Last week, I went to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia for the exhibit on Galileo: The Medici and the Age of Astronomy. It was awesome to see an actual Galileo telescope and learn more about the social, political, and cultural contexts in which he did his work. I was impressed by the variety of instruments that were on display, not just as scientific tools but also as works of art and craftsmanship. Unfortunately, this is the only North American venue for this exhibit, but the website has recordings of the symposia (featuring scientists from around the world) on topics such as “What Would Galileo Think?” and “Revolutions in Art and Science,” and an educators guide with more resources. (And don’t forget that SciLinks can help you find even more resources on topics such as Galileo, astronomy, and telescopes.
Just walking into the museum, I was transported back in time to another era–my own childhood. Seeing the giant statue of Benjamin Franklin reminded me of my visits to this fascinating place where I saw my first planetarium show and many other wonders. And then I heard it–lub DUB, lub DUB. The giant, walkthrough heart was still there, still beating! I couldn’t resist walking through again (although the passages seemed smaller than I remember). I realized that this museum was part of what stimulated my interest in science. There were many children there–families on vacation and summer camp groups. I wonder how many children are (or have been) turned on to science through visits to museums, zoos, parks, botanical gardens, science centers, and other informal science institutes. I was fortunate in that my parents were able to take me to places such as the Franklin, but I also wonder how many children have these experiences only through school or camp field trips and what will happen when funds for trips are no longer available (or when other issues cause them to be eliminated).
No matter where you live, there are places that can turn kids on–even your own schoolyard–and the Internet lets you find these places and the resources to make the experiences meaningful ones. I do volunteer work at a local nature center, and today I had a wonderful conversation with a youngster about snakes and turtles. Even if he does not become a herpetologist, I hope he keeps his interest in learning more about living things.
Please feel free to share you own memories of those special places that sparked (or continue to spark) your interest.