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Poster presented on March 6-8, 2002 at the conference on Communicating the Future: Best Practices in Communication of Science and Technology to the Public, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, and NIST. Poster topics were selected as "best practices" through a formal peer review by a committee of distinguished science writers, educators, and researchers.

Bridging the Gap Between Research Science and the Public
Program conducted by: Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum

Abstract
A key ingredient in successfully developing exhibits, shows, and programs for a museum is the integral involvement of research scientists. Working with professional education and exhibit staff, the scientists bring into the process a broad understanding of the science, current knowledge of the field, contacts with colleagues, and the excitement and passion for science that are an essential part of the scientific process.

Adler currently has eight Ph.D. astronomers on staff, including four who have joint appointments on the research faculty at the University of Chicago and two with joint appointments at Northwestern University. They contribute directly to the development of museum programs and exhibits, and also serve as translators between research colleagues and museum professionals, facilitating the integration of new discoveries and technologies into the museum and its programs.

Adler carries out evaluation of exhibits and shows at various stages in order to access and improve their effectiveness. This process involves a front-end evaluation to determine the level of knowledge that typical visitors have on the subject of a planned exhibit. The development team then creates prototype exhibit components and carries out evaluation of their ability to communicate key concepts. Results are then fed back into the final design.

Adler Exhibit Development Process

1. Creation of a team, including: astronomer/project director (content development and liaison with external experts), historians (historical content development), educator (educational goals/objectives and evaluation), project manager (budget, schedules, overall management), external design firm, external exhibit fabrication firm, exhibits manager, and exhibit developer.

2. Front-end evaluation —obtain an overview of visitor knowledge/familiarity with concepts and terminology in order to inform
exhibit development.

3. Prototype exhibit components.

4. Evaluate prototypes for their ability to communicate key concepts.

5. Refine component design.

6. Create exhibit.

7. Summative evaluation of exhibit after opening — unobtrusive observation, cued exit interviews, cued open-ended questionnaires.

8. Refocus other exhibit components to address deficiencies.

Bringing Current Research to the Public

Cosmology Gallery

  • 2,500 sq. ft. gallery that traces a millennium of human ideas about the Universe, from earth-centric model to current model of the Big Bang .
  • Highlights several areas of current research including the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, HST, and Cosmic Microwave Background experiments.
  • Exhibit components for these topics were enriched by successful collaboration between members of the research teams and Adler, which would not have been possible without a research cosmologist on staff at Adler.

Cosmology Gallery Budget

  • Time involved for entire process is about 3 years for permanent exhibit; less for temporary exhibit.
  • Budget : $350/sq. ft. depending on number and type of interactive components
  • Staff time: varies greatly during the development process, but on average:
    Project Manager (astronomer/historian) 20 percent
    Educator (evaluation) 20 percent
    Exhibit Developer 50 percent
    Exhibits Manager 30 percent

CyberSpace Gallery

  • Electronic gallery with entirely computer-generated content, that can be flexibly updated and routed to various
    display/interaction stations
  • Gallery contains three different spaces:
    Classroom
    Distance Learning Studio
    Informal Gallery

CyberSpace Gallery: A Unique Challenge

1. Create steering committee to oversee project as a whole.
2. Create construction team (including astronomer, educator, exhibit designer, information technician and producer).
3. Create content design team (including astronomer, educator, information technician and producer).
4. Construction team designs space with feedback from content design team on how the space it to be used.
5.Steering committee takes design specifications and works with fabrication firm to finalize plans & budget.
6. Fabrication firm works with Adler exhibits department to create gallery.
7. As gallery is being built, electronic content is created by “mini-teams,” consisting of astronomer, educator and producer; people typically serve on several mini-teams.
8. Content mini-teams are grouped into four areas, each under team leaders, who report to the steering committee.

  • Astronews: Recent astronomy news.
  • Educational Theme: area devoted to selected educational theme for the year; the first theme is
    the Sun-Earth Connection.
  • The Exploration of Space: Emphasizing manned and unmanned space missions.
  • Classroom Computers: Organize content for visitors to “go deeper” into particular subjects, using classroom computers.

9. Initial implementation complete two months before gallery opening.
10. In the two months prior to the opening, individual components are evaluated and content updated to address any problems.
11. After opening, electronic format allows quick changes to highlight discoveries or other important events.

CyberSpace Gallery: Distance Learning Studio

  • H.232 teleconferencing studio
  • Three projectors to display remote sites
  • Seating for groups of 30
  • Either automated camera controls or manual from control room

CyberSpace Gallery: Informal Gallery Space

  • 16 plasma display screens allowing mouse interactivity with astronomical applications.
  • Video strip to highlight visually interesting space missions, science etc.
  • 4 VisionStations (1-meter diameter hemispherical displays)
  • Projector system to enable remote observing (including feedback to remote telescope operator)

CyberSpace Gallery Budget

  • Time involved for entire construction process is about 1 year, initial content development is about 1 year.
  • Staff time: astronomer/historian (25 person-months), educator/evaluator (25 Person-months), production personnel (25 Person-months), information systems 920 Person-months), exhibit design (5 Person-months)

Contact
Doug Roberts
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
Email: doug-roberts@northwestern.edu

Web Site
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org

 

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Created: 5/18/2002
Last updated: 12/09/02
Contact: inquiries@nist.gov

 

museum display on sky surverys

This display shows the motivation for large, digital sky surveys.

museum display on the Big Bang

Cosmology exhibit introducing the concept of cosmology.

Museum text panel on Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Exhibit describes the Sloan Digital Sky Survey program..

classroom with multiple computer stations

The multi-use classroom is primarily used for computer-aided instruction. It can also be configured as a distance learning center, lecture/demonstration space, or an informal space for visitors to learn more about any other component of CyberSpace.

Close up view of computer workstation

The innovative computer “pod” can be easily converted from a terminal to a writing surface.

Gallery space showing plasma displays

Sixteen interactive plasma displays show content served from a cluster of computers. The content from any computer can be routed to any display. Each plasma display also has an associated text screen that can show extra information, such as the component title or instructions.