OMSI Sustainability Project

Partner: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Start Date: September 2009

Duration: Current

As an external evaluator, CES oversees research and assesses the impacts on the professional and public audiences targeted by Sustainability: Promoting Sustainable Decision Making in Informal Education; an exhibit funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The individual goals include yearly assessments of the proposed impacts on the audiences through front-end, formative, remedial, and summative evaluation methods.  This year CES is supporting OMSI’s efforts to promote sustainability concepts in public venues and though cell phone tags; an innovative system where users will call a number to learn about sustainability (Portland Tribune article describing OMSI's efforts).

For the front-end research, CES staff conducted in-person interviews with Hispanic families and with individuals involved in Hispanic-serving community organizations.  For the formative evaluation, CES supported OMSI’s rapid prototype testing of exhibit displays.  Currently CES staff is supporting OMSI’s remedial evaluation, which recently included development and implementation of research tools for use at a bicycling-promotion event.

To learn more about the OMSI Sustainability Project Contact CES.