Jun
18
Written by:
5th World Congress Blogger
6/18/2008 11:24 PM
Most of us have yet to take action to effect change in regards to this global issue of climate change. What are our roles as science centres? How do we create action?
Discussions in the session Earth Issues Urgency for Awareness: Climate Change led us to see some key roles that are ours as science museums.
Clare Wilson reminded us that we act as a point of inspiration. The tropical rain forest exhibit at the Otago Museum in Dunedin, New Zealand inspires visitors to take interest in the world around them – to be amazed at the world and gain an appreciation for what we are trying to preserve, our planet.
By incorporating the theme of climate change into exhibits and programs the message gets out. Daniel Tan Teck Meng took us on a tour of the new climate change exhibition at the Singapore Science Centre and told us of the programs they have infused with a climate change theme, such as their robot competition.
We can look for partnership opportunities. After all, we are not alone in this endeavour to inspire people into climate change action. Walter Staveloz from ASTC pointed out the opportunities to partner with WWF to celebrate Earth Hour, or with the Live Earth group concert event to raise awareness.
The importance of presenting a balanced discussion also came up. This may not mean equal weighting, however. Giving equal emphasis to the human causes and natural causes of climate change can not only confuse but mislead people.
The need to provide information to our visitors to let them know what actions they can take was illustrated by Erika Shugart from the Mariam Koshland Science Museum in Washington DC. The visitors to their climate change exhibition wanted more.
Ganga Rautela from Science City, Kolkota, India shared the data of their national survey on climate change, which highlighted the need to provide visitors with not only the science but also the political, economic and personal context they need to make informed decisions.
Lastly, Asger Hoeg, Experimentarium, Hellerup, Denmark hit the nail on the head when he clearly and briefly stated that the change in the price of oil will be the ultimate event to force our hand into action.
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