Our guest: Katherine Blanchard : The Assistant Division Director of Professional Services, Smithsonian Science Education Center

Episode topic: Intersection of Science and Community Building

What we discuss:

• How does the Science Education Center fit into the rest of the Smithsonian?

• Why is it important to combine science and history? Multi-displinary

• Importance of community collaboration.

• Finding the places you CAN make change

• How do we move past the discovery phase into action?

• Why is it important to think about sustainability in relation to America 250

• Connect to our Wish wall - You think about "what we want our shared future to be" Building a better (global future) future; beyond just the continental U.S.

• UN Sustainable development goals

• Smithsonian Science for Global Goal Guides

• Global goals - local connection

• Talk about how to engage people in STEM/ Sustainable development & Social issues

• Sustainability mindsets?

• Similar to Made by Us Civic Superhero (Nurturers, Connectors, Amplifiers, Defenders)

• NESST- connect science education community

• Building sustainable communities - connections to blue and green spaces

In this episode, we:

• Introduce the theme "We the People" and how it is being used at Conner Prairie

• National picture of America 250.

  • Who are the big players nationally and how are they looking at 250?

    • AASLH, Made by Us, etc.

  • How does that relate to our approach?

• A look back at the bicentennial and how this is shaped by previous commemorations.

This episode serves as a series Introduction and exploring Indiana's Role in the America250 commemoration.