CLEVELAND, OH – (December 27, 2018) – The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently announced the appointment of Great Lakes Science Center President and Chief Executive Officer Kirsten Ellenbogen to a new committee created to advance science communication nationally. Dr. Ellenbogen is one of 16 national nonprofit, academic, public health, and journalism leaders in science communication appointed to the committee.
The Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication Research and Practice was created to build upon the strong response to the recent Academies report Communicating Science Effectively: A Research Agenda, and build a network of scientists, funders and other stakeholders across a range of disciplines. The committee’s work will build a more coherent knowledge base for the field and make it easier for science communication practitioners to access and use research. The National Academies is a private, nonprofit organization, originally established by Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Today, the organization provides independent, objective advice to the nation by bringing together the country’s top researchers to solve complex scientific problems and inform public policy decisions.
This is not the first time Dr. Ellenbogen has worked with the National Academies on important issues facing the nation. She has been tapped to provide reports and testimony to the Climate Communication Initiative, Chemistry in Primetime and Online, the Committee on Out-of-School STEM Learning, and the Committee on Science Learning K-8. She was also appointed to the Committee on the Status of Research on Learning Science within Informal Settings that produced the volume Learning Science in Informal Environments.
“As the world of science, technology, engineering and math becomes increasingly intertwined with our everyday lives, the need for a solid network of credible science communicators becomes imperative. The National Academies have made a prescient choice in selecting Dr. Ellenbogen to contribute to its new science communication initiative,” said Science Center Board of Directors Chairman David Peace. “The Science Center board is confident she will bring the same level of dedication and insight about engaging the public in science that she exhibits on a daily basis in her leadership role at the museum to her new position on this prestigious committee.”
Dr. Ellenbogen has served as president and CEO of the Science Center since 2013. She brings 30 years of experience in informal science education to this role, with a career that has advanced the field by playing a leading role in founding new professional organizations, building advanced degree programs, creating national-scale collaborations, and conducting groundbreaking research.
She also served as co-principal investigator of the Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education that works in collaboration with the National Science Foundation to strengthen and advance the field of informal STEM education. Her learning research focuses on measuring the community impact of science centers, understanding the role of museums in family life and the broader learning ecosystem, and facilitating digital environments to support STEM learning and scientific argumentation.
“The Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication Research and Practice is a unique opportunity to coalesce and lift up vital work in science communication, which will in turn benefit the public’s ability to make informed choices and decisions in our increasingly science and technology-oriented world,” said Ellenbogen upon her appointment. “Working alongside such renowned leaders is an honor.”
A full bio of Dr. Ellenbogen is available at GreatScience.com.
(Editor’s Note: The Science Center’s fall/winter operating hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The Science Center is closed on Mondays and during all Cleveland Browns home games.)
About Great Lakes Science Center
Great Lakes Science Center, home of the NASA Glenn Visitor Center, makes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) come alive for more than 300,000 visitors a year through hundreds of hands-on exhibits, temporary exhibitions, the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater, Steamship William G. Mather, daily science demonstrations, seasonal camps, and more. The Science Center is funded in part by the citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Visit GreatScience.com for more information.
