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Eco Boys and Girls Celebrate ISCSMD

October 3, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Todd Happer

Eco Boys and Girls & The Association of Children’s Museums & The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire Join In Celebrating ISCSMD 2017 By Sophia Collas and Maria Snyder Eco Boys and Girls join with the Association of Science-Technology Centers to celebrate the 2017 International Science Center and Science Museum Day (ISCSMD 2017). As a children’s […]

Science for Global Understanding

August 22, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Todd Happer

By Mrs. Flavia Schlegel, Assistant Director-General, UNESCO “Science for Global Understanding” is the theme for the 2017 World Science Day for Peace and Development. This theme is judicious as it is key for promoting peace and sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda, adopted in 2015 by the United Nations, represents a significant step forward in terms […]

Eco Boys and Girls Celebrate ISCSMD

October 3, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Todd Happer

Science for Global Understanding

August 22, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Todd Happer

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Eco Boys and Girls Celebrate ISCSMD

October 3, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Todd Happer

Eco Boys and Girls & The Association of Children’s Museums & The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire Join In Celebrating ISCSMD 2017

By Sophia Collas and Maria Snyder

Eco Boys and Girls join with the Association of Science-Technology Centers to celebrate the 2017 International Science Center and Science Museum Day (ISCSMD 2017). As a children’s media company reaching young children across the globe with educational programming focused on early science, sustainable development, and respect for diversity through pluralism, being among leaders in science education and innovation is an exciting opportunity to learn from other dedicated professionals in this field.

Eco Boys and Girls has made it their mission to deliver high-quality, early learning in the areas where it is needed most for the future generation to succeed in our ever-connected, globalized world. Promoting early science, sustainable development, and pluralism are the Eco Boys and Girls’ main focus across all of their programming. To achieve this, the organization delivers research-based curricula, media assets and materials, and hands-on activities. Driven by five charismatic and colorful character—the Eco Boys and Girls—children are engaged in playful educational experiences through which they learn about their surroundings, taking care of the planet and each other. Eco Boys and Girls has ongoing programming with the Association of Children’s Museums, based in Washington, D.C., which engages pre- and primary-school age children in activity-based and self-driven learning about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through this program and in celebration of ISCSMD, young children are asked to think critically and curiously about the world around them and the role they play in making a positive difference. With the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, U.S., Eco Boys and Girls Science Bites! Program leads children through science experiments that teach them about Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM), and are joining ISCSMD 2017 with their programming at CMNH. Celebrating this important event, Eco Boys and Girls joins with other implementing organizations to share best practices and opportunities for collaborations with teachers committed to bringing innovative and forward-thinking education to young people around the world.

Eco Boys and Girls’ successes are in large part due to the high-quality materials and designs that capture children’s attention, but also because programs are designed to stimulate children in a number of ways. The engagement of children in practical, educational activities across their familiar environments—home, school and community—means that important and lasting effects will take hold. It is through the Eco Boys and Girls’ approach of child-friendly and relevant learning experiences that early childhood education can include science, sustainable development, and pluralism to prepare the youngest age group for the 21st Century.
By Sophia Collas and Maria Snyder

Sophia Collas is Eco Boys and Girls Director of International Education, specializing in early childhood development and teacher professional development in international contexts. Maria Snyder, Founder and CEO of Eco Boys and Girls, is an artist, activist, and social entrepreneur creating brands that combine social ethic and economic purpose.

Science for Global Understanding

August 22, 2017/in Uncategorized /by Todd Happer

By Mrs. Flavia Schlegel, Assistant Director-General, UNESCO

“Science for Global Understanding” is the theme for the 2017 World Science Day for Peace and Development. This theme is judicious as it is key for promoting peace and sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda, adopted in 2015 by the United Nations, represents a significant step forward in terms of recognizing science, technology, and innovation (STI) as driving forces for sustainable development’s three pillars: environmental, social, and economic. To achieve the ambitious goals set forth by the entire international community, it is very important to promote the science-policy interface. In its report to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, his Scientific Advisory Board wrote explicitly “Science without policy can be scattered and often fruitless. Policy without science usually fails to accomplish the immediate goal, and undermines confidence that the next policy will be any better. When science and policy unite, the chances of success increase greatly.” Added to that, we should add a third essential component in this global response to global challenges, society at large, including a diversity of stakeholders, like civil society, business and industry, workers and trade unions, indigenous people and local communities, and academia. Therefore, we should speak of a science-policy-society interface as a new paradigm towards sustainable development.

It is clear that good science and good policy will achieve their goals only if individuals and communities are implementing them, if there is a change of behavior in the everyday life of the people. Global understanding should promote the effective translation of knowledge into action and behavioral change. Science & technology centres play an important role in this crucial goal of reducing the gap between knowledge and action. By connecting people with science, by giving science a presence in the community, by engaging with all of their members, science & technology centres are a key element in connecting local actions and global challenges, which is at the heart of the global understanding project.

This echoes very much with the expertise and core values of UNESCO, the only UN agency with a clear, universal mandate to promote natural and social sciences for peace and sustainable development. The global challenges faced by all humanity require the integration of academic knowledge from all disciplines, open data, inclusion of all types of knowledge, while recognizing culturally different paths to global sustainability. UNESCO has been at the forefront, constantly fostering a transdisciplinary approach and promoting indigenous and local knowledge.

Another important contribution that UNESCO and science & technology centres can bring to global understanding is the unique opportunity to combine global sustainability and local action. The dialogue among science, policy, and everyday lives should be constant and multidirectional. Global sustainability can learn so much from best practices and success stories. UNESCO and ASTC have a precious network, worldwide in its geographic scope and local in its anchorage. It is important to motivate all these stakeholders, like the UNESCO Chairs, the biosphere reserves, the Geoparks, the UNITWIN networks, the science & technology centres, to perceive themselves as a part of the global solution, to encourage them to be proud to share their knowledge. In the 2030 Agenda, no one should be left behind, and that means it is the responsibility of everyone to contribute to global solutions.

We invite you all to celebrate the 2017 World Science Day for Peace and Development contributing to global understanding.

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Eco Boys and Girls Celebrate ISCSMD

Science for Global Understanding

Eco Boys and Girls Celebrate ISCSMD

Science for Global Understanding

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Eco Boys and Girls Celebrate ISCSMD

Science for Global Understanding

ISCSMD and the Science Centre World Summit

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