This year OTEN is pleased to host a keynote talk by Diane Demee-Benoit, director of online community at The George Lucas Educational Foundation. With an academic background in ecosystem biology, she approaches school change with the eye of a dedicated trend spotter, systems thinker, and social entrepreneur. Ms. Demée-Benoit concurrently serves as Director of the Innovation in Education Project at the Commonwealth Club of California. She has been a leader in science education and learning in informal education settings for over 20 years and has worked on a number of regional and national projects linking teachers with the real-world science and technology work of zoos, aquariums, museums, and science centers. Additionally, Ms. Demée-Benoit has been a field reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMS), and has served on peer review panels for the National Science Foundation. She served on the Information Technology Committee for the Association of Science- Technology Center's Informal Science Educators Network (ASTC-ISEN) and currently serves on the board of the National NatureMapping Program, which trains citizen scientists to map and monitor changes in flora and fauna

George Lucas Educational Foundation Website

Dianne Demee-Benoit's Blog

Back to Conference Page