Most volunteers for science museums are older adults, according to a 2008 survey by the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC).  And because science centers have three times as many volunteers as they do paid staff, they are places where older adults are just as important as children.  But with nearly 40 million Americans aged 65 or older, it doesn’t make sense to think of “older Americans” as a single group, says a new report produced by ASTC with funding from the MetLife Foundation.  College-educated retirees are already an important source of volunteers.  But people in their 50s and older are also an underserved audience for science museums. And several museums use active older volunteers to bring science to home-bound audiences at senior centers and nursing homes.

Jack Bowman, a retired executive in Hickory, North Carolina, recruited a diverse group of people his age – a retired math teacher, a college chemistry professor, a nurse, an engineer, and four others with non-science backgrounds – and formed the Einstein Brigade for the Catawba Science Center.  The Brigade adapts programs the museum designed for school groups and takes them to places where seniors live and meet.  The adaptations are interesting.  For example, the Brigade doesn’t ask the audience to move around a room if a lot of them are using walkers or wheelchairs – they take exhibit stations to individuals and demonstrate them to individuals or pairs.  “Typically men will spend more time with animal pelts and bones, while women like the butterflies,” writes Bowman.  And he was surprised to find that older adults of both sexes were usually willing to handle snakes, despite the bad publicity that surrounds slithering things.

Gail Becker, who was director of the Louisville Science Center from 1991 until 2008, was having trouble finding qualified exhibit technicians until she started hiring older workers.  Older set designers, electricians, and carpenters brought her decades of experience, a strong work ethic, and the willingness to work for less in exchange for more flexibility and fun, she says.  As long as a skilled older person is comfortable working with younger colleagues, everyone can come out a winner.

The 56-page report “A Lifetime of Curiosity” was released in May 2009.  It includes statistics on the older population, tips on adapting exhibits to older viewers’ needs, and many case histories from museums that are tapping into this growing market.  It is available for $15, or $10 for ASTC members, plus $7.99 for shipping.  To order, visit the ASTC’s website, FAX your address and credit card number to (202) 783-7207, or mail a check to ASTC Publications, 1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20005-6310.