August 1st, 2012 - July 31st, 2014 | PROJECT
This CRPA project is about research on climate change impacts in the Amazonian rain forest and about motivating youth to consider science as a career objective. The project is an exhibit in Biosphere 2 in Arizona wherein a rain forest is maintained and will be used to augment the exhibit of large photos of scientists doing research. Particular attention will be paid to female scientists to motivate young girls. Biosphere 2 and the Girl Scout Council of Southern Arizona will collaborate to attract girls through free admission days to Biosphere 2. These large photos will be equipped with sound and video so that as a visitor approaches the photo, the sounds of the forest as well as the researcher(s) will be heard. At this point the researcher, in the photograph, will begin a monologue with the visitor explaining what scientists are investigating and who the other workers are. In this monologue, the researcher will explain what they are doing specifically, why they are investigating this subject, and what they plan to derive as a scientific result. The exhibit will consist of fifty very large photographs (3x5 feet) with sound access via smart phones and headsets. In addition, there will be hands on equipment and docents for questions and discussion. The venue receives about 100,000 visitors per year consisting mainly of families, tourists, and clubs. Through this exhibit, the researchers intend to motivate youth to develop interests in STEM topics. Girls are the main target audience. For families and tourists, the exhibit communicates the message of how science is being used to determine the effect of climate change on rain forests and how that would affect other aspects of weather and the global environment.
Project Website(s)
(no project website provided)
Team Members
Scott Saleska, Principal Investigator, University of ArizonaBruce Johnson, Co-Principal Investigator, University of Arizona
Joost van Haren, Co-Principal Investigator, University of Arizona
Jennifer Fields, Co-Principal Investigator, University of Arizona
Funders
Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 1209899
Funding Amount: 149797
Tags
Access and Inclusion: Women and Girls
Audience: Families | General Public | Museum | ISE Professionals | Youth | Teen (up to 17)
Discipline: Art | music | theater | Climate | Ecology | forestry | agriculture | Nature of science
Resource Type: Project Descriptions
Environment Type: Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits