ASMD

2026 Directors Forum in St. Paul, MN

ASMD will convene the 2.5 day ASMD 2026 Directors Forum in St. Paul, MN from February 10-12 with travel on February 9 (in time for an evening reception at the conference hotel, the Courtyard Marriott Downtown St. Paul) and February 12 (late afternoon/evening) or February 13. ASMD members Alison Rempel Brown and Holly Menninger will host us at the Science Museum of Minnesota (image on entry page) and the Bell Museum at the University of Minnesota (image below). On February 10, we meet at the SMM, where a panel of experts will explore the value proposition of travelling exhibitions. We will also examine the Race Exhibit Experience through the lens of the Center for Equity and Systems Change at the SMM. On February 11, we will convene at the Bell Museum, where we will look at the innovative use of dioramas and the planetarium for cultural storytelling and Native Land Field Trips by Museum staff and Indigenous partners. We are also putting together a panel to explore new models for successful fundraising strategies during tough economic times. We are bringing back our panelists Marilyn Jackson (President & CEO, AAM), and Christofer Nelson (President and CEO, ASTC), for continued conversation on the ever-evolving “Grand Challenges Museums are Facing,” with ASMD President William Harris serving as Facilitator. On the morning of February 12, we will return to the SMM for a Fireside Chat with Dr. Angela Paccione (Chief Impact Officer, Versus Global) and William Harris about “The Heart of How We Lead.” We will end the Forum with a field trip to the Blue Rhino Studios. The Final Program and the Registration Form are attached. Please remember that registration is restricted to ASMD members and guests invited by the ASMD President.

2025 ASMD Reception for Science Museum Directors at ASTC Conference

If you are an ASMD Member or the Executive Director of a science museum and are attending the 2025 ASTC Conference in San Francisco, please be certain to join us for our annual ASMD Reception for Science Museum Directors. We will gather on Sunday, September 7, 2025 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the InterContinental San Francisco (888 Howard Street) in The Living Room @ Bar 888. ASMD is hosting the bar this year so you may enjoy wine, beer or the cocktail (non-alcoholic or fully loaded) of your choice. The space is in the lobby area of the hotel. ASMD officers including President William Harris and Secretary-Treasurer Jason Cryan will give a preview of the ASMD 2026 Directors Forum in St. Paul, MN and other brief comments about ASMD. You will have plenty of time to make it to the party at the Cal Academy of Sciences.

2025 Museums Advocacy Day in Washington D.C.

ASMD served as a co-convener for this event for the 13th consecutive year! An ASMD delegation of members advocated for all museums at this event. Executive Director Bonnie Styles met in the offices of senators and representatives who serve on appropriations subcommittees that fund agencies, including IMLS, NEH, NSF, NASA, and NOAA, that provide crucial support for museums and museum programs. She advocated for support for all museums (including science museums), and relayed the importance of science education, scientific collections, and research to society and the planet. We encourage all museums to regularly advocate for support for their programs and the educational and economic benefits that they provide to their communities and the world.

2025 ASMD Directors Forum in Salt Lake City

ASMD convened the ASMD 2025 Directors Forum in Salt Lake City, Utah in February. Our 2.5 day meeting started on February 2 with our traditional informal reception in the evening at the conference hotel. ASMD Secretary-Treasurer Jason Cryan, Executive Director of the Natural History Museum of Utah, was our host. Sessions took place in the Natural History Museum of Utah, which is located in a LEED Gold 163,000 square feet facility in the foothills above Salt Lake City and is working towards being a Net Zero Building. We explored exhibitions and behind the scenes at NHMU, as well as visited Olympic Park and the Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City and the Hill Aerospace Museum near Ogden with their Directors and leadership teams. We also had a visual and dining experience in the Cosm Dome in Salt Lake City. The program topics and discussions included taking action on climate issues and sustainability including presentations on the impacts of Drying of the Great Salt Lake, imbedding science and hope in the NHMU’s Climate of Hope exhibition, and the NHMU’s work to reach Net Zero in their facility. We also had a panel discussions that considered non-western and indigenous perspectives of science. A fireside chat facilitated by ASMD President William Harris, and Christofer Nelson and Marilyn Jackson (President and CEO of ASTC and AAM, respectively) addressed tackling the big challenges museums are facing. We also looked at impacts and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence with university and museum experts. The final program is available at this link.

2024 ASMD Directors Reception at the ASTC Conference in Chicago

The 2024 ASMD Reception for Directors at the ASTC Conference in Chicago was on Sunday, September 29 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the TAP Room in the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place (the conference hotel). This Reception was sponsored by ASTC. It was open to all directors of science museums and museums where science is a major area of content and programming. About 80 directors attended. ASMD President William Harrison spoke about ASMD, Vice President Elizabeth Pierce discussed the benefits of membership in ASMD, and Secretary-Treasurer and ASMD 2025 Directors Forum Host Jason Cryan previewed the 2025 Forum, which will be held in Salt Lake City, UT from February 2-5.

2024 ASMD Breakfast at the AAM Annual Meeting in Baltimore

The traditional ASMD breakfast at the AAM meeting was held on May 17, 2024 from 7:00-8:00 a.m. in the Baltimore Convention Center, Rooms 316/317. The breakfast was ticketed ($35 per person) and registration for the breakfast was handled through the AAM registration process. All Museum Directors who work at museums with significant science content, exhibitions, and programming are always welcome to register for this annual breakfast. The 2024 breakfast was sponsored by PGAV Destinations, and this sponsorship helps support ASMD programs. We thank them for their generous support. ASMD President William Harris facilitated a discussion of hot topics that members and potential members would like to see discussed at the ASMD 2025 Directors Forum in Salt Lake City.

ASMD 2024 Directors Forum in Washington D.C.

The ASMD 2024 Directors Forum convened in Washington D.C. on February 21-24. Our co-hosts were Kirk Johnson, ASMD member and Sant Director of the National Museum of Natural History, and Christofer Nelson, President and CEO of the Association of Science and Technology Centers. We had sessions in the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), the NMNH’s Museum Support Center in Suitland, Maryland, the American Geophysical Union’s Net Zero building (which now includes the ASTC Headquarters), the National Air and Space Museum, and the National Gallery of Art, with optional post-conference visits to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Museum of the American Indian. Presentations considered a wide variety of issues in the museum field including repatriation, shared stewardship, and ethical returns; decolonizing museum experiences and providing First Peoples perspectives; moving forward with DEAI and social and environmental justice; protecting threatened cultural heritage sites, making museum data accessible to address critical issues; embedding climate science in popular exhibitions; promoting action and public engagement on climate change and planetary health, advancing equity in STEM, and reimagining museums. For the final program, including speakers, click on the link. Registration was open to current ASMD members, Associate Directors invited by current ASMD Members and Museum Directors and Special Guests invited by the ASMD President. For a copy of the registration form, click here.

2023 ASMD Reception for Directors at the ASTC Annual Conference in Charlotte

Please join us for our traditional reception for science museum directors at the ASTC Annual Conference. Our reception will be on Sunday, October 8 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Charlotte Convention Center in Room E221B. This happy hour will include light snacks and a cash bar. ASMD will buy the first drink for members and prospective members! Don’t miss this opportunity to get a preview of the program for our ASMD 2024 Directors Forum in Washington DC. Use this reception as part of your warm up for the big party at Discovery Place.

2023 ASMD Breakfast at the AAM Annual Meeting in Denver

The traditional ASMD breakfast at the AAM meeting was held on May 19, 2023 from 7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Denver Convention Center, Room 606. The breakfast was ticketed ($35 per person) and registration for the breakfast was handled through the AAM registration process. The breakfast sold out! All Museum Directors who work at museums with significant science content, exhibitions, and programming were welcome to register for the breakfast. This year’s breakfast was again sponsored by PGAV Destinations, and this sponsorship helps support ASMD programs. We thank them for their generous support.

2023 ASMD Directors Forum in Cincinnati and Dayton

We held our ASMD 2023 Directors Forum from January 31, 2022-February 3, 2023 in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. The Cincinnati Museum Center and Boonshoft Museum of Discovery co-hosted the meeting. We were based in Cincinnati where we explored the beautifully renovated Union Terminal and Cincinnati Museum Center museums and facilities, their Geier Collections Center, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center with their Leadership Teams. A day trip to Dayton featured the Boonshoft Museum, SunWatch Indian Village and Archaeological Park, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and Carillon Historical Park. The program committee targeted hot topics including partnerships, collaborations, ensuring diverse voices and perspectives, sensitivity to changing staff expectations, and digital assets and distance and STEM learning. We heard from leaders from AAM and ASTC, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Ohio History Connection, Carillon Historical Park, and our host museums and members. We hope you took this opportunity to strategize with other directors in the informal retreatlike atmosphere that is the hallmark of our meetings. Access the Final Program here.

2022 ASMD Reception for Directors at the ASTC Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh

We integrated our traditional ASMD Reception for Science Museum Directors at the 2022 ASTC Conference with a new special event hosted by ASTC!

We hope you joined us at ASTC 2022 on Wednesday, September 14 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at the ASTC Rooftop Reunion and celebrate being back together and learning about our preliminary plans for the ASMD 2023 Directors Forum. Although this event was open to all attendees, ASTC set up special sections for ASMD and other groups to gather and engage with other participants. ASTC is provided all attendees with one drink ticket, and ASMD covered a second drink for ASMD members and other science museum directors interested in joining ASMD. Additional beverages were available for purchase at a series of themed bars. ASTC also provided light appetizers. This event was on the stunning rooftop terrace of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The venue provided access to panoramic views of Pittsburgh, and a good time was had by all. 

2022 ASMD Breakfast at AAM Annual Meeting in Boston

Our traditional ASMD Breakfast was held in person at the AAM Annual Meeting in Boston, MA on Friday, May 20 from 7:30-8:30 a.m. in Room 205C in the Boston Convention and & Exhibition Center. The breakfast was ticketed ($35 per person) and registration for the breakfast was handled through the AAM registration process. All Museum Directors who work at museums with significant science content, exhibitions, and programming were welcome to register for the breakfast. This year’s breakfast was sponsored by PGAV Destinations, and this sponsorship will help support ASMD programs.

2022 ASMD Directors Forum in Seattle

Julie Stein (Burke Museum), Matt Hayes (Museum of Flight), and William Daugherty (Pacific Science Center) hosted the 2022 Directors Forum in Seattle, WA from February 1-4. The program committee of Vice Presidents William Harris (Space Center Houston) and Tracy Calogheros (The Exploration Place + Science Centre), other Board Members (President Joe Keiper, Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Pierce, Immediate Past President Todd Boyette, and Executive Director Bonnie Styles), and our hosts developed an exciting Final Program that you can access by clicking the link. We were excited to get back to our in-person format for the 2022 Directors Forum. Program elements and director-led tours took place in all three host museums, plus we arranged special visits to the Amazon Spheres, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Climate Pledge Arena, with optional free visits to the Space Needle and Museum of Pop Culture. Only ASMD Members, Associate Directors invited by an ASMD member, and CEO/Presidents invited by the ASMD President may participate in ASMD Directors Forums. You may check out the registration forum to get a sense of costs Registration Form. ASMD members may register a significant other on their registration form and they are able to participate in social and field trip functions.

2021 Virtual ASMD Directors Forum

The ASMD Board and Program Committee made the decision that our 2021 Directors Forum would be virtual because of ongoing concerns about the Covid-19 Pandemic. We utilized the dates originally targeted for the 2021 Forum. We held a virtual Happy Hour Reception on Sunday, February 7, and met on Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9. ASMD Vice Presidents William Harris (Space Center Houston) and Meg Beckel (Canadian Museum of Nature) chaired the program committee and targeted excellent topics. Check out the Final Program here. The meeting was open to ASMD member directors in good standing and invited guests.

2020 ASMD Directors Reception at ASTC in Pittsburgh-Canceled

We planned to host our third annual ASMD Reception for Directors at the 2020 ASTC Annual meeting in Pittsburgh (October 17-20). However, the 2020 ASTC meeting has been changed to a virtual format. These receptions are a great time for ASMD members and prospective members to learn more about ASMD, network with other science museum directors, and enjoy refreshments from the cash bar. We plan to schedule our ASMD Directors Reception for the 2021 ASTC meeting.

2020 ASMD Breakfast at AAM Meeting in San Francisco-Canceled

Our ASMD Spring Directors Breakfast was going to be held in conjunction with the  2020 AAM Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA.  However, the AAM meeting was converted to a virtual format because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. We plan to schedule our traditional breakfast for science museum directors for the 2021 AAM Annual Meeting.

2020 ASMD Directors Forum in Chapel Hill

Todd Boyette, Director of the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center hosted the 2020 ASMD Directors Forum in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The meeting ran from February 17 through noon on February 19, with travel days on February 16 and evening of February 19. We stayed in a block of rooms at the Carolina Inn, an iconic destination hotel in Chapel Hill located on the University of North Carolina campus within a short walking distance from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. The program committee, led by Vice Presidents Julie Stein and Joe Keiper, also included Todd Boyette, Elizabeth Pierce, Denise Young, Terri Trotter, and  Bonnie Styles. They developed an invigorating program. A copy of the Final Program for the 2020 ASMD Directors Forum is attached here. Please note that registration for the 2020 Forum was limited to ASMD members and assistant directors invited by an ASMD member. If you are not a member, please consider applying for ASMD membership so you will be able to participate in a future Forum.

2019 ASMD Spring Breakfast at AAM Meeting in New Orleans

We hope you attended our ASMD Spring Directors Breakfast that was held in conjunction with the 2019 AAM Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA.  The breakfast was held on Tuesday, May 21, 2019  from 7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Marriott New Orleans, Napoleon room on the 41st floor of the River Tower. ASMD President Sarah George provided an overview of ASMD and recent activities, and Vice President Julie Stein previewed some of the plans for 2020 ASMD Directors Forum in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

2019 ASMD Directors Reception at ASTC in Toronto

We hosted our second annual ASMD Reception for Directors at the 2019 ASTC Annual meeting in Toronto. The reception took place in the Toronto Convention Centre, Room 501 on Saturday, September 21 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.  ASMD members and prospective members enjoyed learning more about ASMD, networking with other science museum directors, and refreshment from the cash bar.

2019 ASMD Directors Forum in New York

The 2019 Directors Forum was held in Rochester and Ithaca, New York on February 4-6. The Final Program and Schedule for the 2019 Directors Forum is available here.

ASMD Reception at 2018 ASTC Meeting in Hartford

ASMD hosted a reception for directors who are current or prospective members of ASMD at the 2018 Association of Science-Technology Centers meeting in Hartford, Connecticut. The reception was held on Saturday, September 29 in the Marriott Hartford from 6:00-7:00 p.m. The reception included a presentation about ASMD by President Sarah George, as well as a cash bar and free hors d’oeuvres. The event was well attended and resulted in several new ASMD members.

2018 ASMD Spring Breakfast at AAM Meeting in Phoenix

The 2018 ASMD Spring Breakfast was held on Tuesday, May 8 from 7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Sheraton Grand in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting.

2018 ASMD Directors Forum in Houston

William Harris hosted us at Space Center Houston and the Johnson Space Center from January 29-31.  The link for the final program for the 2018 Directors Forum is provided here: Final program for 2018 Directors Forum in Houston, Texas