Association of Science & Technology Center’s 2025 Conference
Building a Growth Engine for Science Engagement Across the Bay Area
The ASTC 2025 Annual Conference brought 1,820+ science center and museum professionals, educators, and STEM leaders to the San Francisco Bay Area for four days of learning and connection. Partnering with ASTC, Linder Global Events designed the conference as a growth engine for informal science learning—aligning logistics, production, and programming with ASTC’s mission to expand access, foster innovation, and strengthen a global network of science institutions
Linder’s Role as Growth Partner
As ASTC’s growth-focused event partner, Linder Global Events helped position the 2025 Annual Conference as a catalytic engine for science engagement, not just a four-day meeting. Drawing on deep experience with large, multi-venue convenings, the team translated ASTC’s Connectivity theme into a cohesive attendee journey—aligning program flow, logistics, and environmental branding across Moscone Center and eight Bay Area science institutions to create a unified experience.
Linder operated as an extension of the ASTC team, designing formats and touchpoints that elevated member voices, increased exhibitor and sponsor visibility, and made it easier for leaders from 600+ organizations to build relationships that will drive collaboration and innovation long after the conference ended.
Experience and Delivery
Anchored at Moscone Center and extended to eight host institutions—including the Exploratorium, California Academy of Sciences, The Tech Interactive, and Lawrence Hall of Science—the conference became a citywide showcase of science engagement. Linder coordinated cross-venue timing, transportation, and on-site operations so attendees could move easily between sessions, exhibit hall hours, and evening events like the ASTC Soirée.
Guided by the Connectivity theme, the program featured focused tracks on audiences, business models, leadership, and trends, as well as interactive formats such as lightning talks, hands-on showcases, and poster sessions. Plenaries, 100+ concurrent sessions, and exhibit hall activations were produced to maintain high engagement among attendees from more than 600 organizations across 30+ countries.
Clear wayfinding, aligned décor, and consistent messaging tied Moscone and all host sites into one recognizable conference experience, supported by real-time coordination across teams and venues.
Outcomes and Impact
ASTC 2025 reinforced ASTC’s position as the leading convener for informal science learning and global science engagement. Attendees left with practical strategies to apply in their home institutions—spanning innovation, visitor experience, leadership, and organizational sustainability—while experiencing firsthand the strengths of Bay Area science institutions.
By intentionally connecting exhibit hall activity, sponsor visibility, and museum-based experiences, the conference extended its value beyond the four days on site, fueling new partnerships, collaborations, and momentum ahead of the 2026 conference in Phoenix.
Key Conference Growth Achievements
Global science community convening: Engaged 1,820+ attendees from 600+ science organizations across 30+ countries.
Multi-venue immersive experience: Linked Moscone Center with eight Bay Area hosts, including the Exploratorium, California Academy of Sciences, and The Tech Interactive.
High-impact program design: Supported 100+ concurrent sessions, preconference intensives, lightning talks, showcases, and posters across multiple tracks.
Activated exhibit hall and sponsors: Delivered dedicated exhibit hall hours, stage content, Poster Palooza, and receptions to boost exhibitor and sponsor visibility.
Mission-aligned branding: Carried the “Connectivity” theme through staging, signage, and communications to keep ASTC’s story front and center.
Platform for future growth: Positioned the ASTC Annual Conference as a recurring growth platform, building anticipation for the 2026 convening in Phoenix.
Updated January 2026