FormerWhiteHouseScienceOfficeSeniorAdvisortoLeadGlobalAssociationof

ScienceandTechnologyCenters

FORIMMEDIATERELEASE: CONTACT:October18,2017 LindaConlon,+44(0)7887745561WASHINGTON,D.C.—CristinDorgelo,theformerChiefofStafftoPresidentObama’sscienceadvisor,hasbeenappointedthenewPresidentandCEOoftheAssociationofScience-TechnologyCenters(ASTC).Inhernewrole,Dorgelowillleadtheglobalorganization,whichrepresentsnearly700memberorganizationsfrom50countriesaroundtheworld.DorgelojoinedtheWhiteHouseOfficeofScienceandTechnologyPolicy(OSTP)teamunderPresidentObamain2012.From2014toJanuary2017,sheactedasChiefofStafftoPresidentObama’sscienceadvisorandtheU.S.ChiefTechnologyOfficer,responsibleforfacilitatingpolicydevelopmentandimplementationacrossabroadrangeofscienceandtechnologyissues.AtOSTP,sheledaWhiteHouseefforttoencouragemoreorganizationsandindividualstopursueGrandChallengesandalsoincreasedtheuseofopen-innovationapproachessuchasincentiveprizes.PriortoenteringtheWhiteHouse,DorgelodedicatedsixyearstotheXPRIZEFoundation,wheresheimplementedinnovativecompetitionmodelsdesignedtodrivetechnologybreakthroughs,includingchallengestodevelopsuper-fuel-efficientcars,effectiveapproachestooil-spillcleanup,advancesinpersonalizedmedicine,andnewspace-explorationtechnology.Dorgelosays:“Atthiscriticaltimeforscience,I’mthrilledtoleadASTCinsupportingthevitalworkofitsglobalmembership.Theseinstitutionsprovidewelcoming,inclusiveenvironmentsformillionsofchildrenandadults,helpingthemtoexperiencewonderandcuriosityandbeinspiredbythecontributionthatscienceandtechnologycanmakeinsolvingtoughsocietalchallenges.Thisglobalnetworkcanalsohelpindividualsrecognizetheparttheyplayinbuildingandshapingthefuture.IlookforwardtohearingideasfromASTCmembersandtocollaboratingwiththebroaderscienceandtechnologycommunity.”LindaConlon,chairofASTCandchiefexecutiveoftheInternationalCentreforLife,NewcastleuponTyne,UnitedKingdom,says:“CristinbringsawealthofexperienceandexpertisetothisroleandASTCisdelightedtohaveheronboard.Shesharesourbeliefthatsciencecentersandmuseumsprovideneutralspaceswherepeoplecanmakesenseofaworldthatisbeingshapedincreasinglybyrapiddevelopmentsinscienceandtechnology.TheASTCboard,alongwithourmembersandleadershipteam,lookforwardtoworkingwithCristinatthispivotalandexcitingtime.”

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DORGELO/pagetwoDorgelowillmeetwithASTCmembersforthefirsttimeattheirannualconferenceinSanJose,California,October21–24,2017.

###AboutASTCFoundedin1973,ASTChasnearly700membersin50countries.Itincludesnotonlysciencecentersandmuseums,butalsonaturecenters,aquariums,planetariums,zoos,botanicalgardens,spacetheatres,andnaturalhistoryandchildren’smuseums.Itsmembersalsoincludecompaniesthatofferproductsandservicestothefieldandnon-profitorganizationsthathaveaninterestinscienceeducation.Throughstrategicalliancesandglobalpartnerships,ASTCstrivestoincreaseawarenessofthevaluablecontributionsitsmembersmaketotheircommunitiesandthefieldofinformalSTEMlearning.www.astc.org