The International Center for the Advancement of Scientific Literacy (ICASL) has been re-established at Michigan State University (MSU). Founded in 1991 at the Chicago Academy of Sciences, the International Center has worked with a wide array of scholars throughout the world to facilitate and coordinate the measurement and advancement of scientific literacy. MSU Provost Kim A. Wilcox approved the establishment of the ICASL at Michigan State, effective January 1, 2007.
Jon D. Miller, the John A. Hannah Professor of Integrative Studies at Michigan State University, has been appointed Director of the International Center. Professor Miller was the founding director of the ICASL in 1991, when he served as Vice President of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. “The establishment of the International Center for the Advancement of Scientific Literacy at Michigan State University is a perfect marriage. Over the last 15 years, the ICASL has built a broad international network of scholars interested in scientific literacy and Michigan State is a quality comprehensive university with enormous faculty depth and a long-standing commitment to international collaboration and service,” Miller said.
At Michigan State, the International Center will continue to:
• collect national surveys of public understanding of science and technology from countries around the world and to maintain these data in a secure archive,
• share survey resources with interested scholars for minimal fees to cover actual costs,
• provide technical assistance to scholars and governments seeking to design and conduct national studies of public understanding of science and technology,
• host international conferences on selected topics relevant to the study and advancement of scientific literacy, and
• maintain a Web-based forum for the discussion of issues related to the public understanding of science and technology and the formulation of science and technology policy at the national and international levels.
The International Center holds the largest single archive of survey data concerning the public understanding of science of any research center in the world. A full description of the current holdings and the procedures for requesting data resources will be posted on the ICASL web site by September 1, 2007.
For further information about the International Center or to discussion possible collaboration, please contact:
Jon D. Miller
John A. Hannah Professor of Integrative Studies
Michigan State University
112 Natural Science Building
East Lansing, Michigan 48824
USA
517-432-4286 (tel)
517-432-4295 (fax)
jdmiller@msu.edu
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