Gallery Interpreter Basics NHMU’s Mission Statement, and the Gallery Interpreter Mission Statement he mission of the Natural History Museum of Utah is to T illuminate the natural world and the place of humans within it. As Utah's state museum of natural history at the University of Utah, we: Foster an understanding of science as a journey of discovery and wonder. Promote the preservation of biological and cultural diversity. Preserve collections in trust for future generations. Encourage new perspectives on and inspire passion for the natural world. Celebrate Utah's native peoples and cultures. Showcase Utah's unique and extraordinary environments. Create knowledge through innovative research. Demonstrate the myriad links connecting the past, present and future. Transcend scientific disciplines to reveal the networks inherent in nature. Serve as a center for science literacy, acting as a bridge between the scientific community and the public. Empower people to make thoughtful decisions about the future. The Mission of the Gallery Interpreter Program In support of the Museum mission, the mission of the Gallery Interpreter Program is to use conversation and hands-on activities to spark excitement and curiosity about the natural world. What is the role of an interpreter in the Galleries? • to facilitate visitors’ use of the exhibits and to help them make meaningful connections. • to engage visitors in out-of-the-ordinary activities. • to create experiences that encourage curiosity and confidence for continued learning. 2 The Art of Science Communication Science communication generally refers to public media aiming to talk about science with non-scientists. Science communication benefits the faculty of science in general; if the public enjoyed science more, there would presumably be more funding, progressive regulation, and trained scientists. More trained engineers and scientists could allow a nation to be more competitive economically. Science can also provide benefits to the individual. A case in point, science can simply have aesthetic appeal (e.g. popular science or science fiction). Living in an increasingly technological society, background scientific knowledge can help to negotiate it. The government and society might also benefit from more scientific literacy - since an informed electorate promotes a more effective democratic society. Moreover, facts uncovered by science are often relevant to moral decision making (e.g. answering questions about whether animals can feel pain, or even a science of morality). Notable Science Communicators: Institutions for Scientific Communication: Carl Sagan Bill Nye Online & Print Neil deGrasse Tyson TED talks Jane Goodall Scientific American Stephen Hawking Orion E.O. Wilson National Geographic Bill McKibben James Sampson Radio Scott Sampson Science Fridays Margaret Mead Radio Lab Richard Feynman Thomas Freeman TV & Film Ira Flato Scientific American Frontiers Alan Alda Nature David Attenborough Planet Earth Rachael Carson Nova Chris Jordan Dinosaur Train David Orr Magic School Bus 3 Life of Birds and other David Winged Migration Attenborough documentaries What Teachers Want Conny C. Graft, a consultant in research and evaluation for interpretive programs, conducted a post-field trip survey with school teachers about the skills of interpreters, asking the teachers to rank a list of critical skills that the interpreters demonstrated from best to worst. She also asked the teachers to use the same list to rank which skills were most important to the success of a field trip. What We’re Doing What They Want 1. Knowledge 1. Ability to Get Students 2. Hospitality and Courtesy Excited About the Past 3. Age Appropriate Presentations 2. Response to Group Needs 4. Flexibility 3. Use a Variety of Teaching 5. Effective Use of Surroundings Techniques Effectively 6. Response to Group Needs 4. Be Flexible 7. Enthusiasm 5. Use Surroundings Effectively 8. Effective Use of Teaching 6. Give Age Appropriate Techniques Presentations 9. Ability to Get Students 7. Be Enthusiastic Excited About the Past 8. Be Hospitable and Courteous 9. Be Knowledgeable 4 http://futureofmuseums.blogspot.com/2011/07/questioning-assumptions-is-inspiration.html Kids In Nature In his groundbreaking work about the staggering divide between children and the outdoors, journalist and child advocate Richard Louv directly links the absence of nature in the lives of today's wired generation to some of the most disturbing childhood trends: the rise in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. This is the first book to bring together a body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions to heal the broken bond. 5 Kids In Nature • The more high-tech our lives become, • Individuals and businesses can become the more nature we need. We have a nature smart. Spending more time outdoors human right to a meaningful connection to nurtures our “nature neurons” and our nature, and we have the responsibilities that natural creativity. For example, at the come with that right. Few today would University of Michigan, researchers question the notion that every person, demonstrated that, after just an hour especially every young person, has a right to interacting with nature, memory access the Internet. We should also have performance and attention spans improved access to the natural world, because that by 20 percent. In workplaces designed with connection is part of our humanity. nature in mind, employees are more productive and take less sick time. • Humans are hard-wired to love and need exposure to the natural world. • Nature can reduce depression and Researchers have found that regardless of improve psychological well-being. culture people gravitate to images of nature, Researchers in Sweden have found that especially the savannah. Our inborn joggers who exercise in a natural green affiliation for nature may explain why we setting feel more restored and less anxious, prefer to live in houses with particular views angry, or depressed than people who burn of the natural world. the same amount of calories jogging in a built urban setting. • We suffer when we withdraw from nature. Australian professor Glenn • Nature builds community bonds. Levels Albrecht, director of the Institute of of neurochemicals and hormones associated Sustainability and Technology Policy at with social bonding are elevated during Murdoch University, has coined the term animal-human interactions. Researchers at solastalgia. He combined the Latin word the University of Rochester report that solacium (comfort — as in solace) and the exposure to the natural environment leads Greek root – algia (pain) to form solastalgia, people to nurture close relationships with which he defines as “the pain experienced fellow human beings, value community, and when there is recognition that the place to be more generous with money. where one resides and that one loves is under immediate assault.” • Nature bonds families and friends. New ways are emerging to make that bond, such • Nature brings our senses alive. Scientists as family nature clubs, through which recently found that humans have the ability multiple families go hiking, gardening or to track by scent alone. Some humans rival engage in other outdoor activities together. bats in echolocation or biosonar abilities. In the U.K., families are forming “green Military studies show that some soldiers in gyms,” to bring people of all ages together war zones see nuances others miss, and can to do green exercise. spot hidden bombs; by and large these tend to be rural or inner city soldiers, who grew • The future is at stake. The natural up more conscious of their surroundings. world’s benefits to our cognition and health will be irrelevant if we continue to destroy • Nature heals. Pennsylvania researchers the nature around us, but that destruction is found that patients in rooms with tree views assured without a human reconnection to had shorter hospitalizations, less need for nature. pain medications, and fewer negative comments in the nurses’ notes, compared to patients with views of brick. 6 Natural History Now What is Interpretation? 7 “Asking an interpreter a question should not be like take a drink from a fire hose.” --Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage (1957) What is Interpretation? …when you leave a conversation you have left a circle of acquaintance 8 a society with whom you have shared a topic and something of yourself You take away a better understanding Of both the topic and the other people That were absorbed in it with you. In turn, You leave something of yourself behind. Conversation in this way is a social art, Focused on mutual teaching and learning. It is a whole lot more than “talking.” --Phil Parfitt (1999) “Successful museum programs have conversational flavor- even if no words are spoken. These conversations have content focus- even if they are not part of an obvious lesson. There is the assumption that the visitor is not poor soul in need of enlightenment, but a smart and capable collaborator” --Michael Spock, “Elegant Programs and Conversations” (1999) What is Interpretation? 9 Interpretation is conversation, guided interaction or any communication that enriches the Gallery Participant’s experience by making meaningful connections between the messages and the collections of our institution