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Science
in Museums
Articles
What
do the Public Say?
Pann
Pann Chung and Padraig McCauley Winter
ONE of the most difficult things to do is present science to the general public so that it is both comprehensible and interesting. The Powerhouse Museum, located in Ultimo, Sydney, is perhaps the best example of a museum that attempts to cater to people with very little scientific knowledge. The mission statement of the Museum clearly states a desire to appeal to “diverse audiences”. At first glance, it appears that the Museum managed to accomplish this. Most of the displays are bright and interactive – features that are necessary in making the topic of science palatable to the general public. However, does the Museum live up to its goal of being acceptable to “lay scientists”?
The Powerhouse Museum is the flagship of the Museum of Applied Arts and Science. It houses the remnants of a collection that was originally located at Sydney’s Garden Palace, before it was destroyed by fire over one hundred years ago. Added to this collection are numerous new permanent displays, as well as several temporary ones that showcase the best the scientific, artistic and technological worlds have to offer.
As a means of gauging how acceptable the museum is by the general public, visitors were approached while at the Powerhouse Museum and asked for their impressions. What follows are a few of their responses:
Ms. Narelle Thurlow, a third-grade primary school teacher from Newcastle’s Plattsburg Primary School, loved the “hands on” aspect of the museum, and she felt that it was an “encouraging step toward science for children”. Unfortunately for her young group, she believed the explanatory notes provided by the Museum possibly required knowledge beyond that of younger children and was perhaps targeted more toward those who were twelve years or over.
Ms. Ellen McKenna of Stanmore’s Newington College had contrasting thoughts about the Museum. She admired how it prompts younger children to learn at their own pace, but felt that the written information provided was too long and often her youngsters did not have the patience to read it all.
The students themselves seemed to have formed their own views on the Museum. Year 7 students from Ms. McKenna’s class felt that the displays were interesting and provoked a further interest in science for them. Despite this positive opinion, the students were of the opinion that the displays contained a little too much technical jargon and required too much thinking. It seems Ms. McKenna knows her students and their capabilities!
However, two prime representatives of the everyday public, Brian and Ken, touring from Western Australia, received the Museum very well. They found it thoroughly enjoyable and would love to come back. They felt that a whole day was needed to see the entire museum, and that “children might not appreciate or understand some of the historical displays”.
So, the Museum
seems to be getting through to its target audiences by employing a range
of strategies. It needs to strike a tricky balance between written information
for more mature visitors and interactive displays to reach younger members
of the public.
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