Common Content, Philosophy, and Programming Support Thriving Collaborations Between Cognitive Science Labs and Museums

Abstract

University research labs focusing on education, psychology, and cognitive development have been collaborating with museums more and more over the past decade. Nevertheless, cognitive science labs that primarily engage in basic as opposed to applied research may find it difficult to entice museums to collaborate, and existing collaborations may fall short of their full potential to garner benefits to labs and museums alike. Here, we focus on a kind of lab and museum collaboration that has common content, philosophy, and programming and impacts both scientific theory development and museum practice. By illustrating one example of a collaboration between the Lab for the Developing Mind at New York University and the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City, we offer practical tips and suggestions for other cognitive science labs aiming to achieve strong lab-museum synergy.