Emily Stewart, PhD, Receives 2024 Individual Achievement Award from Museum Association of New York

2/12/24—Syracuse, NY—The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology is proud to announce that Emily Stewart, PhD, senior director of education & curation, was named winner of the Individual Achievement Award from the Museum Association of New York’s annual Awards of Distinction program. Awards will be given at the organization’s annual conference in Albany on April 8. The awards program celebrates unique leadership, dedicated community service, transformational visitor experiences, community engagement, and innovative programs that use collections and resources to support museums and to tell stories of everyone who calls New York home.

President of the MOST, Lauren Kochian, says “Emily is an incredible asset to the MOST. She has been instrumental in helping us implement new targeted STEM education programs, diversify and update our museum exhibits, and expand our education team and focus. She truly deserves this award!”

Emily Stewart joined the MOST in 2017 and applied her background as an interdisciplinary historian to better connect museum guests to science and technology. Now serving as the senior director of education & curation, she says, “I spend all day thinking about how people engage with technology in their everyday lives.” She put her energy into developing and growing the museum’s mission as an educational institution. Her philosophy is that “inclusion isn’t just about saying the doors are open to everyone and hoping more diverse people come; it’s about going out and targeting specific groups and proactively making space for opportunities.” Because Syracuse has one of the highest child poverty rates in the country, especially among minorities, Emily spearheaded several new programs that are making a positive impact. Future Innovators focuses on Black, Indigenous, and students of color to get them interested in STEM careers. One Saturday each month, local BIPOC STEM professionals conduct hands-on sessions with kids and mentor them on succeeding in technology careers. There is no cost to participate, and it includes free museum admission for students and their families, a healthy snack, and bus passes to remove transportation barriers. Similarly, the Future Women in STEM program connects middle school girls with female STEM professionals in a different field each month. Emily also overhauled and standardized the museum’s five annual STEM Challenges—engineering competitions focused on bridges, steamboats, robotics, rockets, and a science fair. These free programs draw thousands of local students yearly, engaging them in hands-on science learning.

Under Emily’s leadership, MOST exhibits have a local focus that connects with the community. One initiative converted an underutilized space into an “Innovation Station” with temporary installations highlighting how local organizations’ technologies impact us. The “Inclusion Showcase” highlights underrepresented groups in STEM fields through profiles of scientists and innovations, correlating to history months such as Black scientists during February, Indigenous innovators in November, and LGBTQ contributions in June. “Climate Kiosks” just debuted throughout the museum to help visitors understand more about climate change and what activities contribute to this phenomenon. Kiosks within existing exhibits help people see the connection between the technology shown and how it impacts the world around them.

The thoughtful investments made over Emily’s tenure have positively impacted the museum’s financial stability and attendance, with 2023 setting a new record for visitors. The community’s perception of the museum has evolved to seeing the MOST as a leader in technology and education across the region.

The Museum Association of New York is a statewide museum service organization with more than 750 member museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums. MANY helps shape a better future for museums and museum professionals by uplifting best practices and building organizational capacity through advocacy, training, and networking opportunities. Visit nysmuseums.org.

The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) is a hands-on science and technology museum located in historic Armory Square in downtown Syracuse. The MOST is focused on dynamic science education that engages learners of all ages and abilities. It features 35,000 square feet of interactive permanent and traveling exhibits plus the state-of-the-art National Grid ExploraDome theatre. The museum operates numerous STEM education programs and community outreach events throughout the year. The MOST’s mission is to provide informal science learning experiences that ignite curiosity, encourage discovery, and inspire investigation. The MOST is open from 9:30 to 5, Thursday through Sunday, and is open for most school holidays and breaks. To learn more, visit most.org.