Support Science Literacy and Education

This is the time of year when many of us have our thoughts turn to gift-giving in the form of donations to organizations whose goals we agree with or support in some way. The best organizations are those that make it a point to support science education or in some way bring astronomy to everyone. So, if you’re looking for someplace to park some cash where it will do some good, here are MY recommendations.

First, you can’t go wrong with supporting the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. I’ve been a member for a long time and support the group’s educational outreach efforts and support of science literacy through astronomy and space science. They have members from around the world, and if you’re interested in astronomy outreach, they are the “go to” place!  You can read more about them at their Web site.

Friends of the Observatory, the support group for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, is a non-profit group dedicated to helping the observatory teach about astronomy and space.  Their funds go toward bringing school children to the observatory, creating new programs, and supporting public education in astronomy. Even though I don’t live in Los Angeles, I make it a point to re-up my membership each year because I think those folks at Griffith are doing a wonderful job.

Next is the International Dark-Sky Association. This group is dedicated to the idea that we CAN protect and preserve the nighttime environment while at the same time fostering wise use of lighting.  Their Web site is a veritable treasure trove of information about safe lighting, energy savings, and other useful facts.  They are well worth your donation!

Many people live in areas that have science centers or planetariums.  Many of these are non-profit organizations, and they often offer memberships (just like museum memberships). Why not consider chucking a few bucks toward the one closest to you?  With science and science education under attack in the U.S. from people who are proud of their ignorance, places like these often face budget cuts or close-downs. Your donations can make the difference.  Look around your community and see where you can make a difference in science literacy and education. Want to know where they are?  Check here to see what’s near you.