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The Exploratorium at 35
Past, Present and FutureRob Semper
Executive Associate DirectorWorkshop on Education and Outreach
Aspen Center for PhysicsJune 28, 2004 - July 9, 2004
© Exploratorium
Exploratorium
1969
Dr. Frank Oppenheimer1912-1985
A Rationale For A Science Museum
“There have been many attempts to bridge the gap between the experts and the laymen. The attempts have involved books, magazine articles, television programs and general science courses in schools. But such attempts, although valuable, are at a disadvantage because they lack props; they require apparatus which people can see and handle and which display phenomena which people can turn on and off and vary at will. Explaining science and technology without props can resemble an attempt to tell what it is like to swim without ever letting a person near the water. There is thus a growing need for an environment in which people can become familiar with the details of science and technology and begin to gain some understanding by controlling and watching the behavior of laboratory apparatus and machinery; such a place can arouse their latent curiosity and can provide at least partial answers.”
- FRANK OPPENHEIMER Curator 11 (3) 1968
Science History Museums
Developed in 1700’sAshmolean Museum -
OxfordNational Museum for the
History of Science - Leyden
Instituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza - Florence
Collection of historical scientific objects
Ashmolean MuseumOxford 1683
Technical MuseumsCreated world-wide in
1800’sMusee des Arts and Metiers -
ParisFranklin Institute -
PhiladelphiaScience Museum - London
Exhibits of machines, instruments and models
Industrial fairs of 1850-1900 stimulated technical museums in Prague, Vienna, Washington, and Munich
Musee des Arts and MetiersParis 1794
Science and Industry Museums
Developed during first half of 20th centuryDeutsches Museum -
MunichMuseum of Science and
Industry - ChicagoFranklin Institute -
Philadelphia
Historical artifacts, working models and participatory exhibits
Focus on science and technology
Deutsches MuseumMunich 1906
Science CentersDeveloped mainly in
second half of 20th centuryPalais de la Découverte -
ParisEvoluon - EindhovenJapan Science Foundation -
Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka
Outgrowth of Worlds Fair exhibitionsPacific Science Center -
Seattle
Experimental demonstrations of scientific principles
Palais de la Découverte (Palace of Discovery) 1937
Educational Centers
Started 1968-69Educational exhibits with no
object collectionsSome developments
informed by formal science curriculum developmentExploratorium - San FranciscoLawrence Hall of Science -
Berkeley
Other developments informed by experiential designOntario Science Center -
TorontoExploratorium Lawrence Hall of Science Ontario Science Centre
The Palace of Fine Arts
1970’s
SLAC Garden of Anodes
Exhibit Development Shop
Interactive Exhibits
Direct experience with natural phenomena
Focus on perception and the phenomena of nature
Aesthetic dimensionSocial interaction
Colored Shadow Wall
Distorted Room
Momentum Machine
Sun Painting
Tornado
Exhibition Development
In-house exhibit development process
Development process visible to the public
Educationally basedStaff of scientists,
educators, designers and builders
TopicsPerception, light, sound, waves,
resonance, mechanics, electricity, heat, language, neurobiology, genetics, animal behavior, exponentials, complexity, mathematics
Exploratorium Machine Shop
High School Explainers
Skateboarding Event
Exploratorium Cookbook
Public Exhibition
6,000 sq mt of open exhibition space
500,000 annual visitors2/3 older than 21 years50% family groupsCurrent Focus
Seeing Hearing Traits of Life Mind and Learning Matter World
Catenary Arch
Extending the Exploratorium Beyond its
Walls
PublishingInternetExported Exhibits
ExploraBook
www.exploratorium.edu
Science of Music
Webcast Studio
Origins
Wireless Electronic Guidebook
Supporting K-12 Education
School in the Exploratorium 1974
Museum environment supporting science teacher development
Staff, exhibits and space creating a professional home for teachersTeacher Workshop
Institute for Inquiry
Teacher Institute
Iron Science Teacher
A PARTNERSHIP OF THE EXPLORATORIUMUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ
KING'S COLLEGE LONDON
CILS is funded by the National Science Foundation, with generous support from NEC Foundation of
America and the Noyce Foundation
Center for Informal Learning and Schools
CILS Landscape
Exploratorium Network for Exhibit-based Teaching
(ExNET)
Partnership with 8 North American museums
Using exhibits to support education
35 interactive exhibits - 400 sq. mt.
Sets rotate annuallyKnowledge exchange
between partners www.exploratorium.edu/partner
Exploratorium Today
300 staff$25M annual budgetThree centers of activity
Center for Public Exhibition
Center for Museum Partnership
Center for Learning and Teaching
R & D center in science education for the public and schools
Dr. Goéry Delacôte Executive Director 1991 -
Mission Statement
“The Exploratorium’s mission is to create a culture of learning through the
creation of innovative environments, programs and tools that help people
nurture their curiosity about the world around them.”