Stimulating learning through steam has two core objectives: (1) reimagine a more engaging experience for the museums 80,000 annual visitors by integrating hands-on learning, digital interactives,…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $500,000 Project Grant under the Congressionally Identified Awards and Projects program (CFDA 11.469) to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society, operating as the New Bedford Whaling Museum, located in New Bedford, MA. The grant will fund a project with two core objectives: (1) reimagining the museum's visitor experience by integrating hands-on learning, digital interactives, and refreshed content in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM); and (2) creating a new educational model for the museum's K-12 student visitors to empower them as active stewards of the environment. Specific activities include updating science content, developing permanent hands-on exhibits and digital interactives, creating and piloting new K-12 school programs, and converting existing space into a flexible maker space. This project aims to position the museum as a leader in inquiry-based science education and advance the scientific knowledge and environmental stewardship of all visitors, particularly K-12 students. The grant period runs from January 1, 2025 to September 30, 2027.

Stimulating learning through steam has two core objectives: (1) reimagine a more engaging experience for the museums 80,000 annual visitors by integrating hands-on learning, digital interactives, and refreshed content in science, technology, engineering, art, and math; and (2) create a new educational model for the museums k-12 student visitors that empowers them to become active stewards of our shared environment, now and into the future. Together, these two objectives support the museums mission to ignite learning through explorations of art, history, science and culture rooted in the stories of people, the region, and an international seaport. Specific activities for this project include (1) updating science content and developing permanent hands-on displays for the museums whales today exhibit; (2) developing and implementing two digital interactives to teach lessons in natural resource allocation, geography, environmental science, and climate change; (3) developing and piloting two new k-12 school programs and revise existing school programs to incorporate new content and meet education standards; (4) developing and piloting new model for delivering school programs by integrating paid professional educators; and (5) converting and fitting out existing retail space into a flexible maker space for expanded school group and family programs. This project will further the museums vision to be a leader in inquiry-based science education and to use its outstanding collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to advance the scientific knowledge of all visitors, and especially K12 students, and empower them to become active stewards of our shared environment, now and into the future.