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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Per Tom's comment on the power of artifacts, Reach Advisors did a report on
museum memories last year, and objects topped the charts, well ahead of
hands-on activities.
On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 1:51 PM, Tom Lesser <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> ****************************************************************
> *****************
>
> 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<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<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]**
>> LSOFT.COM <[log in to unmask]>] On Behalf Of Jeff Rosenblatt
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 11:48 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]**COM <[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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>> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
>> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>>
>> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
>> www.exhibitfiles.org.
>>
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>> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
>> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>>
>> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
>> www.exhibitfiles.org.
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>
> ****************************************************************
> ***********
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
> www.exhibitfiles.org.
>
> The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft.
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--
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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