Looking Ahead: A Vision of Informal Science Education in 2070

Authors: Danielle Harlow, Jasmine Marckwordt, Alexandria Muller

Abstract: Science learning occurs not only in schools, but also in places as varied as museums, zoos, aquaria, libraries, after-school programs, National Parks, beaches, and backyards. In these spaces, children and adults explore science at their own pace, following their own interests. Collectively, the learning that is happening in these out-of-school environments where people are encountering science ideas and phenomena is referred to as “informal science learning” or by other terms such as “free choice learning,” “lifelong learning,” and “out-of-school learning.” In this chapter, we envision the future of spaces specifically designed to support informal science learning.

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