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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Reading the thread so far about cloud chambers, it sounds as if the large,
"museum"-level cloud chambers are the ones people are talking about having
purchased or used.  Since the perception seems to be that they only educate
well when there is staff nearby to explain and create enthusiasm, has anyone
tried the small portable versions?  These are much, much cheaper, and can be
run for an hour on 1.5 liters of liquid nitrogen (according to the website
Ian Russell referred to).  Seems like it could be an interesting cart
activity.

Carolyn Slivinski
Education Dept.
Maryland Science Center
601 Light St.
Baltimore, MD  21230
410-545-5967
[log in to unmask] 


-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Lynn Corona
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Energy exhibition - nuclear & fossil energy exhibits


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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The Science Museum of Virginia just purchased a Cloud Chamber. I would
be interested in what you found out in your evaluations. 

Lynn Corona
Director of Exhibits
Science Museum of Virginia
2500 West Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220
Ph: 804.864.1494 
Fax: 804.864.1560
e-mail: [log in to unmask]

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric Siegel
(optonline)
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 6:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Energy exhibition - nuclear & fossil energy exhibits

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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The Hall of Science bought a Phywe cloud chamber, a big one, last year.
It is beautiful and fascinating, but difficult to interpret for our core
visitors.  Martin Weiss has just finished doing some evaluation of the
experience.

Eric Siegel
Executive VP
    Programs and Planning
NY Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
[log in to unmask]
718 699 0005 x 317
www.nyscience.org


On Jan 24, 2006, at 4:45 PM, Ian Russell wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology 
> Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and 
> related institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> *******
>
> For me, the most impressive 'nuclear energy' exhibit is a cloud 
> chamber. I mean, to SEE the difference between real alpha, beta and 
> gamma tracks in the mist in a glass-topped box is so utterly awesome. 
> The worst thing about most cloudchambers I see in science museums is 
> that they never seem to be 'hyped-up' enough by the graphics. Too many

> people just walk past them. But as soon as you quietly tell someone 
> just what they are seeing in there, they nearly always become 
> awestruck and start telling other people. I've seen exactly the same 
> thing happen with badly displayed, weakly labelled pieces of 
> moon-rock. Apart from well-designed graphics, there must be other ways

> to make people regard this exhibit with suitable reverence. Maybe 
> display it in a large, empty, darkened room. Or perhaps make people 
> buy extra tickets and queue for half an hour outside...
>
> They are not cheap, though. This is the sort of exhibit I mean, but I 
> have no direct experience of the products supplied by this
> company: http://www.cloudchambers.com/MuseumCloudChambers.htm
>
>
> [log in to unmask] * http://www.interactives.co.uk
> *
> Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
> Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
> *
> Ian Russell
> **********************************************************************
> *

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