 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
It was a privilege to be selected for an ASTEN Fellowship that enabled me to attend the International Training Workshop in May 2000 at Questacon, Canberra. The workshop was informative and stimulating. It was also helpful in forming links with people who have a wide range of skills, ideas, and experience in exhibit concepts, designs, construction methods and material sources. Dr Stuart Kohlhagen ably presented material on travelling exhibitions. His twenty years of exhibit building experience was put to good use as he led discussions on matters to consider when designing travelling exhibitions and individual exhibits. There was an amount of particularly useful information with regard to portable structures and containers for exhibits. This is of great relevance to Discovery, Bendigo, because of our expanding outreach work. Dan Bird from Techniquest in Cardiff, Wales, also contributed some valuable information and ideas from his experience with overseas touring exhibitions. His material was well illustrated with projected computer images of his well-designed and constructed portable exhibits. Mr Ned Kahn, from the USA, brought a dimension to the workshop that is not often considered in the concept and design of science exhibits. This is the beauty that exists in much of the scientific phenomena around us. He specialises in the design of exhibits that involve fluids. He has done much work with vortices using media such as water, water vapour and even fire. Sandblasting sand, which behaves like a fluid, is another interesting medium he has used in a range of fascinating exhibits. Mr Steve Pizzey from the UK presented some particularly innovative ideas in outdoor, travelling and water exhibits. His presentations were well illustrated and often entertaining. He offered many ideas for outdoor water activities such as water lifting devices, water wheels, belts and buckets. Other useful themes included structures put together by children, water exhibits that dealt with environmental issues and novel single items such as a DNA spiral climbing frame. Steve is a firm believer in a hands-on interactive approach to bringing science to school children and the general public. This, along with budget restraints, has led him to make exhibits with a high level of inventiveness and resourcefulness. Some of his ideas were particularly relevant to Discovery Bendigo and will be useful as new exhibitions are developed. The Training Workshop was enhanced by visits to the recently opened and impressive CSIRO Discovery Centre and the Mount Stromlo Observatory and Exploratory. There was much value in attending the Workshop and I believe the benefits to Discovery Bendigo will be significant over a long period of time. The Discovery Board and I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank ASTEN for granting this Fellowship. |
|
|
|
site created
and hosted by |