ISCSMD Blog

In the blog posts below, see how your peers around the world are using ISCSMD to advance organizational goals, build capacity, position themselves within the community, achieving greater impact, and much more. This year, contributed blogs will focus primarily on sharing best practices and useful ideas related to ways that science centers and museums can participate in ISCSMD. We welcome short essays about your previous experiences with highlighting SDGs in your institution, participation in ISCSMD16 and ISCSMD 17, and also insights into your planned activities for ISCSMD18.

What will you do and why? Do you agree that inclusion efforts are part of the larger view that science is a human right? How would that translate in your institution? What kind of inclusive activities are you already providing in your community that you want to focus on this November 10? What do you expect the outcome to be? Do you see any new partnership opportunities in your community? Have you have been focusing on some of the SDGs in recent years, and are you planning to use this year’s ISCSMD as a new push toward greater impact?

No matter what your choice is, whether you are in an individual institution, a network, or a public engagement organization in the broad sense, don’t hesitate to share your views and help inspire others. The more ideas, case studies, wisdom won, and dreams that we can share with each other, the broader our impact will be.

Email your blog and a related images (or series of images) to Walter Staveloz.

Eco Boys and Girls Celebrate ISCSMD

Eco Boys and Girls & The Association of Children’s Museums & The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire Join In Celebrating ISCSMD 2017 By Sophia Collas and Maria Snyder Eco Boys and Girls join with the Association of Science-Technology Centers to celebrate the 2017 International Science Center and Science Museum Day (ISCSMD 2017). As a children’s […]

Science for Global Understanding

By Mrs. Flavia Schlegel, Assistant Director-General, UNESCO “Science for Global Understanding” is the theme for the 2017 World Science Day for Peace and Development. This theme is judicious as it is key for promoting peace and sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda, adopted in 2015 by the United Nations, represents a significant step forward in terms […]

One Planet—Challenging New Exhibition at the Museon

The new, action-oriented exhibition One Planet at the Museon in The Hague shows that the great global issues facing mankind really can be solved. One Planet fulfils the Museon’s UN-approved role of pioneering and inciting action to achieve the United Nations’ 17 global Sustainable Development Goals. The exhibition showcases inspiring ways of ensuring the equitable […]

An Alumni Event Helps Celebrate International Science Center & Science Museum Day

By Tomi Ellis, Communications Officer, Scitech, Perth, Western Australia, Australia Scitech, which opened in 1988, marked the first International Science Center & Science Museum Day (ISCSMD) with an Alumni Event that highlighted how Scitech has been shaped by its staff and volunteers, and how those staff and volunteers have been shaped by Scitech. As well […]

Supporting the SDGs with scientific research, public engagement, and action

By the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University   In September of 2015 the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (ANS) had the opportunity to host a panel on climate change keynoted by economist and economic development expert Jeffrey Sachs. As part of his talk, Prof. Sachs discussed the pending passage of the […]

The Wellcome Image Awards: The Power of Visual Imagery as an Engagement Tool

By Joanna Castle, Wellcome Image Awards Project Manager, and Carly Dakin, Clinical Collections Coordinator, Wellcome Images Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation On this, the day which celebrates international science centers and science museums, we wanted to […]

Hidden Figures and Our Hidden History Exhibit

By Crystal Harden, Director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls As far as not being equal was concerned, she said, “I didn’t have time for that. My dad taught us you are as good as anybody […]

Nature and Science Museums in an External Responsibility Context

By Emlyn Koster Increasingly, we see that the boundaries between types of museums and between their local and global horizons are blurring. These trends enable museums—especially nature and science museums—to accelerate their attention to external impacts in environmental and societal contexts. For its part, the International Council of Museums has a global working group to […]

Sustainable Development Goals in Science Museums

English │ Español By Elis Monroy MIDE, Museo Interactivo de Economía What’s the use of science museums? Surely there are hundreds of answers to this question, but if we investigate as children do, asking one “Why?” after another, it’s certain that sooner or later, the welfare of the people will be mentioned. And it is […]

Future Earth (Research for Global Sustainability) supports the ISCSMD

Future Earth fully supports UNESCO’s and the international network of science centres’ initiative to support the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs mark a paradigm shift in human development. They are the first acknowledgement that global sustainability is now a prerequisite for human welfare and prosperity – and global sustainability is at risk. To succeed, the […]