Science Research and Reviews – CustomCat1 https://museumtrade.org/customcat Gear & Guides, So you get it done, Beautifully Thu, 12 Jul 2018 15:03:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.7 https://museumtrade.org/customcat/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cropped-Final_logo_512x512-32x32.png Science Research and Reviews – CustomCat1 https://museumtrade.org/customcat 32 32 84532699 Science Museum Tips: On Partnering with Researchers https://museumtrade.org/customcat/science-museum-tips-on-partnering-with-researchers/ https://museumtrade.org/customcat/science-museum-tips-on-partnering-with-researchers/#respond Mon, 02 Jul 2018 13:24:09 +0000 https://museumtrade.org/customcat/?p=7829

EXHIBIT TIPS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

This is an extended version of an article that appeared in the January/February 2014 issue of ASTC’s Dimensions magazine

ON PARTNERING WITH RESEARCHERS

Increasingly, as many science centers move from presenting just basic science to including more topical and contemporary science, one challenge faced by many centers is in the research and development of exhibition content. Interesting and contemporary topics like nanotechnology, climate change, viruses, and even the Large Hadron Collider can engage the public but require some explaining.

The Science Centre Singapore has found that working with suitable partners can be a tremendous help in the development of a good exhibition. The partners in question are research scientists from universities as well as research institutions. For example, in our Earth, Our Untamed Planet exhibition, we collaborated with the Earth Observatory Singapore and were able to tap the expertise of some of the world’s leading Earth scientists to develop an exhibition that brought the topic to life while presenting some of the latest thinking in the field, as well as many local and regional examples. This has resulted in an exhibition that not only engages the public, but also is a valuable resource to science and even geography teachers.

The key to effective collaboration is to find a partner that shares similar objectives related to the promotion of science. Very often, many research institutions have a mandatory public outreach component tied to their research funding. When they collaborate with a local science center, research institutions benefit by fulfilling their public outreach missions and leaving the development of public programs to the expertise of the science center. Science centers benefit by tapping the expertise of research scientists at the leading edge of that field of study.

In order to maintain such collaborations, we actively visit and maintain ongoing relationships with all the universities and many research institutions in the country. Such visits, discussions, and sharing of ideas often result in new exhibition ideas and opportunities for funding.

Jyotika Thukral, senior communications officer, Science Centre Singapore

]]> https://museumtrade.org/customcat/science-museum-tips-on-partnering-with-researchers/feed/ 0 7829 Science Museum Tips: On incorporating Current Research into an Exhibit https://museumtrade.org/customcat/science-museum-tips-on-incorporating-current-research-into-an-exhibit/ https://museumtrade.org/customcat/science-museum-tips-on-incorporating-current-research-into-an-exhibit/#respond Mon, 07 May 2018 13:07:11 +0000 https://museumtrade.org/customcat/?p=7838

EXHIBIT TIPS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

This is an extended version of an article that appeared in the January/February 2014 issue of ASTC’s Dimensions magazine. Kari Jensen, senior exhibit developer, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland

ON INCORPORATING CURRENT RESEARCH INTO AN EXHIBITION

BodyWorks is a £2 million (USD 3,281,000) exhibition featuring more than 100 interactive exhibits, live lab experiences, and research capsules. Focusing on the wonder of the human body, BodyWorks aims to raise awareness of the science underpinning our health and well-being.

The key to incorporating current research into our exhibition was the time and resources provided to us by over 200 individuals and organizations. The relationships we built with these experts were vital. Here are our tips for making those relationships work:

  • Time: During the planning stages, factor in time to source, court, and develop your relationship with the expert. It takes time to know who is out there, determine what expertise they could provide, make contact, build the relationship, and maintain it.
  • Variety: Potential contributors have many other demands on their time so offering ways to contribute with varying levels of commitment is beneficial. For BodyWorks, our experts carried out a wide range of activities from joining the scientific advisory panel to supplying information to building complete exhibits.
  • Backup plan: If your expert is providing a critical element to the project’s success, have a backup plan. Despite people’s best intentions, they may let you down, so have a plan B.
  • Refresh: Current research is not current for very long. Design your exhibition so that it can be refreshed regularly and easily. We designed elements of the exhibition knowing that we intended to refresh them in 12–18 months, and therefore being able to do it cost effectively was important. We are continuing to work with experts who often incorporate this into their research grants.
  • Meet the expert: Once the exhibition is open, run public engagement sessions with your experts. This keeps the experts involved and not only enhances the visitor experience, but also allows you to easily incorporate new developments and reflect on any topical issues.
  • Relationships: Maintain relationships after your project has finished; nobody likes to be dumped. Return the favor and help your experts by facilitating public engagement or helping to compile their research excellence framework reports.

Robin Hoyle, director of science, Glasgow Science Centre, Scotland, United Kingdom

]]> https://museumtrade.org/customcat/science-museum-tips-on-incorporating-current-research-into-an-exhibit/feed/ 0 7838 TEST POST – Visitor Signage at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego https://museumtrade.org/customcat/visitor-signage-at-the-museum-of-contemporary-art-san-diego/ https://museumtrade.org/customcat/visitor-signage-at-the-museum-of-contemporary-art-san-diego/#comments Sat, 16 May 2015 16:40:34 +0000 https://museumtrade.org/customcat/?p=5807

Here are a couple of pictures I took at the museum to help those with young visitors understand the museum’s expectation and how they advertise the FREE for those under 25 program.
I’ve also included a projector per image as well as a general shot of the building. It’s set above the ocean front, it’s a beautiful place to be.

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Here is their ABOUT stuff:
With two locations, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is the region’s foremost forum devoted to the exploration and presentation of the art of our time, presenting works across all media created since 1950. Located in the heart of downtown San Diego and in the coastal community of La Jolla, MCASD provides an unprecedented variety of exhibition spaces and experiences for the community, showcasing an internationally recognized collection and a dynamic schedule of exhibitions and public programs.

MISSION
The mission of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is to serve diverse audiences through the exhibition, interpretation, collection, and preservation of art created since 1950.
MANDATE
MCASD engages regional, national, and international audiences including the binational constituency of the San Diego/Tijuana region.
VISION
MCASD is a museum providing public access to contemporary art, artists, and the creative process; a forum for the exploration and understanding of contemporary art and ideas; and a laboratory for artists to experiment with new forms of creative expression.

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