Barry VanDeman

Senior Fellow

Barry A. Van Deman is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Learning Innovation and President & CEO of the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, North Carolina. Currently, Barry also serves as President of the North Carolina Science Network, representing 45 science and children’s museums and affiliated organizations across North Carolina. Previously, Barry served as Section Head for Science Literacy at the National Science Foundation; Vice President of the Orlando Science Center; Director of the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago; and Director of Science and Education at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Barry has served on the boards of the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Association of Children’s Museums and as president of the Council for Elementary Science International.

Before working in museums, Barry was a nationally-honored elementary and middle school science teacher; taught undergraduate and graduate science education at Northern Illinois University and graduate museum studies at Bank Street College; and served in school administration. He is the author of several children’s books, including three elementary science textbook series for Harcourt School Publishers and articles for children and adults in Science and Children, Science Education, Informal Science Review, Ladybug, KIDBITS, and Science World.