The Science Museum of Minnesota’s IDEAL Center helps professionals who are serious about equity and inclusion see their world differently and have the abilities, strategies, and will to make it more just and open.
Our scientific mindset and research-proven teaching and facilitation practices help participants become agents of change: transforming people, relationships, organizations, and our world.
The 14th cohort of the PAGE K-12 Leadership Program is currently underway. Learn more here and get ready to apply for next year’s cohort.
PAGE program alumni: register here for in-person PAGE veterans colloquia, and here for monthly virtual gatherings!
iPAGE program alumni: sign up for in-person 2024 Winter and Spring Colloquia here, and stay tuned for information about upcoming virtual engagements. Learn more about the iPAGE Leadership Program for Informal STEM Institutions here.
Research Informed & Proven
As the only diversity and equity professional development organization born from a science learning institution, our work is grounded in research on equity, teaching and learning, complex systems, organizational change, and more.
Transformative
Equity is a practice, a way of living and working, not a specific destination to be reached. We help you have the courage to envision a positive future for yourself/organization/community and to see that equity and inclusion are essential to this vision.
Guided & Supportive
Our expert facilitators actively create powerful and supportive learning environments because becoming an effective agent of change is hard work. You'll leave with practical tools and strategies to create sustainable and just change for your organization.
Our ability to work with groups of all kinds comes from our extensive experience as adult educators. Whatever your equity goals are, we are ready to partner with you.
Cohort-Based Programs
PAGE program
The IDEAL Center has supported prosocial change in K-12 school districts for over 15 years. The PAGE program, currently in its thirteenth cohort, has received multiple National Science Foundation (NSF) and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant awards, is supported by the MN Legacy Amendment, and has extensive research evidencing its efficacy. PAGE program alumni: register here for in-person PAGE veterans colloquia, and here for monthly virtual gatherings.
iPAGE program
The IDEAL Center’s iPAGE program, focused on bringing positive change to Informal STEM Institutions, is currently in its sixth cohort. This NSF award-supported program has extensive evaluation and research support.
Customized Experiences
The IDEAL Center team has extensive expertise in facilitating prosocial professional development and adult education. We’ve facilitated learning and skill-building programs with nonprofits, government, corporations, higher education institutions, K-12 schools, science professionals, and more. We’ve developed programs for clients that include half-day experiences, three-day workshops, and seven-day sustained institutes, facilitating learning relationships that have lasted years. Get in touch here to discuss ways we can work with you.
RACE: Are We So Different?
The IDEAL Center facilitates groups visiting, learning from, and having impactful discussions based on the RACE: Are We So Different? exhibition — the Science Museum of Minnesota’s permanent exhibition on learning about the history of systemic racial injustice and the myths that continue to uphold racism. Get in touch here to learn more and book a program.