Session Summary

Informal Science Institutions and Equity: Taking This Moment to Act With Justice

Thu, April 21, 9:45 to 11:15am PDT (9:45 to 11:15am PDT), Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, Floor: South Building, Level 1, Pacific Ballroom 19

Session Type: Structured Poster Session

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts on museums and science institutions; months of closure, staff furloughs and leaves, with some anticipating shuttering permanently. Amidst this global tragedy, the racial reckoning sparked from the murder of George Floyd propelled into the mainstream long overdue discourse on systemic racism and anti-Blackness. From these tragedies emerges an opportunity for informal science institutions to directly address racism, equality and justice. In this poster session, we share compelling research from multiple sites representing natural history/collections based museums as well as interactive science spaces of efforts to put equity not only front and center but also systemically so that the work can endure.

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