Concord, NH -- Dr. Kimberley Duncan of New Hampton, NH, is the new leader of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center's Education Team. Dr. Duncan joined the Discovery Center staff in March 2015 as Education Coordinator; she has been selected to fill the nonprofit Discovery Center's new position of Education Director, in charge of all the Discovery Center's educational initiatives, which range from science and engineering exhibitions to planetarium shows to on- and off-site family, student and adult programs. Stepping into Duncan's former role of coordinating the Education Team's efforts is Kursla Robinson of Lee, NH.

Dr. Duncan, who comes to the Discovery Center with a background in both formal and free-choice science education, holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton University and a B.A. in chemistry from Cornell University. Prior to joining the Discovery Center staff, Dr. Duncan served as Chemistry Education Coordinator and Research Assistant Professor at Plymouth State University (PSU), where she continues to teach online chemistry. Dr. Duncan has also served as Coordinator of Internships in Public Science Education for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, presented art and science programs for children at the Madison Children's Museum and served as Senior Policy Fellow at the American Physical Society in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Robinson comes to the Education Coordinator position with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a minor in Botany, from the University of Maine at Orono. A member of the National Council of Mathematics, NH Science Teachers Association, New England League of Middle Schools and Gulf of Maine Marine Educators Association, Robinson taught science and mathematics at Rochester (NH) Middle School for 16 years.

"We are delighted," said Discovery Center Executive Director Jeanne Gerulskis, "to have these two consummate education professionals on our team. The knowledge, skills and enthusiasm they bring to engaging children, adults and families in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) bodes well for the future of the nonprofit McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center."

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center features 21st century interactive exhibits on aviation, astronomy, Earth and space sciences, a state-of-the-art planetarium and a variety of science, technology, and engineering and mathematics programs. The engaging, robust educational programs are geared towards families, teens, seniors, students, community groups and lifelong learners.

For more information, visit www.starhop.com.


Posted 3/1/16