Martin Storksdieck, Ph.D. Research Fellow Director, Board on Science Education, National Academy of Sciences / National Research Council Adjunct Faculty, The George Washington University, Museum Education Department storksdieck@ilinet.org

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Dr. Martin Storksdieck is Director of the Board on Science Education at the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council and a research fellow at ILI where he directs ongoing research studies on science learning in immersive environments; models of involving researchers and scientists in science museums and science centers; and understanding the impact of science hobbyists, such as amateur astronomers, on the public understanding of science. He previously served as Director of Project Development and as senior researcher at ILI where his research interests included factors that influence what and how we learn when we do so voluntarily in our spare time and how this "learning" impacts our behaviors, identities and beliefs; the role of volunteerism, serious leisure, and citizen science in a lifelong learning society; and how schools and out-of-school learning can be mutually enhancing in creating and sustaining lifelong interest in (science) learning. He previously was a science educator with a planetarium in Germany where he developed shows and programs on global environmental change, served as editor, host, and producer for a weekly environmental news broadcast, and worked as an environmental consultant specializing on local environmental management systems, He holds a Masters in Biology from the Albert-Ludwigs University (Freiburg, Germany), a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in education from Leuphana University (Lüneburg, Germany).

Areas of Interest

My work in free-choice, informal, elective contexts is quite diverse, and ranges from environment, nature and conservation to astronomy and current science. My areas of interest in my evaluation and basic research studies include factors that influence what and how we learn when we do so voluntarily in our spare time; the role of volunteerism, serious leisure, and citizen science in a lifelong learning society; and how schools and out-of-school learning can be mutually enhancing.

Current Projects

• Chabot Space and Science Center (PI), ARTS Lab @ UNM (Co-PI), ILI (Co-PI). Maya Skies (2007-2010)
• Astronomical Society of the Pacific (PI), ILI (Co-PI). Sharing the Universe (2007-2010)
• Pacific Science Center (PI), ILI (Co-PI), North Museum (Co-PI), Explora (Co-PI). Portal to the Public (2007-2010)
• New York Hall of Science (PI), Miami Museum of Science & Planetarium (Co-PI), North Museum (Co-PI), Association of Science-Technology Centers (Co-PI), University of Michigan (Co-PI). Life Changes (2006-2010)