The Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Awards are presented annually to ASTC members and/or their employees in recognition of extraordinary accomplishments in Visitor Experience, Business Practice, and Leadership in the Field that not only enhance the performance of their own institutions but also significantly advance the mission of science-technology centers and museums.

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Shafer Fund Donation Form
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2007 Leading Edge Award Recipients
2006 Leading Edge Award Recipients
2005 Leading Edge Award Recipients

Eligibility: ASTC members in good standing (except the home institution of a Leading Edge Awards jury member) may submit a nomination for itself or one of its employees, or for another institution or individual. Collaborations between institutions are also eligible. Each nominating institution is limited to one application per category per year. Nomination forms must be signed by the institution's Chief Executive Officer, Board Chairperson, or equivalent.

Selection: A seven-member jury of professionals knowledgeable about the science center field, representing a broad spectrum of ASTC's worldwide membership, will review eligible nominations and select awardees. All decisions of the jury are final, including the decision not to choose an award recipient in a given category.

Awards Ceremony: The 2008 Leading Edge Awards will be presented during the annual banquet at the ASTC Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Each award will consist of a jade glass "Edgie" and a paid registration to the 2009 ASTC Annual Conference. Awardees will receive recognition in ASTC Dimensions, on the ASTC web site, and in a widely distributed press release.

Selection Criteria and Nomination Forms:

Leading Edge for Visitor Experience
Leading Edge for Business Practice
Leading Edge for Leadership in the Field

Leading Edge Brochure and Nomination Forms (15 pages)
(55 KB) | Need help?


How to Enter:
A) Complete the appropriate nomination form. The jury encourages e-mail submissions in Word or Adobe Acrobat formats. Ten copies of parts A and B are required when submitting by post.

B) Include two to three letters of support (one page each) from individuals with first-hand knowledge of the nominee's work. Letters of support must address the following:

For Leading Edge for Visitor Experience or Business Practice
1. Explain your knowledge of and affiliation with the visitor experience or business practice.

2. Describe why the visitor experience or business practice represents a unique application of new ideas and best practices, demonstrating creativity and extraordinary performance.

3. List the most significant benefits of the visitor experience or business practice, as you see them.

For Leading Edge for Leadership in the Field
1. Explain your relationship to the nominee and describe his/her exemplary accomplishment during the past three years that is the basis of your nomination.

2. Describe why you think this accomplishment deserves recognition.

3. List the most significant benefits of the nominee's accomplishment, as you see them.

C) Optional: Submit one or two supporting items, including but not limited to PowerPoint presentations, videotapes, articles, or photographs (professional quality not required). Review of supporting items is at the discretion of the jury. If these materials cannot be submitted electronically, mail one set to ASTC to be made available at the jury review session.

Deadline: Nominations and supporting materials must be received at the ASTC office no later than 5 p.m., March 18, 2008 NEW DEADLINE: MARCH 28, 2008.

E-mail address: awards@astc.org

Postal address:
Leading Edge Awards
Association of Science-Technology Centers
1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005-6310, U.S.A.

Contact: For information, contact Diane Frendak, dfrendak@astc.org,
or 202/783-7200 x112


Leading Edge for Visitor Experience
(2 categories: Large Institution and Small Institution)

Nomination Form
(37 KB)

Selection Criteria: The visitor experience shall have been implemented by or for an ASTC science center or museum since January 2005. Large institutions are those with operating expenses at or exceeding US $1.5 million for the most recent fiscal year; small institutions have annual operating expenses of less than US $1.5 million. Each nomination will be judged according to

• its unique application of new ideas and promising practices, demonstrating creativity and extraordinary performance;
• its role in furthering the institution's mission by achieving a tangible impact or lasting effect on visitor experience—including, but not limited to, exhibitions, education programs, technology applications, theater and film programming, visitor services, research and evaluation;
• its embodiment of the ASTC values of collaboration, joy of experiential learning, equity and diversity, and forward-looking leadership; and
• its potential to serve as a model of creative thinking and best practices for the field as a whole.

Leading Edge for Business Practice
(2 categories: Large Institution and Small Institution)

Nomination Form
(37 KB)

Selection Criteria: The business practice shall have been implemented by or for an ASTC science center or museum since January 2005. Large institutions are those with operating expenses at or exceeding US $1.5 million for the most recent fiscal year; small institutions have annual operating expenses of less than US $1.5 million. Each nomination will be judged according to

• its unique application of new ideas and promising practices, demonstrating creativity and a measurable impact on revenue, expenses, and/or organizational efficiencies;
• its role in furthering the institution's mission by achieving a tangible impact or lasting effect on business practice—including, but not limited to, human resources, marketing, public relations, fund-raising, and community collaborations;
• its embodiment of the ASTC values of collaboration, joy of experiential learning, equity and diversity, and forward-looking leadership; and
• its potential to serve as a model of creative thinking and best practices for the field as a whole.

Leading Edge for Leadership in the Field
(New Leadership: individual who joined the field after Jan. 2005)
(Experienced Leadership: individual who joined the field before Jan. 2005)

Nomination Form
(38 KB)

Selection Criteria: The leadership award recognizes exemplary accomplishment since January 2005. Nominations will be judged according to the individual's degree of success at

1. applying new ideas and/or enhancing best practices;
2. embodying the ASTC values of collaboration, joy of experiential learning, equity and diversity, and forward-looking leadership;
3. demonstrating the potential to inspire and nurture creative thinking;
• having a tangible and lasting impact on the organization's mission;
• building relationships for his or her institution within the community; and
• developing the current talents/capabilities and nurturing the future capacity of staff.
  
  Each nomination must address the required criteria (#1, #2, and #3), while the bullets are optional if they help make your case.

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