Work with the Interpretation team to provide hands-on, inquiry and design-based learning experiences for Museum visitors throughout the Exhibit Halls, in Temporary Exhibits, and in the Suit-Cabot Laboratory. Engage all visitors in investigations and challenges that encourage them to use the skills of scientific inquiry and engineering design; help them explore the exhibits by providing guidance with exhibit components and offering access to tools, artifacts, and other pocket props that will enhance their experience and help them make meaningful connections; facilitate hands-on activities for both school groups and the general public; help them explore a wide range of topics in laboratory science and engineering using laboratory tools and techniques. Assist in the daily operation of Interpretation Programs by maintaining materials and spaces, coordinating daily schedules, delivering daily volunteer briefings as needed, and training, supporting, and mentoring the volunteers and part-time staff.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Spend up to 10 hrs/wk facilitating programs for school requests and visitor investigations in the exhibit halls, temporary exhibits, and the lab.
- Oversee set-up and cleanup of program activities.
- Maintain a safe environment in the laboratory classroom and prep-room and other Interpretation spaces
- Assist in communication with teachers to schedule school reservations and prepare groups for their visit
- Learn a minimum of 2 programs in the first month, and continue learning an average of 1 new program each month thereafter until all necessary programs have been mastered.
- Assist with the training and support of a diverse crew of up to 2 part-time staff and 10 volunteers per shift.
- Assist Interpretation Staff in the development and implementation of new programs.
- Interpretation programs operate 7 days a week. Weekend and/or Holiday availability will be required
WORK SCHEDULE:
This position is temporary, full-time, 35 hours/week, Monday-Friday for one year.
REPORTS TO:
Manager, School Visits & Program Manager, Interpretation
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Six (6) months or more of education experience.
- Bachelor of Science or Arts degree preferred.
- Experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds and age groups
- Excellent written, oral, and nonverbal communication skills
- Demonstrated leadership skills
- High level of organization, initiative, self-direction, problem solving skills, and attention to detail
- Comfort using basic information and multi-media technology: software including word, excel, and web-based calendar systems; hardware including tablets and various AV equipment
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team
STARTING SALARY:
Non-Exempt (Hourly). Commensurate with experience.
BENEFITS:
Benefits for full-time, non-exempt (hourly) staff include: free parking, T accessibility, 15 vacation days, 12 holidays, 5-10 sick days, medical, dental, and vision insurance, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, retirement and savings plan, health care/dependent care flex spending plan, employee discounts, employee referral program, tuition assistance, professional development, direct deposit, free admission, free Duck Tours, discounted movie passes, and much more!
The Museum of Science is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.
No phone inquiries, please. Qualified applicants will be contacted within two to four weeks of initial application.
For more information, or to apply now, you must go to the website below. Please DO NOT email your resume to us as we only accept applications through our website.
https://mos.applicantpro.com/jobs/199863-29461.html
See job description
For more information, or to apply now, you must go to the website below. Please DO NOT email your resume to us as we only accept applications through our website.
https://mos.applicantpro.com/jobs/199863-29461.html
April 09, 2015
In 1830, six men interested in natural history established the Boston Society of Natural History, an organization through which they could pursue their common scientific interests. Devoted to collecting and studying natural history specimens, the society displayed its collections in numerous temporary facilities until 1864, when it opened the New England Museum of Natural History at the corner of Berkeley and Boylston Streets in Boston’s Back Bay. That Museum is now known world-wide as the Museum of Science.
After World War II, under the leadership of Bradford Washburn, the Society sold the Berkeley Street building, changed its name to the Boston Museum of Science (later, dropping Boston from the name) and negotiated with the Metropolitan District Commission a 99-year lease for land spanning the Charles River Basin, now known as Science Park. In 1948, the Museum designed and built the first traveling planetarium in New England to promote the development of a new Museum building. The cornerstone for the new Museum was laid at Science Park a year later, and a temporary building was erected to house the Museum’s collections and staff.
In 1951, the first wing of the new Museum officially opened, making the Museum the first to embrace all the sciences under one roof. Comprising 14,000 square feet of exhibit space, the new Museum’s first wing was already much larger than the entire exhibits area of the old Berkeley building. That same year, one of the most endearing and memorable symbols of the Museum, ‘Spooky,’ the Great Horned Owl, was given to the Museum as an owlet. Spooky lived to the age of 38 years, becoming the oldest known living member of his species.During the next two decades. the Museum greatly expanded its exhibits and facilities. In 1956, the Museum was successful in campaigning for a Science Park MBTA station that now brings visitors to within 200 yards of the Museum. The Charles Hayden Planetarium, funded by major gifts from the Charles Hayden Foundation, opened in 1958.
By 1968, further building expansion was under way as ground was broken for the Museum’s west wing which was completed in the early 1970s. The Elihu Thomson Theater of Electricity, which houses the 2 1/2 million-volt Van de Graaff generator — the two-story tall high voltage electricity generator given to the Museum by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956-opened in 1980.
The Museum has remained on the cutting edge of science education by developing innovative and interactive exhibits and programs that both entertain and educate.
Two of the Museum’s more recent additions, the Hall Wing housing the Roger L. Nichols Gallery for temporary exhibits, and the Mugar Omni Theater, exemplify the Museum of Science’s commitment to making science fun and accessible to all. The Mugar Omni Theater, opened in 1987, utilizes state-of-the-art film technology to project larger-than-life images onto a five-story high, domed screen, creating a ‘you are there’ experience for viewers.
More than 1.6 million people visit the Museum and its more than 400 interactive exhibits each year.
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