Science Centre News Visitor Expectations
HANS GUBBELS V
i s it or exp e c- t a t i o n s used to
be simple. A zoo was somewhere to watch animals and discover which part of the world they originated from; a theme park was a place where you had to be courageous enough to be exposed to unknown forces; and a museum was there to learn about heritage or see art. People’s daily routines were also
organised and there was time dedicated for eating, work, travel and watching tele- vision. Today most of our activities have merged and we’ve become multi-taskers. While travelling in the car, we drink cof- fee, speak on the phone with the offi ce and watch video messages on smartphones while waiting for the traffi c lights to change. We haven’t seen the end yet.
“Take note of other sectors. They can help you meet the high expectations of the 21st century visitor”
Visitor attractions are organised in
sectors – amusement, zoos and aquari- ums, science centres, museums and so on. These sectors are professionalised and produce excellent conferences – the upcoming Ecsite Annual Conference 2011 at Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, Poland, is a fi ne example. But I urge all of you to take note of
developments, knowledge and experi- ences in other sectors, as they can help you achieve your goals more eff ectively and meet the high expectations of the 21st century visitor. Discovery Center Continium in
Kerkrade, T e Netherlands, re-opened in 2009 presenting a mix of museum, science centre and theme park elements. According to surveys, our centre’s visitor expectations are being met. Now we face the ongoing challenge of granting people’s wishes to enjoy new experiences each time they visit. Who has the solution for this one?
Hans Gubbels, president of Ecsite and direc- tor of Continium Discovery Center, NL
20 TOM WALKER
T e Saint Louis Science Center (SLSC) in St. Louis, Missouri, US, will open a new expanded exhibition hall in July 2011. The permanent space is
part of the centre’s strategy to increase its capacity to house travelling exhibitions and major events. T e 13,000sq ſt (1,210sq m)
addition, designed by PGAV Destinations and built by Alberici Constructors, will connect to the east side of the science centre, just south of its main entrance. Museum offi cials said the Exploradome, the
Saint Louis expansion to open
An artist’s impression of how the new science centre will look
bubble-like structure just west of the science centre’s main building, is nearing the end of its life span and needs to be replaced. Doug King, president and CEO of SLSC,
said: “We’ve always planned to replace the Exploradome with a permanent exhibition
space that fi ts our needs and that will also enhance the façade of our building and our visitors’ experiences.” T e project has been funded by donations
from both private and corporate donors while privately placed tax-exempt bonds are also being issued to provide bridge fi nancing.
Innovation centre plans for Oxford TOM WALKER
A new 25,000sq ſt (2,323sq m) innovation centre to help support entrepreneurs and start-up fi rms has opened in the centre of Oxford. Launched in March by
Science Oxford, the facil- ity forms part of the site that will also feature a £30m (€34m, $49.7m) science centre designed by Foster + Partners. Science Oxford has acquired Macclesfi eld House – a former county council building – that is to provide the location for a cultural centre for enterprise and will open by 2015. Macclesfi eld House has been rebranded as
T e new centre is located in the heart of the historic city of Oxford Science Oxford chief executive Dr Ian
the Oxford Centre of Innovation and provides offi ces and business support for up to 30 fi rms. Oxford Innovation runs the facility.
Griffi n said: “Our plan is to give Oxford a pub- lic face for science and enterprise and to create a major tourist destination.”
At-Bristol gets go ahead for Real Brain Exhibit TOM WALKER
T e Human Tissue Authority (HTA) has given the green light for At-Bristol science centre to launch an exhibit featuring a real human brain. T e £1.5m Real Brain exhibit will consist of a large tank, engraved with the image of a person
Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital
on one side and the skeleton and central ner- vous system on the other. In the position of the brain will be the real human brain, show- ing both the right and leſt hemispheres. T e Real Brain exhibit will feature as one of the key exhibits within the Brains zone.
AM 2 2011 ©cybertrek 2011
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