The Exploratorium at 35

Past, Present and FutureRob Semper

Executive Associate DirectorWorkshop on Education and Outreach

Aspen Center for PhysicsJune 28, 2004 - July 9, 2004

© Exploratorium

Exploratorium

1969

Dr. Frank Oppenheimer1912-1985

A Rationale For A Science Museum

“There have been many attempts to bridge the gap between the experts and the laymen. The attempts have involved books, magazine articles, television programs and general science courses in schools. But such attempts, although valuable, are at a disadvantage because they lack props; they require apparatus which people can see and handle and which display phenomena which people can turn on and off and vary at will. Explaining science and technology without props can resemble an attempt to tell what it is like to swim without ever letting a person near the water. There is thus a growing need for an environment in which people can become familiar with the details of science and technology and begin to gain some understanding by controlling and watching the behavior of laboratory apparatus and machinery; such a place can arouse their latent curiosity and can provide at least partial answers.”

- FRANK OPPENHEIMER Curator 11 (3) 1968

Science History Museums

Developed in 1700’sAshmolean Museum -

OxfordNational Museum for the

History of Science - Leyden

Instituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza - Florence

Collection of historical scientific objects

Ashmolean MuseumOxford 1683

Technical MuseumsCreated world-wide in

1800’sMusee des Arts and Metiers -

ParisFranklin Institute -

PhiladelphiaScience Museum - London

Exhibits of machines, instruments and models

Industrial fairs of 1850-1900 stimulated technical museums in Prague, Vienna, Washington, and Munich

Musee des Arts and MetiersParis 1794

Science and Industry Museums

Developed during first half of 20th centuryDeutsches Museum -

MunichMuseum of Science and

Industry - ChicagoFranklin Institute -

Philadelphia

Historical artifacts, working models and participatory exhibits

Focus on science and technology

Deutsches MuseumMunich 1906

Science CentersDeveloped mainly in

second half of 20th centuryPalais de la Découverte -

ParisEvoluon - EindhovenJapan Science Foundation -

Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka

Outgrowth of Worlds Fair exhibitionsPacific Science Center -

Seattle

Experimental demonstrations of scientific principles

Palais de la Découverte (Palace of Discovery) 1937

Educational Centers

Started 1968-69Educational exhibits with no

object collectionsSome developments

informed by formal science curriculum developmentExploratorium - San FranciscoLawrence Hall of Science -

Berkeley

Other developments informed by experiential designOntario Science Center -

TorontoExploratorium Lawrence Hall of Science Ontario Science Centre

The Palace of Fine Arts

1970’s

SLAC Garden of Anodes

Exhibit Development Shop

Interactive Exhibits

Direct experience with natural phenomena

Focus on perception and the phenomena of nature

Aesthetic dimensionSocial interaction

Colored Shadow Wall

Distorted Room

Momentum Machine

Sun Painting

Tornado

Exhibition Development

In-house exhibit development process

Development process visible to the public

Educationally basedStaff of scientists,

educators, designers and builders

TopicsPerception, light, sound, waves,

resonance, mechanics, electricity, heat, language, neurobiology, genetics, animal behavior, exponentials, complexity, mathematics

Exploratorium Machine Shop

High School Explainers

Skateboarding Event

Exploratorium Cookbook

Public Exhibition

6,000 sq mt of open exhibition space

500,000 annual visitors2/3 older than 21 years50% family groupsCurrent Focus

Seeing Hearing Traits of Life Mind and Learning Matter World

Catenary Arch

Extending the Exploratorium Beyond its

Walls

PublishingInternetExported Exhibits

ExploraBook

www.exploratorium.edu

Science of Music

Webcast Studio

Origins

Wireless Electronic Guidebook

Supporting K-12 Education

School in the Exploratorium 1974

Museum environment supporting science teacher development

Staff, exhibits and space creating a professional home for teachersTeacher Workshop

Institute for Inquiry

Teacher Institute

Iron Science Teacher

A PARTNERSHIP OF THE EXPLORATORIUMUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ

KING'S COLLEGE LONDON

CILS is funded by the National Science Foundation, with generous support from NEC Foundation of

America and the Noyce Foundation

Center for Informal Learning and Schools

CILS Landscape

Exploratorium Network for Exhibit-based Teaching

(ExNET)

Partnership with 8 North American museums

Using exhibits to support education

35 interactive exhibits - 400 sq. mt.

Sets rotate annuallyKnowledge exchange

between partners www.exploratorium.edu/partner

Exploratorium Today

300 staff$25M annual budgetThree centers of activity

Center for Public Exhibition

Center for Museum Partnership

Center for Learning and Teaching

R & D center in science education for the public and schools

Dr. Goéry Delacôte Executive Director 1991 -

Mission Statement

“The Exploratorium’s mission is to create a culture of learning through the

creation of innovative environments, programs and tools that help people

nurture their curiosity about the world around them.”