A compilation of resources for museums and informal science education institutions developed in response to Coronavirus COVID-19, including safety practices, closures, digital engagement, evaluation resources, and more.
Revised July 3, 2025
Vaccine Museum and Educational Resources
A compilation of vaccine resources for museums that include science communication approaches and public engagement strategies that apply to discussions about most viruses and vaccines.
Coronavirus museum resources
Communities for Immunity
https://community.astc.org/communitiesforimmunity/homeAssociation of Children's Museum (ACM)
Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)
American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
https://www.aam-us.org/programs/about-museums/covid-19-resources-information-for-the-museum-field/
AAM Digital Tools for Pandemic times
https://www.aam-us.org/2020/11/18/digital-tools-for-pandemic-times/AAM reopening starter kit with signage
https://www.aam-us.org/2020/08/03/reopening-starter-kit-for-museums/National Survey of COVID 19 impact on United State Museums (July 22, 2020)
https://www.aam-us.org/2020/07/22/united-states-may-lose-one-third-of-all-museums-new-survey-shows/
American Public Gardens Association
https://www.publicgardens.org/covid-19/resourcesInstitute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) ProjectTesting of various materials and surfaces unique to museums and libraries
https://www.oclc.org/realm/home.htmlOne year later: Perspectives from the field - Leaders reflect on organizational change
- American Camp Association including operations guide
https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/coronavirus-information-camps American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Museum and Cultural Heritage Industry Working Group - Reopening: Guidance for Museums and Collecting Institutions
https://aiha-assets.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/AIHA/resources/Reopening-Guidance-for-Museums-and-Collecting-Institutions_GuidanceDocument.pdfCenter for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE)
https://www.informalscience.org/informal-stem-education-resources-covid-19-and-online-learning
NISE Network Online Workshop Recordings
- NISE Network Online Informal Get-Together: Sharing Resources & Strategies for Engaging & Supporting Our Communities during COVID-19 (Recorded March 31, 2020)
- Celebrating Earth Day 2020 at Home (Recorded April 7, 2020)
- Virtual Camps and Strategies to Reach Underserved Communities and Underrepresented Groups (Recorded May 5, 2020)
- NISE Network Partner Reopening Strategies PART 1 (Recorded May 26, 2020)
- NISE Network Partner Reopening Strategies PART 2 (Recorded June 30, 2020)
- Museum school outreach and fields trips in the time of COVID uncertainty (Recorded September 29, 2020)
- The COVID-19 Vaccine: What role can museums play in the rollout of the new vaccine? (Recorded February 2, 2021)
Communication and Messaging
Effective science communication messages and resources:
- Messaging Resources from Public Health Collaborative
https://publichealthcollaborative.org/resources/ - Answers to Tough Questions about Public Health including Pandemic Fatigue
https://publichealthcollaborative.org/faq/ - Bridging statements can be an effective communications tool to stay grounded in core messages and build trust with fact-based messaging.
https://publichealthcollaborative.org/resources/communications-tool-building-bridges
Nanotechnology and Coronavirus
How Effective are Face Masks Against COVID Infection?
A video from RiskBites takes a look at the science
Watch the video
Resources about Coronavirus COVID-19
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html- University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19 NIH workplace training resources
https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/covid19worker/index.cfm- Yale Medicine COVID-19 Glossary
https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/covid-19-glossary/
Viruses and Coronavirus videos and activities for the public
Resources for public engagement about viruses and vaccines
Do Science At Home resources
We've selected a few activities that are not materials-intensive that many families may be able to try at home. If your institution is attempting to engage with audiences virtually, check out these and other resources from the NISE Network:
Resources for digital public engagement
- A compilation of museum online collections and virtual tours
https://mcn.edu/a-guide-to-virtual-museum-resources/ - Howtosmile list of museums offering at-home activities
https://www.howtosmile.org/blog/posts/museums-at-home-resources - A guide to using virtual events to facilitate community building by Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement (CSCCE)
https://zenodo.org/record/3934385#.Xxip3C2z124 - Suggested tools to support the creation of digital engagement resources and programs
https://padcaster.com/pages/padcaster-for-educators (Padcaster, video production)
https://kahoot.com/schools/how-it-works/ (Kahoot, quizzes/game-based learning platform)
Public perceptions and audience research
Wilkening Consulting - Data Stories related to museums and COVID done on behalf of the American Alliance of Museums
http://www.wilkeningconsulting.com/data-stories.htmlColleen Dilenschneider - Know Your Own Bone - Public perceptions and intentions to visit cultural entities
https://www.colleendilen.com/category/covid-19-updates/
Evaluation and research
- Learning at Home While Under-connected: Lower-Income Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic (June 24, 2021)
https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/reports/learning-at-home-while-underconnected/ Findings from Science Museum of Minnesota NSF-funded project about the kinds of questions children are asking, the worries they have, and the types of support caregivers need
Phase II Report from January 2021 survey: http://bit.ly/SMM_Covid2021_FullReport
Phase I September 2020 full report: http://bit.ly/SMM_Covid1_FullReport
Coronavirus-related episodes created by Brains On! https://www.brainson.org/page/coronavirus
- Wilkening Consulting Data Stories related to museums and COVID done on behalf of the American Alliance of Museums
http://www.wilkeningconsulting.com/data-stories.html Colleen Dilenschneider - Know Your Own Bone - Public perceptions and intentions to visit cultural entities https://www.colleendilen.com/category/covid-19-updates/
- Culture Track study - Culture + Community in a Time of Transformation
http://culturetrack.com/COVIDstudy/ - Research Live is collating various studies that are tracking public opinions
https://www.research-live.com/article/news/covid19-keeping-track-ofattitudes-and-behaviour/id/5067182
Evaluation Tools
- Doing Fieldwork in a Pandemic
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1clGjGABB2h2qbduTgfqribHmog9B6P0NvMgVuiHZCl8/edit?fbclid=IwAR1lnvS2QfIfqPwmNvHf5u4JDm7E185Y6mQzCKRgCiKVwoudndRadm0XmkM - NISE Network Team-Based Inquiry Guide (evaluation professional development capacity-building)
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/team-based-inquiry-guide - NISE Network evaluation tools and templates
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/nise-network-program-evaluation-tools
