 Dr. Robert Davis, VP for Education at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, talks to a class in Hawai'i. Click on Image for Zoom and Details |
Our Mission
When it comes to science education we know the Center’s programs are powerful, allowing audiences of all ages to gain a deeper understanding of their world in a greater universe. But there’s also a pragmatic goal—we want to help ensure America has a next generation of scientists and engineers so this nation can compete successfully in the high technology marketplace of the 21st century. Simply put, we believe science education is of national strategic importance, and our programs are designed to help meet the need. But we can’t do it alone.
Help Us Generate Revenue
We have big vision, but we also recognize vision without funding is … hallucination. And these are tough economic times for non-profits dedicated to social need. So here are two ways you can contribute directly:
- The net profit from anything you buy at Store Galactica, our online store, directly supports our programs. There you will find unique products we’ve created from our national programs, and in the Science You Can Trust department—products we’ve gathered from various vendors that we’ve reviewed for excellence in science education.
- Make a tax-deductible donation. Any amount you designate—even $5—has the power to help us deliver programs. Contributions to the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, a project of the 501 (c)(3) non-profit Tides Center, are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
and there are MANY ways YOU can help, which don’t require any monetary contribution—
Shop at Amazon.com through our Affiliates Link
For ALL your purchases at Amazon.com, PLEASE go to Amazon through our Affiliates Link below, and remember to bookmark this page! You can also visit our Staff Picks page at Store Galactica for Amazon products.
Programming for Your Community Underwritten by a Donor
If you know of a large donor in your community with an interest in science and technology education and America’s future, then we have a remarkable opportunity for them—and your community.
Typically, if a donor makes a contribution to a non-profit, and in return the non-profit provides a gift of thanks, the donor can only claim as tax deductible the contribution minus the fair market value of the gift. But if the gift is educational programming for, e.g., the donor’s community, the total value of the donor’s contribution is tax deductible. That’s because the benefit is not to the donor but to the community. Officially, we need to state that a contribution to the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, a project of the 501 (c)(3) non-profit Tides Center, is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law, and a donor should satisfy themselves that their full contribution is tax deductible.
For a contribution of $15,000 or more, the Center’s Director, Jeff Goldstein will travel to your community for 2 days, and deliver two of the following three programs (you choose): a family program for the entire community, a half-day workshop for teachers, or a day of auditorium presentations for your schools (see the To Earth and Beyond menu of opportunities.) The donor gives to a cause they are passionate about, they provide their own community a gift of wonderful programming, the donor can satisfy themselves that their full gift would be tax deductible—and we’ll arrange all travel at no additional cost.
Participate in Our Programs
We would like to warmly invite you and your community to be part of our programs. That’s why we exist—
- Familiarize yourself with our programs for community engagement, and see if one of these programs is right for your community. We will work hard with your community leadership in school districts, museums, and science centers to identify funding sources and write the needed proposals (see e.g., our commitment for the Voyage National Program.)
- Visit a Voyage exhibition and tell other people about it.
- If you have a son or daughter in school in the DC metro area, see if they want to participate in a Family Night at the National Air and Space Museum.
- See if we can schedule a Professional Development Workshop for your teachers conducted by a MESSENGER Educator Fellow.
- Follow @doctorjeff on twitter
- Follow our MESSENGER Fellows on Twitter and Facebook
- Become a fan of our pages on Facebook (Voyage National Program and Blog on the Universe) and participate in discussions.
Read our Blog on the Universe cross-posts at Huffington Post.
Help Us Spread the Word
There are lots of ways to help us reach students, teachers, families—in fact entire communities—
- Tell friends about the Center and our Mission, send them a link to Our Programs page, and send them a link to this How You Can Help page.
- Spread the word about Blog on the Universe to teachers and parents (here are banners, and text for news notes), and encourage them to participate in the Blog’s online community.
- Link to the Center or any of our programs from your website or blog.
- Become a Friend of Blog on the Universe, and we’ll provide a reciprocal link.
Donate Your Product
If you have a science education product, and you think it can pass muster for inclusion in Store Galactica’s Science You Can Trust department (it has to be exceptional in content and pedagogy), then you might consider donating your product to the Center for inclusion. In return we will include a great history of the product on your product’s page. See, for example, Dr. Jeffrey Bennett’s Max Science Adventure Series of children’s books.
Talk to Us
If you have any suggestions or feedback for the Center and its programs, or have suggestions for additional ways you can help us achieve our mission, then please Contact Us. We’d love to hear from you.
