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Science Cabaret
Here's an idea that might work not only with older visitors but might
attract more visitors in their 20's and up, depending on when/where/how it is
presented: a science cabaret, an evening of science entertainment, a series of
"acts" that present science in an entertaining and maybe humorous way.
I went to the first "science cabaret" organized by Ira Flatow, the host of
NPR's weekly Science Fridays program. It was really fun but also presented
some real science.
It was held at Kenny's Castaways, a bar/club in the Village in New York
City. Kenny's was crowded, a little dumpy, but worked as a setting for the
cabaret.
Ira acted as host. The first and closing act was the Amygdaloids (after the
amygdala, a part of the brain) which plays a role in processing emotions), a
"heavy metal" group of four neuroscientists from NYU. Musically, they
actually weren't too bad. Their songs were entertaining (and were about the
brain!) and while not the Rolling Stones, were not bad. The next act were two
physicists from Rockefeller University who did some standard and some novel
physics demos. The most memorable were: a physicist transporting himself about
50 feet, using a fire extinguisher as his "rocket." He actually lifted off
the ground a few inches! He also took some liquid nitro in his mouth, spit it
out, and created a cloud of "smoke." (NOT!!! to try at home). There was a
short 12-minute film about a scientist who fell in love with a micro-person
in his petri dish. Another Rockefeller student passed out materials for the
audience to extract some DNA from their cheek. Finally, there was a short
on-stage interview with the author, Marion Nestle, of a book on food. All very
entertaining -- you could learn some basic science, have a few laughs, and
have a beer and a burger.
Different than a science cafe, but another way to engage people in science.
I can imagine it being done at a science center for groups of seniors who
come for tea instead of a beer or targeted to the younger adult crowd with an
edgier presentation (well, most of the people at Kenny's were in their 20's &
30's, so I guess it was "edgy" enough).
Bob
Robert L. Russell, Ph.D.
Science Advisor, Self-Reliance Foundation
Project Director, Celebra la Ciencia & ConCiencia/Hispanic Science Newswire
(202) 360-4117 (office) (202) 997-5539 (cell)
[log in to unmask]
_www.celebralaciencia.org_ (http://www.celebralaciencia.org/)
_www.selfreliancefoundation.org_ (http://www.selfreliancefoundation.org/)
1126 16th St. NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20036
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
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