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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... and for those who can find a copy of Steve Pizzey's excellent but long
out-of-print "Interactive Science and Technology Centres" (Science Projects
Publishing, 1987  ISBN 0 9512394 0 6) the whole Techniquest naming story is
written up in a chapter by Nicola Lewis, called "Market Research".

This confirms Harry's recollections.  Among adults, the seven most popular
names from those offered in the Hall test were, in order: Active Science,
Funtech, Technidrome, Funfizics, Tapping Technology, Science Scene, Funergy
and (seventh but not last) Techniquest.  Among children the preferences were
similar, with the exception of Funtech which "they found patronising".

Colin Johnson
Director, Techniquest (1997-2004)

> From: Harry White <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Informal Science Education Network
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 12:30:23 +0100
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: The Naming of Things
> 
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> Thank you Ian, for your kind words about Techniquest. The tale of the
> Techniquest name wasn't quite like that though.
> 
> Back in 1985 when we were known by the working title of WISTC (The Welsh
> Interactive Science and Technology Centre) - very catchy, we were offered
> the use of the Marketing Department of Wales Gas to assess a whole series of
> names. 
> 
> Their manager Nichola Lewis devised a "hall-test" to evaluate the appeal of
> a science centre and to look at a list of about 10 names.
> 
> Remember that at this time there were no permanent science centres in the
> UK, the names that scored best were the literal names "Science Fun",
> "Encounter Science" etc. Techniquest actually scored quite badly as far as I
> recall.
> 
> So when we met together to consider the findings, none of us liked the very
> literal names and we were considering another test run when one of the
> researchers said that, actually they'd been calling it Techniquest
> throughout the survey. We all agreed that that was what we called it too, so
> that's how we ended up with the name.  Not a great evaluation story I'm
> afraid.
> 
> As a fully bi-lingual centre, it has the advantage of having no Welsh
> translation.
> 
> Having lived with it for 20 years I have no objectivity left at all, but I
> still like it.
> 
> 
> -- 
> Harry White, Concept Development Director
> Techniquest, Stuart Street, Cardiff, UK. CF10 5BW
> Tel: +44 (0) 29 20 475 475, Direct: +44 (0) 29 20 475 464
> Fax: +44 (0) 29 20 482 517
> Web: http://www.techniquest.org
> 
> Techniquest is a Company Limited by Guarantee,
> registered in England and Wales, no. 1955696
> It is a registered as a charity, no. 517722
> 
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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
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message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
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