The Lawrence Hall of Science
The public science center of the University of California, Berkeley.
Wednesday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Animal Discovery Zone 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
We’ll bring our science programs to you.
We partner with school districts to support science learning. We offer district-wide elementary, middle, and high school programs, either virtually or in-person.
We collaborate with a range of partners to innovate in science education. Together, we go further.
Search
The Lawrence Hall of Science, as the public science center of the University of California, Berkeley, is a learning lab — a place where world-class researchers engage with key questions and major challenges that face the field of science, technology, engineering, and math education. We conduct research in aid of developing new products and programs (our own and others), to tighten the research-practice cycle, and to ensure broadening participation through learning how to break down systemic barriers and inequities in STEM education.
Our team includes researchers with extensive experience conducting and presenting research in formal and informal STEM education, with methodological expertise leading large and small scale evaluations, design-based research, assessment and measurement development, participatory and community based-research, and supporting broader impacts for core research conducted across STEM fields. Further, each of the Lawrence’s four strategic initiatives work to advance our research agenda for questions related to K-12 STEM education, STEM pathways, environmental education, and learning at the intersection of science, technology, and society.
Mac Cannady
mcannady@berkeley.edu
Get the latest updates on new projects, learning opportunities, and more at The Lawrence!
Through a range of evaluation services from full-scale, complex evaluations to panel reviews, technical reports and briefs, logic modeling, and empirical study design, we work to create powerful STEM learning opportunities that inspire and engage in ways that advance equity and opportunity. Our work spans learning environments (formal in-school, informal-out-of-school time) and content areas (Environmental Education, Professional Learning, Computational and Digital Learning, Engineering and Robotics, and more). Learn More >
Design-Based Research (DBR) and Design-Based Iterative Research (DBIR) is growing in application and use, but it is not necessarily as widely understood. We see it as a set of principles and a constellation of methods for grounding iterative design in problems of practice, with the goal of creating designs that work in situ AND advance more generalized theory/models for how to approach particular problems. You might want to engage in DBR when you want to design something for the messy particulars of the real world or when you want to understand how a design can be optimized for use in a new context and/or with new populations. Our experts can work with you to design and implement the most useful DBR and DBIR research approaches.
Community-based research involves a participatory approach, where research projects are driven by community priorities, where members of the community are involved throughout the entire research process, from the original development of the design and any proposal, to analyzing and interpreting the data, to planning for the future based on research outcomes. Community-based research aligns closely with the Lawrence’s strategic priorities of authentic and meaningful partnerships and seeking social justice through our work. We are eager to engage with communities and community-based organizations in developing, focusing, and implementing community-based research projects.
We provide a range of assessment services for various projects and organizations. Our assessment work is multifaceted and specifically designed for the learning setting in which Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) education takes place. Our services may include any or all of the following:
For many funders, and particularly for the National Science Foundation (NSF), understanding the potential broader impacts – the ways in which research can benefit society and advance desired social outcomes – is key to supporting the work. To help ensure that your research has the impact you seek, we work with our partners to create inspiring and innovative educational outreach experiences. Outcomes have included new planetarium programs, STEM content books & video series for young children, and communication for science research grants. Learn More >
In collaboration with Sonoma State University, Make Math REAL is an NSF-funded project to develop, test, and study Maker Learning…
Youth Engaged in STEM and Service (YESS) is a four-year (2020-24) National Science Foundation~ ITEST project to design, implement, and study the cultural relevance and…
This four-year National Science Foundation-funded project engages youth of color between 14 and 18 years of age, who live in…
The Lawrence Hall of Science received a three-year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant (award #1849958) to create the Energy Interns…
Researchers and learning designers from the University of California, Berkeley wanted to find out more about how older adults engage…
The Lawrence Hall of Science is engaging in a three-year project (Institute of Museum and Library Services, Grant #MG-40-18-0005-18) that…
These videos showcase federally funded projects at the Lawrence aimed at improving STEM and computer science education. Videos share strategies to broaden participation, as well as to increase access and equity.
View all of our Research Spotlight Videos.
This study investigates the impact of an augmented reality (AR) exhibit, Bugtopia, on family learning conversations at The Lawrence Hall of Science.
This paper examines the role and value of professional learning and organizational capacity building in outdoor science education by investigating several questions analyzing the Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning, and Expertise Sharing (BEETLES) Project
The paper looks at the challenges and opportunities within the making (hands-on, design-based STEAM learning experiences) movement as program developers and leaders pivoted to online, virtual experiences during the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Have questions about the work that we do? We’d love to speak to you.