Portal to the Public

Portal to the Public is expanding where and when people learn over their lifetime by helping informal science education (ISE) organizations connect public audiences with the scientists working in their communities, through face-to-face interactions at public programs and events. The hallmark of the approach is a flexible guiding framework that gives ISE organizations the ability to design and scale specific strategies to fit their own specific goals. Individual Portal to the Public programs have measurable impacts on public audiences, participating scientists, and on the host organizations. Originally focused on science museums, the Network has expanded to include zoos, aquariums, natural history museums, botanical gardens, research centers, and university groups. As of October 2018, 60 organizations across North America have worked with the Portal to the Public team to develop a comprehensive plan for integrating the guiding framework into their operations. Many others have adopted components of the framework independently. Read more about the Portal to the Public.

Project Team: Eve Klein M.Ed.