Remedial/Summative Evaluation of the Sugar from the Sun Exhibition

Sugar from the Sun was managed by the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance (GPCA) and funded, in part, by the National Science Foundation. For this project, a 6,400 square foot living exhibition was built at Garfield Park Conservatory. This exhibition, comprised of five sections, depicted plants' production of sugar from water, air, and sunlight. The exhibition also featured a printed Exhibit Guide and hands-on activities. This study used a naturalistic inquiry methodology. The research question for this study was, As visitors engage with the immersive environments and interpretive messages in the Sugar from the Sun exhibition, in what ways and to what extent do their experiences contribute to achieving the project's goals? Most of the project's goals were achieved for most visitors. However, the goal related to visitors' understanding of the big idea was only partially achieved. Recommendations address issues with labels, Conservatory signage and maps, printed handouts, and educational programming, as well as the development process for future exhibitions. The appendix of this report includes observation and interview protocols.