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.
For more information visit: Staying Sharp
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.
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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.
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.
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An evaluation was conducted to gage museum visitor response to a story created for the exhibition.
The Miami Science Museum is a member of the National Association for Museum Exhibition
