The new england aquarium will launch a multi-tiered professional development program for staff to learn new evaluation methods to enhance visitor experience

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the New England Aquarium Corporation $600,133 on September 1, 2026, through the Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301) to launch a multi-tiered professional development program in evaluation methods for staff, volunteers, and interns.

The project will establish a sustainable evaluation infrastructure and strengthen social science research and evaluation in informal learning settings. Up to fifty participants will engage in cohort-based evaluation training, hands-on experiences, biannual professional development workshops, and a dozen applied evaluation projects. The work will produce a sustainable institutional evaluation framework and annual evaluation planning process designed to improve the design of educational and community engagement programs at the aquarium and ensure visitor experiences are informed by audience feedback.

The award runs through August 31, 2029, with place of performance in Boston, Massachusetts.

The project will establish a sustainable evaluation infrastructure, strengthen social science research and evaluation in informal learning, and expand professional development opportunities within and beyond the organization. Up to fifty staff, volunteers, and interns will participate in evaluation professional development activities through a series of cohort-based evaluation training and hands-on experiences, biannual professional development workshops, and a dozen applied evaluation projects. The project will result in a sustainable institutional evaluation framework and annual evaluation planning process that will improve the design of educational and community engagement programs at the aquarium as well as ensure visitor experiences are informed by audience feedback.