Claudia A. Bustos Joins The Lawrence as Executive Director of Public Engagement

December 15, 2022, Berkeley, CA – The Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley’s public science center, has hired Claudia A. Bustos to be the new Executive Director for Public Engagement. Claudia will oversee all of the public programs at The Lawrence, ranging from exhibits and programs at the science center to outreach activities at schools and in the community.

“Claudia is joining us at an exciting time as we reinvigorate our work with the focus and purpose of our new strategic plan and reap the benefits of the capital improvements we made during our pandemic closure,” said Rena Dorph, Director of The Lawrence. “I feel deeply grateful that Claudia has joined our team in this critical leadership role. Her experience and expertise will enrich our approach to advancing our mission and facilitate even deeper connections with community members, leaders, and partners.”

Claudia is a Chilean-Canadian science center and informal learning leader with expertise in experience design and community engagement. She brings 19 years of experience across science centers, festivals, museums, and post-secondary institutions. She is motivated by science engagement approaches that stretch traditional boundaries of how people engage with STEM, inspiring them to explore the every day and the spectacular.

Her most recent roles include Chief of Creative Experience at Fort Calgary and as the Executive Producer at TELUS Spark Science Center in Calgary, Alberta, where she provided creative and scientific direction for all public-facing visitor experiences.  She joins the Lawrence Hall of Science as Public Engagement Executive Director, providing leadership, creative vision and strategy across all public programs, digital media, business, and audience development. 

“What a thrilling opportunity to join the Lawrence Hall of Science and to serve its many diverse communities in the Bay Area and beyond,” said Claudia of her new role. “I see incredible opportunities to meaningfully engage with our existing and new audiences in unexpected and delightful ways, all while sharing the groundbreaking innovations and breakthroughs from UC Berkeley’s talented scientists.”

As a lifelong learner, Claudia is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Calgary with a special focus on creativity and anti-oppression education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Windsor. She has recently moved to the Bay Area from Canada with her husband Craig and their quirky dog Bruce.