Are These Birds Dinosaurs?
The Path to Birds
image from westcoastemiko.weebly.com
The Love of Learning
Last week I was in Tampa, Florida reliving my life as a museum junkie. Though I was ostensibly there to sell my book, I was reunited with the passion for educating children I had when first starting a museum in my basement. Meeting past friends and enthusiastic staff at the beginning of their careers was invigorating. Once more I was comforted by the fact that there are good people ready to move our country forward towards better days. Museum professionals are caring, tolerant and curious, all attributes I admire.
M During his chat, he called today’s birds dinosaurs. Apparently, there is evidence from over twenty dinosaur species that shows they had bird-like skin and feathers. Did you know that the Brontosaurus we studied as children had the skeleton one creature and the head of another that was unearthed in a nearby dig? Paleontologists in the late 18th century decided that the body was that of Apatosaurus and the head belonged to Camarasaurus. For years our favorite gentle vegetarian no longer existed in scientific circles. However, that changed recently. In 2015, just like Arnold Schwarzenegger, he returned. Paleontologists now think that Brontosaurus is different enough from the Apatosaur to be recognized on its own merits. Confused?
Discussions with colleagues ranged from issues around diversity to the latest brain research. We discussed drones, driverless cars and STEAM initiatives. Practical matters such as fundraising, architecture, outreach programs and exhibitions were also on the agenda. I learned that museums built over 20 years ago like OMSI are facing major facility problems. Just like in a home, wall paint was peeling, roofs leaking, and carpets stained. Exhibitors struggled to keep out of order signs off of displays.
Money, money, money . . . what is to be done in a country that puts its resources into armaments rather than learning. Despite the fact that 92 million people visit science centers every year there is are inadequate resources going to support these institutions. In second and third would countries the situation differs. China is building 250 well-equipped science museums in order to promote science literacy. Even Saudi Arabia has gotten on the bandwagon by building four, open to men on certain days of the week and women on others.
Most staff agreed that hands-on learning opportunities are not available to children as they were a generation ago. Noticing that kids are not permitted to play and problem-solve without hovering adults nearby was a theme of many conversations. Moving in the ‘free-school’ atmosphere of a science center provides some relief. Yet the experience could be improved with a larger variety of informal materials available to encourage more original thinking. Tinkering spaces are springing up to allow for more creative expression.
It is difficult to serve the variety of learning styles and specialized needs of visitors. But it is good to know that staff continues to try to understand their differences and understand how they learn. Perhaps the day will come when as a nation we realize that there is nothing more important than educating children if they are to understand how to live in a technological environment that is also sustainable and inviting. Maybe we will also realize that adults need to stay abreast of change if they are going to maintain a robust democracy that is fair to all.
references:
http://www.unmuseum.org/dinobront.htm – what happened to the Brontosaurus?
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-brontosaurus-is-back1/ The Brontosaurus returns.
Art is aways for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com
The Gossips shown above is an acrylic painting, 12” by 36”, $ 350.
To learn more about what goes on behind the scenes at museums read the newly released Lives of Museum Junkies available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powells Books, Inkwater Press and many other local bookstores.
Dates to remember : Book reading/signing
October 11 – Broadway Books, NE Broadway, Portland
October 15 – Impression 5 -Lansing, Michigan – all day
November 3 – Marylhurst University, Old Library – 7 pm – Book Launch Party