Staff and Board members at the Institute for Learning Innovation (ILI)celebrate Dr. Lynn D. Dierking upon her retirement from ILI. Most recently a Principal Researcher, she has made significant contributions to the organization over many years, and across various roles. In addition to her work at ILI, Lynn is also a Sea Grant Professor Emeritus in Free-Choice Learning at Oregon State University.

During her years at ILI, Lynn’s work has been defined by a commitment to basic and applied research that strengthens learning ecosystems and informs practice and policy in free-choice learning. Her contributions span research and evaluation, research conducted in service to practice, learning ecosystem development, and convening, with a consistent focus on equity, public engagement, and the role of families and communities in learning.

Lynn helped lead and shape research and evaluation efforts focused on STEM engagement and the value of free-choice learning experiences, including international collaborations such as the NSF and UK Wellcome Trust funded YeSTEM: Partnering for Equitable STEM Pathways, which centered youth voice in STEM learning, as well as large-scale studies examining the educational, social, and economic value of museum experiences across the U.S. and in Mexico. This work advanced understanding of how lifelong learning across varied settings (schools, but also museums, libraries, after school settings, and the workplace) contributes to individual development, family and community well-being, and broader societal outcomes.

Equally central to Lynn’s work at ILI has been translating research into practice. Through projects such as Lineage, an NSF-funded partnership with Twin Cities PBS and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and collaborative work with institutions such as the Royal Ontario Museum, Lynn helped translate research findings in ways that project partners and the larger field can use them to inform the design of learning environments and experiences that support meaningful family and intergenerational learning.

In addition, Lynn was instrumental in designing and facilitating national and international convenings that brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to reimagine science education for the 21st century. Through NSF-supported efforts focused on international science education policy and public awareness of STEM, these convenings created spaces for shared learning and dialogue with the goal of broadening STEM participation, particularly for women and underrepresented communities.

Lynn’s contributions have shaped the Institute for Learning Innovation since it was founded in 1986 and her leadership, along with that of Dr. John Falk, contributed greatly to our organization’s reputation as a leader in free-choice learning research, practice, and policy. Although retiring from her role as Principal Researcher, Lynn plans to remain active in the field and continue to collaborate with the Institute for Learning Innovation team.

As the Institute for Learning Innovation enters a new era without the direct day-to-day engagement of our founders, we are excited to build upon their legacy and continue to collaborate with cultural institutions and community-based organizations across the U.S. and around the world to understand and improve the process of learning. In this new era, we are also expanding the practical applications of our work. ILI has long conducted innovative research and evaluation in free-choice learning settings and while this remains core to our work, we are now focusing our efforts on the development of practical tools and resources that organizations and communities can use to support access to high quality learning opportunities in a wide variety of places and contexts. We believe that a focus on the process of learning can help individuals, organizations, and communities to accelerate their impact.

Please join us in celebrating Lynn’s contributions as we take inspiration from her 40+ year career. You can reach out to Lynn at lynn.dierking@oregonstate.edu.

If you are interested in learning more about the Institute’s current work and future directions, please reach out to ILI’s CEO, Dr. Kim Robinson at kim.robinson@freechoicelearning.org. We’d love to be in touch!