July 1st, 2012 - June 30th, 2017 | PROJECT
Health care in the United States is expensive and complex, and there are many competing interests that make it an increasing necessity for health care consumers to take an active role to better advocate for themselves and those who are impacted by the decisions that are made. Making effective health care choices requires both science literacy and critical thinking skills to understand and evaluate options. The Weighing the Evidence (tentative title) project team will work with medical experts, researchers, health and medicine journalists, and community partners to improve visitors’ critical analysis skills and ability to review evidence so that they can make informed health care decisions. To meet this goal a traveling exhibition will be developed utilizing a unique collection of historical and contemporary quack medical devices donated to the Science Museum of Minnesota when the Museum of Questionable Medical Devises closed in 2002. While the collection is rich in fun and entertainment, it also offers a multitude of opportunities to reflect on science, society and ethics, skepticism, and objectivity. This collection, along with interactive experiences, theater programs, outreach programming and a companion web site will provide visitors with the tools needed to become more knowledgeable health care consumers.
Project Website(s)
(no project website provided)
Project Products
http://www.smm.org/exhibitservices/history/evidence
Weighing the Evidence Summative Evaluation
Team Members
Laurie Fink, Principal Investigator, Science Museum of MinnesotaBette Schmit, Contact, Science Museum of Minnesota
Funders
Funding Source: NIH
Award Number: R25 OD 010544-01
Tags
Audience: General Public | Museum | ISE Professionals | Youth | Teen (up to 17)
Discipline: Health and medicine
Resource Type: Project Descriptions
Environment Type: Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits | Museum and Science Center Programs | Public Programs | Theater Programs