ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

I always thought that an extra interactive where you could induce more
trails might be a nice change for this exhibit....maybe a radioactive source
that you could alternately shield and expose...or something to make it less
of "observe and don't touch."
Even so, I could never justify the cost for low level of interest I've seen
in it.  Sure, I dig it, but I'm a physics geek...
Perhaps it would work better as an art installation appealing more to
adults...similar to the Exploratorium's dry ice shavings on heated blue
water....

-William
William Katzman			[log in to unmask]
Director of Exhibits			(828) 322-8169 x307
Catawba Science Center		(828) 322-1585 (fax)
"Try not to become a man of success, but rather to become a man of value"
-A. Einstein




-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Russell [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 4:46 PM
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.
****************************************************************************
*

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  

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]