexts outside of the school setting; on teachers’ ambitious science teaching; on how visitors learn in scientific rich institutions like ours; on how to maintain long term partnerships with schools and districts; is designed to help inform policies and practices at the city, state and federal level.

Policy Papers and Initiatives

Policy National Policy: Congressional Testimony Museum President Ellen V. Futter testified about the importance of science-related cultural institutions  in K-12 STEM education. Policy National Science Board: A National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the STEM Education System The Museum represented informal science institutions in a commission to develop a road map for measurable improvements in STEM. Policy Informal Science Education Policy: Issues and Opportunities AMNH participated in a report produced by CAISE to inventory policies affecting the impact of informal science education. Policy Making Science Matter: Collaborations between Informal Science Education Organizations and Schools This report from CAISE explores relationships between formal and informal settings in science education.