Skip navigation
Joe E. Heimlich
Senior Research Associate | Columbus, OH
heimlich@ilinet.org

Click here for full CV

Areas of Interest

  • Free-choice learning and the environment
  • Program evaluation in free-choice environmental education learning institutions
  • Lifespan learning

Recent Projects

  • NSF AYS/Case Western University - Science in the Circle (2007-2009)
  • NSF/University of Minnesota - Best Practices for Field Days (2006-2008)
  • NSF/Miami University & Cincinnati Zoo - Wild Research (2006-2009)
  • Disney Animal Kingdom - Advisory work: Evaluation (2004-present)
  • Project WET - Advisory work: Evaluation and Research Team (2004-present)
  • USDA/University of Missouri - What's Lurking in the Kitchen (2006-2008)

Recent Published & Presented Work

Heimlich, J.E. (November, 2010). Visitors within and across art museums: Creating a baseline for comparison while building capacity. American Evaluation Association. San Antonio, TX.

Heimlich, J.E. (November, 2010). Gay and lesbian visitors in museum evaluation. American Evaluation Association. San Antonio, TX.

Tinworth, K., Kessler, C., Heimlich, J.E., & Tisdal, C. (November, 2010). Evaluation in action: A sampler of tracking and timing methodologies in museums, cultural, and informal edcuation settings. American Evaluation Association. San Antonio, TX.

Heimlich, J.E. (October, 2010). Advancing the science behind science programs: a program-evaluation think tank. Moderator. ASTC. Honolulu, HI.

Heimlich, J.E. (October, 2010). Taking the mystery out of mystery shopping. ASTC. Honolulu, HI.

Heimlich, J.E, Koke, J., Luke,J., & Novak-Leonard, J. (July, 2010). Learning from the edges, Moving to the middle. Visitor Studies Conference. Phoenix, AZ.

Heimlich, J.E. (May, 2010). Evaluation and National Project WILD. Project WILD International Coordinators' Conference. Seabrook Island, SC.

Askue, L., Heimlich, J.E., Yu, J. P., Wang, X., & Lakly, M. ( 2009), Measuring a professional conservation education training program for zoos and wildlife parks in China. Journal of Zoo Biology, 28(5).

Heimlich, J.E. (2009). Environmental education evaluation: Reinterpreting education as a strategy for meeting mission. Journal of Evaluation and Program Planning, 33(2),180-185.

Heimlich, J.E. (November, 2009). Discussant. Visitor studies: A sampler. Evaluation 2009. Orlando, FL.

Heimlich, J.E. (November, 2009). Environmental education evaluation: Reinterpreting education as a strategy for meeting mission. Evaluation 2009. Orlando, FL.

Heimlich, J.E. (October, 2009). Finding, losing, and building trust in new partnerships. In Partnerships and progress: Crossfire and compromise at institutional boundaries. Out-of-School Time STEM: Building Experience, Buidling Bridges. National Science Foundation. Arlington, VA.

Heimlich, J.E, Stylinski, C., & Storksdieck, M.. (October, 2009). Children and nature: What works and how do we know? 6th Annual Research Symposium. NAAEE. Portland, OR.

Heimlich, J.E, Yocco, V., Anzazano, J., Myers, C., & Marsh, D. (October, 2009). Wild about Wild Research: Evaluation for building a new experience for the zoo. North American Association for Environmental Education 38th Annual Conference, Portland, OR.

Heimlich, J.E & Norland, E. (May, 2009). Starting with the end in mind. Framing outcomes for needs assessment. North American Association for Environmental Education 38th Annual Conference, Portland, OR.

Yocco, V.S., Heimlich, J.E., Meyer, E., & Edwards, P. (2009). Measuring public value: An instrument and an art museum case study. Visitors Studies, 12(2),152-163.

Heimlich, J.E. & Ardoin, N. (2008). Understanding behavior to understand behavior change: A literature review. Environmental Education Research.3(14), 215-236.

Heimlich, J.E. &  Fraser, J.  Eds, (2008). Special Issue: Where is Queer? Museums & Social Issues: A Journal of Reflective Discourse.

Heimlich, J.E. & Ogden, J. Eds, (2008). Special Issue: Zoo Education. Zoo Biology.

Heimlich, J.E. & Falk, J.H. (2008), Free-choice learning and the environment. In Falk, J.H., Heimlich, J.E., and Foutz, S. Eds, Free Choice Learning and the Environment. Los Altos, CA: Altmira Press

Falk, J.H., J.E. Heimlich, & K. Bronnenkant. (2008). The identity-related motivations of adult zoo and aquarium visitors, Curator. 51(1), 55-79.

Heimlich, J.E., (2007). Research trends in the United States: EE to ESD. The Journal of Education for Sustainable Development. 1(2): 219-227.

Heimlich, J.E. & M. Storksdieck, (2007). Changing thinking about learning for a changing world, Southern African Journal of Environmental Education. Vol 24: 63-75.

Clark, C., Brody, M., Dillon, J., Hart, P., & Heimlich, J. (2007). The messy process of research: Dilemmas, answers, and critique The Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 12, 110-126.

Heimlich, J.E. & Bronnenkant, K., (2007) Assessing the impact of a visit to a zoo or aquarium: Why zoos and aquariums matter. North American Association for Environmental Education. 14-17 November, Virginia Beach.

Mony, P. & Heimlich, J.E.  (2007). Talking to visitors: Role of zoo docents in message communication. North American Association for Environmental Education. 14-17 November, Virginia Beach.

Heimlich, J.E. and Bronnenkant, K. (2007). Going beyond demographics: Why visit? Research Symposium: North American Association for Environmental Education. 13-14 November, Virginia Beach.

Heimlich, J.E. (2006). "Facing my ghosts. One of the Three responses to Cheryl Meszaros' evil "whatever" interpretation." Visitor Studies Today. 9(3), 17-19.

Heimlich, J. E. (2006). Teaching methods and program development in EE. Environmental Education (Japan). 15(3), 95-97.

Heimlich, J. E. (2006). Discussion report: Agenda 5: Reorenting EE towards ESD in the Asia-Pacific Open Forum 1: Report: analysis Report on the Past and Present of EE Research in the Asia-Pacific: Research Themes that Emerged from the Six Research Papers.

Heimlich, J.E. Ed. (2005). Special Issue: Free-choice learning and the environment. Environmental Education Research. 11(3).

Heimlich, J. E. (2004). Programme, performance, and professionalism: Improving the field by data. In Azeiteiro, U., F. Goncalves, W. Filho, F. Morgado and M Pereira (eds)World Trends in Environmental Education. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.

Heimlich, J. E. (2004). What's fair got to do with it: Diversity cases from environmental educators. San Francisco: WestEd. Madfes, T.J. ed.

Professional Experience

2008-:Specialist Visitor Studies, OSU Extension@COSI; Associate Professor, School of Natural Resources, OSU; Associate Professor, Environmental Science Graduate Studies
1997-2008:Leader, Environmental Science, OSU Extension; Associate Professor, School of Natural Resources, OSU; Associate Professor, Environmental Science Graduate Studies
1990-1997:Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources & Leader, Environmental Science, OSU Extension
1981-1990:OSU Extension, Program Associate, Community Development

Education:

  • PhD., Adult Education, 1990, The Ohio State University
  • M.A., Policy Education, 1989, The Ohio State University
  • B.A., Communication Arts, Theatre & Dance, 1979, Capital University

Professional Affiliations

  • North American Association for Environmental Education
  • Visitor Studies Association (VSA)
  • American Evaluation Association (AEA)
  • Environmental Education Council of Ohio
  • National Association of Interpretation

Adaptavist Theme Builder Powered by Atlassian Confluence