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

Sharon,

Bill Hastie is my colleague and has many years of experience working on
water education related topics. I forwarded your query to him and he offered
the response below.

Anne Gurnee
David Heil & Associates, Inc.
Portland, OR
-----------

I don't think you can begin to look at a watershed "natural" system without
orienting to it on a map, preferably a three dimensional map. Additionally,
we have used a stream table effectively here in the Northwest to show stream
processes. None of this has to be, or perhaps even should be, high tech. The
ground water connection is often left out of the scenario, so some way of
showing that connection to the stream and watershed is important. We often
think of the natural system as plants and animals, but in reality the
streams and the watershed itself is in a way alive, and constantly changing.
The plants play a big role, and as recent research on wolves in Yellowstone
clearly show, all the animals including the top predators have a role in the
effects of those plants, particularly in the riparian zone. This is truly a
system of interconnected players, alive in total as well as individually.

As far as the differences in natural and human-made systems, Nature knows
exactly what it is doing. However, that can rarely be said for systems
designed by humans. Nature makes no assumptions, humans build everything
based on assumptions.

My two-bits worth. 

Bill


> From: Sharon Tinianow <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Wed, 4 May 2005 13:47:49 -0400
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Best Practices in Museums
> 
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> Hello colleagues!  We are working on a initiative that will result in
> some new exhibits and programming at our science center in Columbus.  I
> am looking for examples of effective ways to explore the following
> topics:  
> - Native Prairie Ecosystem
> - A Watershed as a natural system
> - A building as a man-made system
> - Comparing natural and man-made systems - how are they similar; how
> are they different?
> - Alternative energy systems and other means of reducing energy
> consumption by buildings (such as green roofs)
> 
> If you know of anything at your facility or at a museum or nature
> center you have visited, please reply.  I appreciate your help in
> tracking down the best practices in our field.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Sharon Tinianow
> Education Project Manager
> 
> NOW OPEN at COSI Columbus!
> Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
> March 12 - September 5, 2005
> 
> COSI - Explore Science, Discover FUN!
> GroupWise Powered by Time Warner Road Runner
> 
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> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
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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
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