Museum Professionals
We collaborate with colleagues—locally, nationally, and internationally—to build knowledge and innovate practices in science-rich institutions. If you’re a museum professional or an informal science educator in a science center, zoo, aquarium, or other similar place, welcome. We’ve got lots for you to explore.
Learn how you can tap into our exhibit and educational expertise, and find out about some of the professional development workshops we offer. Browse through our publications for museum professionals, and read about recent research projects and conference presentations.
Tap into Our Exhibit and Educational Expertise
The Exploratorium Network for Exhibit-Based Teaching (ExNET) is a hybrid exhibit and teaching program that shares the fruits of our experience with a diverse group of science institutions worldwide. ExNET is part of the Exploratorium’s Exhibit Services Group, which offers exhibits and exhibitions for rent or sale, plus consulting and design services.
Explore Our Professional Development Workshops
We do lots of professional development workshops. For example, the Institute for Inquiry provides a variety of workshops, forums, and resources related to the theory and practice of inquiry-based learning. The PIE (Play, Invent, Explore) program leads workshops to develop and disseminate a range of playful and inventive educational activities that integrate science, art, and digital technologies. CILS workshops focus on learning theory and research and how they can translate to new practices in informal learning settings. These programs support an international community of educators and scientists dedicated to developing innovation and leadership in inquiry-based science education.
Browse Our Publications for Museum Professionals
Over the years, we’ve created a large variety of research and other publications for the field. Many of them are in our Publications page (under Museum Professionals); others are in our Visitor Research and Evaluation section.
Explore Recent Research Projects
What have we been researching recently?
View Recent Conference Presentations: Focus on CILS
Many Exploratorium individuals and groups present at conferences. The Center for Informal Learning and Schools (CILS) is one of them. CILS conducts research on informal learning, the informal science education infrastructure, and the connections between in- and out-of-school science learning. CILS is a partnership of the Exploratorium, King’s College London, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Browse a list of recent conference presentations and sessions contributed by CILS faculty, researchers, students, and practitioners (many include links to relevant papers or PowerPoint presentations).
See the latest job opportunities.
2010/2011 Workshop Schedule
Fundamentals of Inquiry
October 25–29, 2010
Assessing for Learning
February 7–11, 2011
Open for registration now.
Download a detailed brochure [PDF]
CILS led an inquiry group that produced a report for the Center for the Advancement of Informal Education (CAISE). Download Making Science Matter: Collaborations Between Informal Science Education Organizations and Schools. [PDF]
