Joseph A. Burton Forum Award (2021): The Exploration at 50: Perspectives on the Development of a Public Science Learning Laboratory

h $-abstract-$\backslash $pardThe Exploratorium was founded in 1969 by physicist Dr Frank Oppenheimer who deeply believed that physics is a supremely humanistic endeavor. Born as a unique blend of a public education museum and an applied education research and development lab, the institution fostered the development of the field of public science centers worldwide. For the past 43 years, I have had the good fortune of calling this place my professional home, working with my colleagues on exhibits, programs, media, online activity, teacher development and museum creation throughout the world. Through this work, my journey as a physicist has gone from designing public science experiences, to exploring the learner centered features of inquiry-based science education to now trying to understand the social dimensions of some of the public's apparent lack of appreciation of science in today's culture. This talk will discuss the history of the Exploratorium's development, its future educational R{\&}D agenda and present some thoughts on what I have learned along the way.$\backslash $pard-/abstract-$\backslash $\tex