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John H. Falk is Sea Grant Professor in Free-Choice Learning in the Department of Science and Mathematics Education at Oregon State University and President of the Institute for Learning Innovation. He received a joint doctorate in biology and education from the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests include studying the long-term impact of free-choice learning on individuals and the structure and functioning of organizations that support free-choice learning, particularly museums.
Lynn D. Dierking is Sea Grant Professor in Free-Choice Learning in the Department of Science and Mathematics Education at Oregon State University and Vice President for Special Initiatives at the Institute for Learning Innovation, Annapolis, MD. Her research interests include the long-term impact of free-choice learning experiences on children, families and adults and the development and evaluation of community-based programs. Currently, she and a colleague at the Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia are collaborating on a NSF-funded research project to retrospectively investigate the long-term impact of gender-focused free-choice science learning experiences on girls’ interest, engagement, and involvement in science communities, careers and hobbies.
Léonie J. Rennie is professor of science and technology education and Dean of Graduate Studies at Curtin University of Technology in Australia. Her research interests include adults’ and children’s learning in science and technology and the communication of science in a range of out-of-school contexts. Currently, she is working on research projects relating to integrated curriculum in science, mathematics and technology, and a statewide program to enhance scientific literacy in the community.
Gina F. Williams currently is a stay-at-home mother of two and pursuing a master’s degree in science communication from the Australian National University. At the time of the research, she was working as a Research Associate with Léonie J. Rennie at Curtin University of Technology in Australia. Gina was involved in a number of projects with a focus on the communication of science, in particular research into the learning experiences of adults in free-choice learning environments. With a background in science, Gina became interested in the issues involved in communicating science whilst working as an explainer at a science center. Her research interests include the wider community’s engagement with science in their everyday lives, and the development of community-based science projects.
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Falk, J.H., Dierking, L.D., Rennie, L.J. et al. Forum: communication about science in a traditional museum—visitors’ and staff’s perceptions. Cult.Scie.Edu. 1, 821–829 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-006-9036-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-006-9036-7