Cosmic Serpent Front-End Visitor Study

In order to better understand how visitors to science and natural history museums connect to ideas around Indigenous knowledge and Western science, the Cosmic Serpent evaluation team (Institute for Learning Innovation and Native Pathways) conducted front-end audience research focused on audience perceptions and attitudes towards Indigenous ways of knowing and Western science in informal science settings.A total of 121 exit interviews were conducted with visitors to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque, NM, and to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, OR. Interviews were designed to capture data on: 1) perceptions of Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science; 2) Knowledge and interest levels related to Indigenous Knowledge and Western science; and 3) potential challenges in presenting these topics in a science or natural history museum setting.Results showed that visitors were for the most part open and accepting to the idea of featuring Indigenous knowledge in the context of science and natural history museums. A small group of visitors felt that if Indigenous knowledge were featured in these contexts, it should focus on the science rather than on culture or religion, which were seen by some as more appropriate for a history or culture museum. While visitors felt they have more knowledge of Western Science than of Indigenous knowledge, they were equally interested in both areas. Further, they perceived value in both worldviews in terms of how human beings understand the natural world, and overall did not feel any conflict in appreciating both perspectives simultaneously. The appendix of this report includes the interview protocol and instrument used in the study.

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