Health Science Education Partnership
Project Website(s)
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Project Description
The overall goal of this project is to further develop and test one high-potential current health science research dissemination strategy initially prototyped as part of the SEPA Phase I development of the Museum of Science-s Current Science & Technology Center: updateable interactive digital multimedia displays on current research that can be networked to multiple locations including science museums libraries and student centers. This SEPA project aims to broadly disseminate learning resources on nanomedicine research capitalizing on the momentum provided by the new NSF-funded Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) also headquartered at the Museum of Science Boston which has plans to place exhibits relating to nanotechnology in 100 museums by 2011. In collaboration with the NISE-Net the SEPA-funded team will: 1) Research write and produce four – six multimedia stories about current nanomedicine research including elements such as researcher profiles interpretive animations interactives exploring the basic science potential for human benefit and pathways for further inquiry 2) Prototype an updateable and networkable software interface and a physical digital display kiosk that can serve audiences in science museums student centers libraries and other public locations 3) Evaluate the effectiveness of interface and story content and make plans for further development and distribution and 4) Develop additional content production partnerships with research centers and media.
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Abstract
The Museum of Science proposes to initiate a long-term Health Science Education Partnership with selected New England-area medical and public health schools teaching hospitals and biomedical research institutes in October of 2000. The goals of this partnership will be: (1) to increase public understanding of significant areas of current research in biomedicine biotechnology and public health sciences as well as the implications of such research; (2) to encourage citizens to consider current research findings in making healthy lifestyle choices; (3) to interest K-12 students in pursuing careers in these fields; and (4) to foster an informed and continuing public discussion on the social and ethical ramifications of new research in the life sciences. In close cooperation with the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research Harvard School of Public Health Harvard Medical School Massachusetts General Hospital McLean Hospital the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology and the New England Journal of Medicine a dedicated team at the Museum’s Current Science and Technology Center(CSTC)will develop and deliver daily live presentations multimedia and exhibitry that interpret the work of research teams at each of these institutions for the Museum’s public and K-12 audiences as well as for wider distribution. The Museum will constantly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the programming and disseminate what is learned to other science and technology centers research institutions and science educators. In addition to the content goals above there are four process goals: (1) to develop a highly successful and duplicable model for educating the public and K-12 students in the methods directions and findings of contemporary biomedical and public health research; (2) to explore new means of partnering with research institutions in creating programming that brings the excitement of research at the cutting ege to broad and diverse audiences; (3) to develop methods of evaluation that contribute to continuing development refinement and improvement of the educational model; and (4) to report on and disseminate findings widely to the national community of science and technology centers science educators and research institutions.
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Dissemination Strategies
1st Tier: to science and health museums associated with either the SEPA program or the NISE Net as stand alone kiosks or as incorporated into larger health science human health and/or nanotechnology and nanomedicine exhibits. Also a presence on the internet with links from SEPA websites NIH nanomedicine websites NISE Net websites and MOS websites. 2nd Tier: to science and health museums not yet associated with SEPA or NISE Net. 3rd Tier: to community libraries universities student centers and public locations. Continual production of updateable content to be supported in the long-term by partnerships between research centers media producers and science educators.
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Project Evaluation(s)
The Institute for Learning Innovation in Annapolis MD is completing a summative report on their four year study of the SEPA-funded Current Science & Technology Center covering CS&T’s effectiveness for engaging public audiences in current health science research through live presentations guest researcher presentations cablecasts multimedia and science theater/forums. Multimedia Research is designing and overseeing evaluation of the project’s nanomedicine media and displays in collaboration with evaluation teams at the Museum of Science the Exploratorium and the Science Museum of Minnesota. Evaluation will focus on effectiveness of user interface degree of audience engagement effective communication of science content accessibility and the value of networking the material to multiple locations. Methods to be used include audience tracking and observation user interviews and questionnaires partner interviews and marketing surveys.
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Resources for Sharing
1) Multimedia content on nanomedicine research 2) Prototype updateable interactive multimedia displays 3) Evaluation Results
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Additional Information
A dedicated team at the Museum of Science-s Current Science & Technology Center will develop and deliver daily live presentations multimedia programs and rapidly-changing exhibits which will interpret health science stories in the news as well as the work of research teams at the Museum-s seven partner institutions for public and K-12 audiences and for wider distribution. The Museum-s partners on this initiative are: Harvard Medical School Harvard School of Public Health Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research Massachusetts General Hospital McLean Hospital Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and MIT/Harvard Division of Health Sciences & Technology. The goals of the project are to (1) increase public understanding of significant areas of current research in biomedicine biotechnology and public health sciences as well as the implications of such research; (2) encourage citizens to consider current research findings in making healthy lifestyle choices; (3) interest K-12 students in pursuing careers in these fields; and (4) foster an informed and continuing public discussion on the social and ethical ramifications of new research in the life sciences.
Project Audience
Science museum web and K-12 audiences ages 12 and up with future dissemination to public libraries research institutes and student centers.
Subjects Addressed
The subject focus of this prototype dissemination effort is on nanomedicine: a broad and intensive new area of health science research not yet well covered by existing K-12 media or museum learning resources. NIH is investing over $180 million in nanomedical research and has outlined a Nanomedicine Roadmap Initiative that integrates these efforts within the National Nanotechnology Initiative.
