What would happen if we were not there

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• What would happen if we were not there?
• How can science centres and museums assess their
  action
• and measure their efficiency
• 01 June 2007 / 0915
• Ulrich Kernbach
• Deutsches Museum

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• The unsolved problem of measuring success
• How can science centres and science museums
  assess their action?
• How can they measure their efficiency?
• How can scientific and technical culture be
  evaluated?
• Which model of evaluation can respond to the
  diversity of s.c. and s.m.?
• Do s.c. and s.m. improve visitors decision
  making process?
• Do s.c. and s.m. help to increase the number of
  science students?
• Can evaluation methods from social and economic
  sciences be used
• for our field?

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The Impact of Science Centers/Museums on their
Surrounding Communities An international
project funded by thirteen science centers
conducted by Robin Garnett Questacon, Australia
(2002) Assessing the Economic Impact of
Science Centres on their Local Communities Phase
2 of an international study Ilze
Groves Questacon, Australia (2003)
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Conclusions . There is a need for more
long-term studies of the impact of science
centers on individuals. . The Impact of
Science Centers/Museums on their Surrounding
Communities An international project funded by
thirteen science centers conducted by Robin
Garnett - Questacon, Australia (2002) For
future research . The real challenge how to
measure and demonstrate the long-term impacts on
individuals and communities? . Assessing the
Economic Impact of Science Centres on their Local
Communities - Phase 2 of an international
study Ilze Groves - Questacon, Australia (2003)
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Evaluating the immeasurable by Colin
Johnson Ecsite Newsletter (Issue? Year? Pages 10
-11, Food for Thought and Discussion) . What
I am looking for is an answer to this question
how can I track the long-term cognitive and
affective gains from visits to science centers,
museums and so on? It is part of the folklore
that many of Britains scientists were inspired
to take the subject by the old childrens
gallery in the basement of the Science
Museum. .
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Prof. Dr. Ernst Otto Fischer Nobel Prize in
Chemistry 1973
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Visitor studies Is there a science museum in
Germany which you would rate as high or even
higher than the Deutsches? no 90 Would
you say that even after 100 years the Deutsches
Museum has an international standing? Yes,
definitely 75 Yes, with reservation
23 Would you even place it among the front
runners such as the Louvre, the British Museum or
the Museums Island in Berlin? Yes,
definitely 59 Yes, with reservation 36
Quelle Visitor study (April 2004) Prof.
Hans-Joachim Klein, University of Karlsruhe
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• High national and international reputation
• The museum with the highest visitor numbers in
  Germany
• 1.4 Million visitor numbers annually
• Educational mission (with an effect on career
  choices)
• Vocational training institution (lifelong
  learning)
• High scientific standard
• High credibility and acceptance within the
  general public