Abstract
This discussion covers how space-based museums and science centers increase science literacy, promote public appreciation for/understanding of bioastronautics education, and publicize the relevance and benefits of space exploration to life on Earth. Globally, these institutions are considered essential for educating scientifically literate publics, and they are deemed central to the global astronautic vision that space exploration enhances our understanding of Earth and the universe, while also producing benefits for future generations (IAA, 2010). Space museums and science centers differ from traditional museums, which have existed for centuries to preserve and provide access to culture and objects of art. Private museums often have specialized missions, while multidisciplinary museums, such as the American Museum of Natural History, may have broad mandates ranging from exhibits on dinosaurs to IMAX films and space shows in their planetariums. Space museums and science centers also may offer a wide variety of experiences covering space and aviation history, technology-driven exhibits, and multimedia programs that interpret space exploration science and translate bioastronautics research for their respective audiences. They collaborate with the full spectrum of educational institutions – from elementary through postgraduate levels –to create new space-related materials and promote deeper understanding of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) fields. Many space museums are funded by both governmental and nongovernmental entities and serve wide-ranging constituencies – students, teachers, families, and general populations – through an array of activities, including multimedia productions (e.g., television, film, radio, web-based), topical exhibits, teacher professional development programs, and summer/after school education programs (MacLeish et al., Acta Astronaut 63:1158–1167, 2008).
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MacLeish, M.Y. (2020). Museums. In: Young, L.R., Sutton, J.P. (eds) Handbook of Bioastronautics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_102-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_102-2
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