Miami Science Museum and MetLife: Staying Sharp
Miami Science Museum is begining to prototype and develop a new and innovative method to engage and inspire people of all ages with how scientists make discoveries about aging and the brain. Working with the University of Miami's Center on Aging, we are developing this exciting new exhibit in partnership with local elders who bring a unique perspective to the process.
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Heart Smart
Heart Smart will raise awareness about risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, including the metabolic syndrome, and strategies for improving cardiovascular health. The exhibit will inform visitors about the research process and invite them to contribute data on measurements related to cardiovascular health i.e., their height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure. Visitor data will be aggregated and displayed as part of the exhibit, alongside comparable national data for different demographic groups. In addition to the hands-on interactive exhibit, the project includes a research study to determine whether a museum-based health exhibit and related materials (specifically, a debate-style game themed around cardiovascular health) are effective in increasing cardiovascular health knowledge among 10th graders in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Click here to View the University of Miami Heart Smart Article
Click here to View themiamihurricane.com Heart Smart Article
Life Changes:
Communicating Pre-evolutionary Concepts To Young Children in Informal Settings
The Miami Science Museum, The New York Hall of Science, The North Museum, and the Association of Science-Technology Centers are working together with the University of Michigan Center for Human Growth and Development to address a well-documented crisis in contemporary science – that large numbers of the public do not understand the scientific basis of evolution, or reject it outright.
The project's content focuses on the tenets of evolution through the example of birds over time.
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NSF-funded research conducted at UM by E. Margaret Evans suggests that if children are introduced to evolutionary tenets (variation, inheritance, selection, time) at an early age, they are more likely to see the natural world with a scientific perspective. Based on this research, the project will develop age-appropriate opportunities to move children ages 5-12 toward scientific reasoning. The result will feature a bilingual traveling Life Changes exhibition that, when combined with staff development and discovery boxes, will offer a flexible learning laboratory for museum practitioners to increase their capacity to deliver pre-evolutionary concepts.
Click here to Download ASTC Dimensions Article PDF
Click here to Download Museum News Article PDF
An evaluation was conducted to gage museum visitor response to a story created for the exhibition.
Click here to watch the story test in English
Haz clic para ver un cuento narrado en español
