Florence's La Specola Museum stirs up strong emotions. Among its collections, the valuable anatomical wax models created between the end of 17th and the beginning of 18th century stand out owing to their marvellous and provocative nature. The aim of this essay is to analyse the communication models epitomised by some of these works by means of historical semiotics, to nourish the widespread, but often underestimated assumption that science and the means used to spread it have always been influenced by intellectual suppositions and constantly interact with contemporary culture.
In 1995, journalist Dava Sobel's Longitude caused an earthquake in the history of science community. The present article analyses how only recently historians of science have fully realized the novelty the book represented. In the meantime, the international success of popular books by journalists on the history of science has become a well-known phenomenon. The author suggests that the huge publishing success of Sobel's book the "Sobel Effect" has provoked three main kinds of reaction among historians: rejection, detachment, and imitation. Which of the three strategies is the best, for
The Situating Hybrid Assemblies in Public Environments (SHAPE) project within the European Disappearing Computer initiative has explored how emerging ubiquitous technologies can support museum visiting experiences. SHAPE has designed hybrid artifacts that support visitors manipulating phisical and digital material in a visible and interesting manner.
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
Liam BannonSteve BenfordJohn BowersChristian Heath
African-American adolescent girls who expressed little interest in literacy activities nevertheless enthusiastically engaged in reading and writing around a topic that mattered to them—doing hair—particularly when they were allowed to determine the format of the literacy activities. The program aimed to carve out free spaces for self-directed learning.
In this article, Paul Katz, Ph.D., Curator of the Texas Pharmacy Museum and partner in the PRIAM consulting firm, discusses the development of the "Playas...Gems of the Plains" traveling exhibit, produced by the Panhandle Museum Resource Sharing Consortium and later the Northwest Texas Museum Association. Katz describes the rationale behind the exhibit, its components, its uniqueness as a traveling exhibit, and evaluation findings.
This article highlights some of the diverse ways that different types of museums use place-based education to further their missions and benefit their audiences. Authors include Janet Petitpas, Assistant Director of the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Maggie Russell-Ciardi, Education Coordinator for the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, Lori Salles, Exhibit Manager at the Turtle Bay Exploration Park, and Mary Jo Sutton, Director of Exhibitions at the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
Janet PetitpasMaggie Russell-CiardiLori SallesMary Jo Sutton