Visitors meet scientists at the new
Darwin Centre and learn more about
the challenges of their work
GATHERING DONATIONS AT DARWIN
The Darwin Centre features new electronic Making a contribution through one of
‘giving points’ – terminals which take debit the branded terminals takes only a cou-
or credit cards and enable visitors to make ple of minutes and they are strategically Millions of specimens have been
instant donations. The giving points are placed around the museum at points taken out of storage and are now on
a great addition and help visitors who are where visitors tend to pause for orienta- display in the Darwin Centre’s Cocoon
short of cash to drop to contribute easily. tion or to queue, making giving easy.
Timed tickets control the fl ow, but on the hard surfaces of the cocoon. Some buffers desks. I can at least report that scientists
day I visited everyone was going straight in. or sound management controls would help are spookily tidy – or they are when they
The glass lift opens into an orientation fl atter the voices and control the clashes. know their workspace is being scrutinised!
room containing one large display. I have Various touch-screen AV devices give Overall, I really enjoyed the cocoon – the
to say that this case is one of the best visitors the chance to customise their expe- graphic design and the displays of speci-
designed, most delightful museum exhibits rience and content, as well as gathering mens are among the most compelling and
I’ve ever seen, managing to be both beautiful, their own portfolio of memories via a web- exquisite I’ve ever seen. They combine
fascinating and elegant all at once. It sets the linked smart card which allows them to seamlessly, so modern graphic panels sit
scene for the level of the displays in Darwin send content to personal email addresses. comfortably next to specimens which are
2, which are absolutely world class. hundreds of years old and it’s a joy to be
Once inside the cocoon, the essential CHILDREN’S REACTIONS able to see so many amazing things.
interpretive devices are introduced. We It will be interesting to see what young If I had one criticism of Darwin 2, it would
learn that we’ll be accompanied on our jour- children make of the displays, and whether be give me more, more, more content
ney by video projections of real members they nag their parents for a return visit. and a bit less architecture – I could have
of the museum’s team and they introduce Although the content has been pitched to enjoyed double the number of displays and
themselves via life-sized projections, telling suit all ages, very young children may strug- although it’s impressive, you can’t help feel-
us about their work and how this relates to gle to engage with some of the AVs and to ing that an awful lot of money was spent
what we’re about to experience. absorb the detail: they may fi nd running up on the building and questioning whether
From this area, we move off down the and down the ramps a bit more fun. it was the best use of the cash. For me, it
ramps – our guides appear regularly on One of the core concepts of the cocoon looks bulky and one dimensional alongside
the AVs that follow and as an interpretive is to allow visitors to see scientists working the fi ne detailing of the original building.
method, it works extremely well and gives through large plate glass windows. However, But maybe this is churlish, and the sheer
dramatic context. The only slight diffi culty delivering this may turn out to be a bit of an audacity of the concept will make it a well-
is that as they’re scientists rather than issue, given that the scientists don’t appear loved London landmark.
broadcasters, they don’t have broadcast to work at the weekends. On the Saturday I
voices – challenging, given how the sound visited, there wasn’t a scientist in sight and Liz Terry is editor of Attractions
recordings overlap and echo around the all we could see were empty rooms and Management.
lizterry@leisuremedia.com
AM 1 2010
©
cybertrek 2010 Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital 43
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