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In terms of outdated exhibits:
I think the Harvard Museum of Natural History, particularly the MCZ in
Vertebrate Paleontology exhibit, is an interesting example of a very
old-school museum.  The exhibits remain in an encyclopedic format with
little display creativity or labels.  One of the dinosaurs is displayed in
the old 'drag-the-tail-along-the-ground' method.  While the museum refuses
to change its method of display (with the exception of a temporary exhibit
room that used to hold ancient life dioramas), it relies on the education
department to actively engage visitors with the specimens.  It's not an easy
task at all but the method behind the madness is that the entire museum
becomes an exhibit of 'the-way-museums-used-to-be': dusty, object laden
warehouses exclusively for the educated and without consideration for the
'common' man.
The refusal of Harvard to change the exhibits enables the education
department to really 'think outside the box' to engage the public.  It takes
a lot of money to revamp exhibits but, as we all know, science constantly
changes, and it is important to reflect those changes.  After all, science
museums serve their communities and remain a liaison between scientific
community and the public.

Victoria

On Nov 29, 2007 9:40 AM, Peter A Anderson <[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.
>
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Message text written by Informal Science Education Network
> >Peter, I agree with your comments, but disagree about age, particularly
> in
> terms of exhibits that are representative of new or cutting edge
> technology.  This is an interesting question given that year after year we
> have discussions online about how to keep exhibits current.  Age becomes
> inherent (but not the driver).
> Beryl
> <
>
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