Editing Science education (section)

====Informal science education====
[[File:Argonne lab education.jpg|right|thumb|Young women participate in a conference at the [[Argonne National Laboratory]].]]
[[File:Students use microscope LPB Laos.jpg|thumb|Young students use a microscope for the first time, as they examine bacteria a "Discovery Day" organized by [[Big Brother Mouse]], a literacy and education project in Laos.]]
Informal science education is the science teaching and learning that occurs outside of the formal school curriculum in places such as museums, the media, and community-based programs. The [[National Science Teachers Association]] has created a position statement<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/informal.aspx |title=NSTA Position Statement: Informal Science Education |publisher=National Science Teachers Association |access-date=28 October 2011}}</ref> on Informal Science Education to define and encourage science learning in many contexts and throughout the lifespan. Research in informal science education is funded in the United States by the National Science Foundation.<ref>[https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5361 National Science Foundation funding for informal science education]</ref> The [[Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education]] (CAISE)<ref>{{cite web |title=Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) |url=http://www.informalscience.org/}}</ref> provides resources for the informal science education community.

Examples of informal science education include science centers, [[science museums]], and new digital learning environments (''e.g.'' [[Global Challenge Award]]), many of which are members of the [[Association of Science and Technology Centers]] (ASTC).<ref>{{cite web |title=Association of Science-Technology Centers |url=http://astc.org/}}</ref> The [[Franklin Institute]] in Philadelphia and the [[Museum of Science (Boston)]] are the oldest of this type of museum in the United States.  Media include TV programs such as ''[[Nova (American TV program)|NOVA]]'', ''Newton's Apple'', "[[Bill Nye the Science Guy]]","[[Beakman's World]]", ''[[The Magic School Bus]]'', and ''[[Dragonfly TV]]''. Early examples of science education on American television included programs by [[Daniel Q. Posin]], such as "Dr. Posin's Universe", "The Universe Around Us", "On the Shoulders of Giants", and "Out of This World".  Examples of community-based programs are [[4-H]] Youth Development programs, [[Hands On Science Outreach, Inc.|Hands On Science Outreach]], NASA and After school Programs<ref>{{cite web |url=http://education.nasa.gov/divisions/informal/overview/R_NASA_and_Afterschool_Programs.html |title=NASA and Afterschool Programs: Connecting to the Future |publisher=NASA |date=3 April 2006 |access-date=28 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027023742/http://education.nasa.gov/divisions/informal/overview/R_NASA_and_Afterschool_Programs.html |archive-date=27 October 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and Girls at the Center. Home education is encouraged through educational products such as the former (1940-1989) [[Things of Science]] subscription service.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1hwiAAAAIBAJ&pg=4985,4298460&dq=things-of-science&hl=en|title=Thing-of-the-Month Club will provide remarkable objects|last=Othman|first=Frederick C.|date=7 October 1947|work=[[San Jose Evening News]]|access-date=1 November 2013}}</ref>

In 2010, the National Academies released ''Surrounded by Science: Learning Science in Informal Environments'',<ref>{{cite book |author1=Fenichel, M. |author2=Schweingruber, H.A. |author3=National Research Council |title=Surrounded by Science in Informal Environments |publisher=The National Academies Press |location=Washington DC |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-309-13674-7 |url=http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12614|doi=10.17226/12614 }}</ref> based on the National Research Council study, ''Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Committee on Learning Science in Informal Environments, National Research Council |title=Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits |publisher=The National Academies Press |location=Washington DC |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-309-11955-9 |url=http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12190|doi=10.17226/12190 }}</ref> ''Surrounded by Science'' is a resource book that shows how current research on learning science across informal science settings can guide the thinking, the work, and the discussions among informal science practitioners. This book makes valuable research accessible to those working in informal science: educators, museum professionals, university faculty, youth leaders, media specialists, publishers, broadcast journalists, and many others.