To increase engagement with science and technology, young people around the world are encouraged to attend activities at science centers. But how effective are these activities? Since women have weaker ability beliefs and interest in technology than men, it is especially important to learn how science center visits affect them. In this study, we…

This article sets out to discuss physical prerequisites for creativity. Creativity has come to be regarded as one of the most valuable attributes a person can have, at least in today's Western societies. This article builds on and incorporates material from a Swedish project called Entrepreneurship Liminal space, Creativity, and Understanding. The…

In this forum article, I reflect on the findings by Eva Silfver in "Gender performance in an out of school science context." Silfver has studied a class of 14-15-year-old students during a visit to a science center. The students are supposed to write a computer program that will steer a Lego car. In their activities, Silfver identifies…

This article examines how school students perform gender during a visit to a science centre where they programme Lego cars. The focus is on how students relate to each other--how they talk and what they do. Theoretically, the article draws on the 'heterosexual matrix' and a Foucauldian understanding of how power and knowledge are tightly…

Within a theoretical framework grounded in design for learning, this article presents a research project about pupils' engagement during programming education. In a design-theoretical perspective, everyone who is somehow engaged in a learning process is a designer. The results show that how pupils design their learning when programming is related…

Hands-on digital interactivity in science centers provides new communicative opportunities. The "Microcosmos" multi-touch table allows visitors to interact with 64 image "cards" of (sub)microscopic biological structures and processes embedded across seven theme categories. This study presents the integration of biological…

The advent of nanoscientific applications in modern life is swiftly in progress. Nanoscale innovation comes with the pressing need to provide citizens and learners with scientific knowledge for judging the societal impact of nanotechnology. In rising to the challenge, this paper reports the developmental phase of a research agenda concerned with…

In June 2009 Pamela Melrose was a recipient of a "Premier's Energy Australia Scholarship". Her study tour took her to Scandinavia. This paper is an account of that tour. In her report Pamela argues for the use of authentic studies in science teaching. She cites examples from museums, nature schools and research establishments to…

Stockholm House of Science, focusing on astronomy, biotechnology and physics for students and teachers at school, is based on the proven concept of Stockholm Science Laboratory, which was mainly devoted to physics. The House of Science has become a popular and important resource and meeting place for teachers and students, stimulating interest in…

The focus of this article is on ten 5-year-old children and their teacher visiting a "Way of the water" exhibition (a large scale model showing the flow of water from the mountains to the sea) at a science centre and a later follow up discussion at a circle-time back at pre-school. The aims of the study were to analyse, describe and…

This report is a summary of experience gained on international study tours and conferences about ways to increase young people's interest in science and technology and to change girls' attitudes towards technology by presenting the subject in a more interesting way. The document begins with some general thoughts about the significance of…