I agree about the need for more personalisation in science museums and science centres: but not just by telling stories to the visitors about real people. The visitors themselves are real people. They need to be allowed and encouraged to discover their own stories, beat their own pathways and make their own connections.
This was the essence of Frank (Exploratorium) Oppenheimer's paradigm-shifting, life-changing philosophy. He made a metaphorical comparison between delightful personal discoveries made during an exploratory walk in the woods, and the scheduled sights shown to people on a guided tour.
Throughout my years as a science centre designer I have struggled with the creative tension between exploration and explanation. http://www.interactives.co.uk/hearts_exploration_explanation.htm If I over-emphasise the 'scheduled sights', I leave too little freedom for personal discoveries. If I allow too much freedom for personal discoveries, I cannot show visitors the sights they really ought to see.
It seems to me that the influence of Oppenheimer's philosophy is fading as modern science centres increasingly streamline their tour-schedules of knowledge and understanding, diverting walkers from mazy woodland paths onto buses on fast roads towards specific destinations.
I recommend a visit to the London Science Museum's Launch Pad gallery to see how inspiring, enjoyable and popular a carefully constructed 'didactic wilderness' can be.
Promoting public engagement with science
through a contagious delight in phenomena
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Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
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Ian Russell (Twitter: ianrusselluk)
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian Griffin
Sent: 19 March 2010 13:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Engaging science
I am fascinated by the discussion about GCSE Science and the points made recently by Francisco and Sarah with regard to 'humanising the scientific endeavour' with real people on TV and in films etc
.If I may dare to extend the discussion somewhat I was very interested in the opinion piece which appeared in yesterday's New York Times about Science Museums and Science Centres
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/arts/artsspecial/18SCIENCE.html?scp=14&sq=&st=nyt
I had my own thoughts about this and blogged about it last year
http://bit.ly/cDIPUa
I would certainly welcome others opinions!
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