ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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One might consider the timeframe when natural history museums began 
presenting dioramas.  If memory serves, most of the oldest dioramas in 
natural history museums date to just after World War II. Consider the 
experience of people, especially young people, at that time. No 
computers, web, or downloadable video; while television existed, almost 
no one had one.  Before the Boeing 707 revolutionized air travel in the 
1960s, only the very wealthy could even consider traveling to Africa. 
Especially people living in cities only saw wildlife in the movies 
(think of the MGM lion or Tarzan), or at a zoo where animals were kept 
in incredibly small cages.

The dioramas of the time allowed the museum goer to see wildlife in a 
fairly natural setting. For instance, in the case of the American Museum 
of Natural History, artists were sent “on location” to sketch and 
photograph the settings which became the backgrounds for the dioramas.

Now fast forward to the early 21st century.  A person can be in just 
about any community in America and cable/satellite television has a 
gazillion channels presenting (over and over again it seems) the lives 
of animals from around the world. Want to see what an Opaki is? Google 
it and you can instantly see photographs, learn more about it than you 
could ever want to know, and watch videos on YouTube.

Today’s youngsters can see animals in a variety of ways, but they are 
virtual animals, which almost brings us back full circle. How many have 
seen (display or living) a real lion, much less a blue whale, or even a 
relatively common coyote?

I would suggest that the younger generations having easy access to the 
virtual world want to see the “real thing”, be that live Rays in an 
aquarium, a stuffed black bear, or Native American pottery.  That is not 
to suggest that these should be presented instead of interactive 
technology, activities, etc., but rather that the actual artifact 
(animal or otherwise) is a strong attraction.
Tom Lesser


On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 2:16 PM, Lesley Markham wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology 
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related 
> institutions.
> 
> *****************************************************************************
>
> You might want to look at these two publications. They are only 
> looking to future developments though
>
> NMC Horizon Report, 2012 Museum Edition. Accessed at 
> http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2012-horizon-report-museum.pdf
>
> Trendswatch 2013, Back to the Future. Accessed at 
> http://aam-us.org/docs/center-for-the-future-of-museums/trendswatch2013.pdf
>
> Lesley Markham
> ASTC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network 
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeff Rosenblatt
> Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 11:48 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Future of Science Centers
>
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology 
> Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and 
> related institutions.
> 
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Can anybody recommend a recent article/publication that succinctly 
> summarizes the science center field - past, present, and predictions 
> on the future?  And any thoughts out there on where you personally 
> think the field is going concerning exhibits, programs, structure, 
> leadership, relevance, role in society?
>
> All responses are already appreciated.
>
> --Jeff--
>
> Jeff Rosenblatt
> Director, Science City & Gottlieb Planetarium Kansas City's Science 
> Center
>
> Union Station Kansas City, Inc.
> 30 W. Pershing Rd.  Suite 400
> Kansas City, MO  64108
> Office:  816-460-2218
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> 
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