The Montshire Museum of Science forges and empowers lifelong learners through engagement with science.
The Montshire Museum of Science is an interactive science center in Norwich, Vermont, with more than 150 hands-on exhibits relating to the natural and physical sciences, ecology, and technology. Outdoors, visitors can explore nature trails and exhibits on wind, water, and sound in David Goudy Science Park. Visiting exhibitions, educational programs, and special events are offered throughout the year.
The Montshire Museum of Science is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is supported by admission, membership, grants, and charitable contributions.
Norwich, VT — Montshire's Director of Education Greg DeFrances is one of just 18 museum leaders who has been selected as a Noyce Fellow by the Noyce Leadership Institute. The Noyce Foundation, in collaboration with the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) offers a highly competitive sponsored fellowship program to increase the public impact of science centers.
“NLI aims to increase the capacity of individuals to lead these dynamic organizations,” said Dr. Geno Schnell, NLI Program Director. “We're excited about the potential of working with this next generation of leaders to increase the level of innovation and community impact at their home institution and in the science center field as a whole.”
Through their Fellowship experience, 18 leaders from science centers, children's museums, natural history museums, and related institutions will gain access to knowledge, tools, best practices, and professional networks that increase their capacity to lead effectively and to advance innovation in their own institutions and the broader community. NLI envisions an essential and transformative role for science centers in the engagement of citizens of every age in understanding crucial science-related issues. Leaders of such innovative hubs will be supported and challenged by the Noyce Leadership Institute to make the individual, organizational, and community changes required to realize this vision.
We are honored that this prestigious fellowship is recognizing Greg’s skill and accomplishments as leader of Montshire’s education programs, said David Goudy, Executive Director of the Montshire Museum. “The Noyce Institute works on an international scale to bring together the most promising talent for the next generation of science museum leadership. This award also recognizes Montshire's professionalism as a center for science education serving people of Vermont and New Hampshire.”
The 2011-2012 Noyce Leadership Fellows each completed a rigorous application process and were selected by a cadre of senior professionals from the fields of science centers and executive education. The Fellowship program provides a mix of face-to-face sessions, coaching, peer learning, audio conferencing, and other learning strategies over a year, followed by ongoing Fellow alumni activities.
The 18 Noyce Fellows and their Strategic Initiative Sponsors are:
At-Bristol, United Kingdom
Fellow: Dan Bird, Exhibitions Director
Sponsor: Goéry Delacôte, CEO
Boston Children's Museum, Massachusetts
Fellow: Gail Ringel, Vice President, Exhibits and Production
Sponsor: Carole Charnow, President
California Science Center
Fellow: Diane Perlov, Senior Vice President for Exhibits
Sponsor: Jeffrey Rudolph, President
Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation
Fellow: Stacy Wakeford, Director, Exhibitions
Sponsor: Denise Amyot, President and CEO
Detroit Zoological Society, Michigan
Fellow: Scott Carter, Chief Life Sciences Officer
Sponsor: Ron Kagan, Executive Director and CEO
Exploratorium, California
Fellow: Tom Rockwell, Director of Exhibits
Sponsor: Rob Semper, Executive Associate Director
Hagley Museum and Library, Delaware
Fellow: Joan Hoge-North, Deputy Director for Museum Administration
Sponsor: Geoff Halfpenny, Executive Director
Miami Science Museum, Florida
Fellow: Sean Duran, Vice President, Exhibition and Design
Sponsor: Gillian Thomas, CEO
Montshire Museum of Science, Vermont
Fellow: Greg DeFrancis, Director of Education
Sponsor: David Goudy, Executive Director
Museum of Science, Boston, Massachusetts
Fellow: Andrea Durham, Director, Exhibit Development and Conservation
Co-Sponsor: Paul Fontaine, Vice President, Education
Co-Sponsor: Anne Cademenos, Director of Corporate, Foundation and Government Relations
National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, District of Columbia
Fellow: Shari Werb, Director of Education and Outreach
Co-Sponsor: Claudine Brown, Assistant Secretary for Education and Access
Co-Sponsor: Cristián Samper, Director
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California
Fellow: Karen Wise, Vice President, Education and Exhibitions
Sponsor: Jane Pisano, President and Director
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Fellow: Johannes Vogel, Keeper of Botany
Sponsor: Michael Dixon, Director
Omaha Children's Museum, Nebraska
Fellow: Jeff Barnhart, Chief Museum Officer
Sponsor: Lindy Hoyer, Executive Director
OMSI, Oregon
Fellow: Marcie Benne, Evaluation and Visitor Studies Manager
Sponsor: Ray Vandiver, Vice President, Center for Learning Experiences
Science Center NEMO, Netherlands
Fellow: Amito Haarhuis, Manager Science Learning Center
Sponsor: Michiel Buchel, General Manager/Director
Technopolis, Belgium
Fellow: Patricia Verheyden, Experience Director
Sponsor: Eric Jacquemyn, CEO
Teknikens Hus, Sweden
Fellow: Eva Jonsson, Deputy Director
Sponsor: Olle Nordberg, Director
The Institute bears the name of Robert Noyce, co-founder of Intel and inventor of the integrated circuit. His work in leading science, engineering, and technology to a whole new level of innovation – as well as the creation of new industries – is legendary. Known for his integrity, authenticity, character, inclusiveness, and continuous innovation, his legacy continues to serve as a standard for leaders today.
ASTC is a nonprofit organization of science centers and museums dedicated to furthering the public engagement with science among increasingly diverse audiences. ASTC works with science centers and museums to address critical societal issues, locally and globally, where understanding of and engagement with science are essential. In addition, ASTC provides professional development for the science center field, promotes best practices, supports effective communication, strengthens the position of science centers within the community at large, and fosters the creation of successful partnerships and collaborations.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development.
Primary funding for the Institute comes from the Noyce Foundation, with additional support to date from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the David & Lucile Packard Foundation.
About Montshire Museum of Science: The Montshire Museum of Science is a hands-on museum located in Norwich, Vermont, offering more than 100 exciting exhibits relating to the natural and physical sciences, ecology, and technology. Located on a 110-acre site near the Connecticut River, the Montshire Museum has been a part of the Upper Valley community since 1976. The purpose of the Montshire Museum is to create, awaken, foster, and nurture an interest in and curiosity about the physical and natural world by providing programs, experiences, and exhibits emphasizing real objects and phenomena. For more information about the Montshire Museum visit https://www.montshire.org