Measuring the impact of a science center on its community

A range of sources support science learning, including the formal education system, libraries, museums, nature and Science Centers, aquariums and zoos, botanical gardens and arboretums, television programs, film and video, newspapers, radio, books and magazines, the Internet, community and health organizations, environmental organizations, and conversations with friends and family. This study examined the impact of one single part of this infrastructure, a Science Center. This study asked two questions. First, who in Los Angeles (L.A.) has visited the California Science Center and what factors best describe those who have and those who have not visited? Second, does visiting the California Science Center impact public science understanding, attitudes, and behaviors and if so, in what ways? Two random telephone surveys of L.A. county adults 18 years of age and over (n = 832; n = 1,008) were conducted; one in 2000, shortly after the opening of the totally redesigned and rebuilt Science Center and one in 2009, roughly a decade after opening. Samples were drawn from five racially, ethnically, and socio‐economically diverse communities generally representative of greater L.A. Results suggest that the Science Center is having an important impact on the science literacy of greater L.A. More than half of residents have visited the Science Center since it opened in 1998 and self‐report data indicate that those who have visited believe that the Science Center strongly influenced their science and technology understanding, attitudes, and behaviors. Importantly, Science Center visitors are broadly representative of the general population of greater L.A. including individuals from all races and ethnicities, ages, education, and income levels with some of the strongest beliefs of impact expressed by minority and low‐income individuals. The use of a conceptual “marker” substantiates these conclusions and suggests that the impact of the Science Center might even be greater than indicated by the mostly self‐report data reported here. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 48: 1–12, 2011     

The development of a criterion‐referenced profile: the Hertfordshire English Project

Many developments in profiling are taking place at present and a considerable number use a criterion‐referenced assessment model. This study reports the experiences of a local curriculum development project which has developed an English course and summative profile for lower‐attaining pupils. The way in which criterion‐referenced assessment was incorporated into the development of the profile is described, together with the results of a small‐scale survey of teachers’ views of the use of such a profile. Key issues for those developing such profiles in English and other subjects are identified.     

中国科学与技术的现状和前景

本文原标题为《呈蒋介石总统兼大元帅阁下的报告——中国科学与技术的现状和前景》。李约瑟在1943年2月来华,组织成立中英科学合作馆,以促进中英科学合作与交流。其间,他几乎遍访中国非占领区的科学研究机构以及大学和技术工厂等,对中国科学的整体状况有较全面的了解。应当时政府首脑和中国战区陆空军最高统帅蒋介石的要求,在离华前的1945年冬,他以一份秘密报告的形式,向后者提交了自己对中国科学的批评和建议,分别就"增加政府对科学支持的必要性"、"提高中国科学声望的必要性"、"发现懂得科学的政治领袖的必要性"、"设立一个特别的科学技术部"、"教育部和海外留学计划"、"科学社团和其他组织"、"工业机构与工业财富"、"战时中英科学回顾"和"国际科学关系"等九个重大问题陈述了自己的意见。①本译文即为这份报告信的正文。该信被收于李约瑟让中英科学合作馆工作人员整理的《中国文件集》(ChinesePaper,1942-1946)中,现存英国剑桥李约瑟研究所图书馆,编号JN-C:2。正式报告前有一个大纲和内容简介,本译文略去,文中的脚注除已说明为"原注"外,均为编者或译者所加。付邦红译。