Making a museum (exhibit)
Below is the introduction to my museum proposal- a hands-on sandbox environment for middle and high school students to experience what it’s like to be a scientist
From the poorest to the smartest, hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren with backgrounds as unique as their genetic code learn and play in the sprawling cityscape that is Los Angeles. Any one of them could become the next Einstein, Linnaeus, or Newton- any of them could change the world as we know it. There’s just one problem: science is boring.
For a nation built upon our technological and scientific prowess, the United States’ method of educating young children in the sciences are antiquated. There’s a reason that students hate classroom biology, but love popular “science centers” such as the California Science Center (CSC) in downtown Los Angeles. The hands-on approach that the latter advocates is more engaging and relatable. Unfortunately, many centers, including the CSC, offer limited hands-on demonstrations, and are targeted for the understanding of elementary-school children. This is why a hands-on exhibit where students can experience science simulations (henceforth known as the “Science Experience”) located in the CSC would provide older schoolchildren the opportunities to experience what it is like to live the life of a scientist in a scavenger hunt-type setting, with the goal of sparking imaginations and inspiring young minds to pursue careers in science.
Let me know if you’d like to read more, I’d be glad to share ideas! Don’t forget to leave a comment below: just sign in with your Google account and write something in the box below the jump!
