Informal science is a burgeoning field that operates across a broad range of venues (museums, media outlets, state parks, science clubs, after-school programs), and envisages learning outcomes for individuals, schools, families, and society. The evidence base that describes informal science, its promise, and effects is informed by a range of disciplines and perspectives, including field-based research, visitor studies, and psychological and anthropological studies of learning. Learning Science in Places and Pursuits draws together disparate literatures, synthesizes the state of knowledge, and articulates a common framework for the next generation of research on learning science in informal environments across a life span. Contributors include recognized experts in a range of disciplines — research and evaluation, exhibit designers, program developers and educators. They also have experience in a range of settings — museums, after-school programs, science and technology centers, media enterprises, aquariums, zoos, and botanical gardens. Learning Science in Places and Pursuits is an invaluable guide for program and exhibit designers, evaluators, staff of science-rich informal learning institutions and community-based organizations, scientists interested in educational outreach, federal science agency education staff, and K-12 science educators. Philip Bell, Bruce Lewenstein, Andrew W. Shouse, and Michael A. Feder, Editors Committee on Learning Science in Informal Environments National Research Council