Sea Floor ScienceSea Floor ScienceCommunicating Science to Public Communicating Science to Public

AudiencesAudiences

Ocean InstituteOcean Institute

November 2003November 2003

The ProblemThe Problem

Public and, in particular, Public and, in particular, students need access to today’s students need access to today’s sciencescience

Scientists need effective and Scientists need effective and efficient ways to meet broader efficient ways to meet broader outreach, O&E, PUR objectivesoutreach, O&E, PUR objectives

Solutions: Breaking Scientist Solutions: Breaking Scientist StereotypesStereotypes

don’t have timedon’t have time

don’t have the proper rewardsdon’t have the proper rewards

don’t have the moneydon’t have the money

don’t know howdon’t know how

subject matter is too complicatedsubject matter is too complicated

aren’t interestedaren’t interested

Sea Floor Science: Redefining Sea Floor Science: Redefining Exhibits and ProgramsExhibits and Programs

Middle School Middle School Program seeks 18 Program seeks 18 hours involving hours involving students in the students in the essence of research essence of research content, skills and content, skills and contextcontext

Exhibits that are Exhibits that are scaleable from 3 scaleable from 3 minutes to 18 hours, minutes to 18 hours, Providing a tiered Providing a tiered experienceexperience

Eight Distinct Eight Distinct TreatmentsTreatments

UnfacilitatedUnfacilitated

ExhibitExhibit

Self-Guided TourSelf-Guided Tour

On-site kitsOn-site kits

Take Home ScienceTake Home Science

FacilitatedFacilitated

Exhibit with Teaching LabExhibit with Teaching Lab

Explorations! Interactive TourExplorations! Interactive Tour

Interactive ForumInteractive Forum

Extended CourseExtended Course

It’s All about the ProcessIt’s All about the Process

SeductionSeduction

2.5 hour Translation Meeting2.5 hour Translation Meeting

Range of Opportunities Proposal Range of Opportunities Proposal developed by OIdeveloped by OI

Project Development by OIProject Development by OI

Iterative evaluation by Science Iterative evaluation by Science partnerspartners

Third-party evaluation of Third-party evaluation of effectivenesseffectiveness

The FutureThe Future

Informal Science Centers can serve Informal Science Centers can serve as effective vehicles for translating as effective vehicles for translating science and surrogates for direct science and surrogates for direct access to research labs and access to research labs and personnelpersonnel

Establishing our own identity

A premier ocean learning center engaging over 100,000 students each year in award-winning programs. On the weekends, it’s your turn to explore!

Primary messages are communicated through the site-wide collection of experiences.

Exhibits are intended to perform most effectively within the context of the whole OI experience.

Exhibits and the OI Experience

UnfacilitatedUnfacilitatedExhibitExhibitSelf-Guided ExplorationSelf-Guided ExplorationOn-site kitsOn-site kitsTake Home ScienceTake Home Science

FacilitatedFacilitatedExhibit with Teaching LabExhibit with Teaching LabInteractive TourInteractive TourInteractive ForumInteractive ForumExtended CourseExtended Course

The OI Experience: 8 treatments

Convertibility Requirements

Teaching stations must include solutions for:• Maximum flexibility of use• Storage of school/public program materials• Self-guided interactive experience• Deeper facilitated experience• Ability to get wet and dirty • Efficiency in adaptation to change• Must not feel like an “exhibit” during school programs• Must maintain essence of school program experience for the public

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Computer with Internet access

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“Now you see it—now you don’t” signage

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Built-in storage

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Inexpensive signage

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Portability of components

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“Lived in” (“worked in”) look & feel

Convertibility Approach

All stations include:

Updateability

Keys to updateability include:

• Inexpensive communication devices• Ongoing effective partnership with research partners• Exhibits play a supporting role for programs• Appropriate technology• “Rapid response” team

Accessibility to Research

• Use of real tools and technology• Based on specific projects• Focus on what we don’t know and how we know what we DO know• Person-to-person interaction• Focus on relevance• Encourage question generation• Provide opportunities to explore• Humanize the science