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Are We There Yet?
Conversations about Best Practices in Science Exhibition Development
Kathleen McLean
and Catherine McEver, editors
The Exploratorium, 2004
#148
What goes into planning a successful exhibition, and how do we know one when we see it? This book gathers the thinking of leading exhibition professionals in a point-counterpoint format that grew out of a 2003 invitational conference at the Exploratorium. Featured in the 132-page book are descriptions of "Twelve Noteworthy Science Exhibitions," including budgets and timelines, project goals, participants, and narratives of the exhibition development process. A CD augments these descriptions with color images and several video walkthroughs.
The concluding section, "In the Vernacular," suggests strategies
for keeping creativity alive while learning from past practice,
using three novel formats—a "Creativity Killers" poster to
hang by your desk, a "Muzine" full of irreverent ideas, and tear-out
"Weed Seeds" cards with tips for encouraging innovation.
Kathleen McLean is director of the Center for Public Exhibition
and Public Programs at the Exploratorium and author of the ASTC
bestseller Planning for People in Museum Exhibitions. Catherine
McEver is an artist and writer who has documented planning meetings
for foundations, museums, and science centers nationwide.
Winner, Honorable Mention, Educational Resources
2005 AAM Publications Competition
$40 for ASTC members; $50 for nonmembers. Shipping and handling extra.
Table of Contents
Foreword—Barry A. VanDeman
Acknowledgments
Introduction—Kathleen McLean and Catherine McEver
Part One: The Conversations
Introduction: Best Practices Should be a Tool, Not a Rule —Kathleen McLean
The Best of Practices, the Worst of Times —Jay Rounds
How Clear Goals and Objectives Can Help Us Lose Our Way —Patrick Tevlin
Writing More Useful Goals and Objectives —Beverly Serrell
Teams and Goals: Conversations about how We Work Together
Teams Take Too Long: Think F.A.S.T.! —Paul Orselli
Some Thoughts on Teams —Jim Volkert
Ample Time and Money: Bottom Line Requirement or Practical Noise?
—Paul Martin
Time and Money: A Pragmatic Perspective —Claire Pillsbury
Project Management and Innovative Exhibitions: A Perfect Pair —Robert Garfinkle and Susan Koch
Questions from the Field about Time, Money, and Project Management
Beyond Interactivity —Judy Rand
Emotional Rescue —Stephen Pizzey
Evaluation —Donald Hughes
What Does Evaluation Have to Do with Best Practices? —Sue Allen
Questions from the Field about Evaluation
Employing New Technology: Think about the Interface —Amanda Parkes
Learning Design —Sue Allen
Embracing Ideas —Kathleen McLean
Part Two: Twelve Noteworthy Science Exhibitions
Introduction: A Detailed Look at Twelve Noteworthy Science Exhibitions
—Kathleen McLean and Catherine McEver
Wolves and Humans: Coexistence, Competition and Conflict —Science Museum of Minnesota, Paul Martin
Traveling the Pacific —The Field Museum, Phyllis Rabineau
Psychology: Understanding Ourselves, Understanding Each Other —American Psychological Association and Ontario Science Centre, Gretchen Jennings
Darkened Waters: Profile of an Oil Spill —Pratt Museum, Michael S. O'Meara
Whodunit? The Science of Solving Crime —Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Charlie Walter
Engineer It! —Oregon
Museum of Science and Industry, Janell C. Jones
Memory —Exploratorium,
Michael Pearce
Congo Gorilla Forest
—Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, Sitara Cave, John
Fraser, John Gwynne, and Kim Vanmourik
Frogs —Exploratorium,
Charles Carlson and Alice Krasinski
Sounds from the Vaults
—The Field Museum, Carolyn S. Johnson and Alaka Wali,
with Richard Faron and Bruce Odland
Sound Lab —Experience
Music Project, Andrea Weatherhead
Jellies: Living Art —Monterey
Bay Aquarium, Jaci Tomulonis
CD ROM
Part Three: In the Vernacular
Introduction: In the Vernacular —Kathleen McLean and Catherine McEver
Weed Seeds Cards and Free Passes
Creativity Killers Poster
Muzine
Comments from Non-Visitors
Appendix A: The Preconference Survey/Questionnaire and Respondents
Appendix B: Conference Participants
Appendix C: Ways of Assessing an Exhibition
Credits
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