Whatever your scientific interests are, we probably share some of them. We’ve showcased science in extreme environments such as the Arctic and Antarctica in our Ice Stories website, and we’ve been part of an expedition to the scalding hot springs of Kamchatka, Russia, to learn about the microbes that live there. We’ve reported on research involving Mars and Saturn, and we’ve visited CERN to document the study of elementary particles. Our Climate Change Research Explorer and Space Weather Research Explorer sites present data live or in near-real time. We’ve also investigated topics closer to home such as cooking and gardening. We try to show the process of doing science and let the researchers themselves speak about their work. You can find many other websites in our Explore section, along with Exploratorium TV webcasts.
If you visit the museum, don’t miss our Microscope Imaging Station where you can manipulate a research-grade microscope. Investigate our Mind exhibit collection, where you can explore your own thoughts and feelings. Or check out our classic physics exhibits in The World of Matter that demonstrate some of the fundamental ways in which the world works.
Collaborations with outside scientists
We are fortunate to have many friends in the scientific community who share their knowledge with us. We’ve found that collaboration, both among our staff members and with people outside the museum, helps us discover the best ways to present scientific ideas effectively and engagingly.
Glowing Worms—an Exhibit:
Glowing Worms exhibit
Visit our
Traits of Life exhibition and you can see the nervous systems of tiny, almost transparent worms,
C. elegans, glow an eerie bright green. That’s because genes from a light-producing jelly have been inserted into the worm’s genome. The exhibit was developed by Exploratorium senior scientist Charles Carlson in collaboration with Martin Chalfie of Columbia University. Prof. Chalfie shared the 2008 Nobel chemistry prize “for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP.” Because GFP lets us see the expression of genes inside cells, it’s revolutionized light microscopy and our understanding of cellular functions. The exhibit brings cutting-edge microscopy to our visitors.
Evidence—a Website:
Evidence Website
In our website
Evidence: How Do We Know What We Know? we present research in the study of human origins to illustrate how scientific evidence has shaped our current understanding of ourselves—what makes us human and how we got this way. Members of our staff collaborated with scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, a unique scientific institution that brings together primatologists, linguists, psychologists, geneticists, and evolutionary anthropologists to study human evolution. From this specific example, we offer more general information about the scientific process and how to evaluate scientific claims.
Caltech—Exploratorium:
Caltech-Exploratorium Teacher Institutes in Life Sciences
In this collaboration between the Exploratorium
Teacher Institute (TI) led by staff biologist Karen Kalumuck, and the California Institute of Technology, summer institutes and Saturday workshops contribute to stronger life science courses in schools. TI staff lead hands-on explorations of topics that are the subject of current study, and then Caltech biology faculty present their research. This provides a unique opportunity for participating teachers to have conversations with the researchers, and it helps the teachers integrate current life science content and modern research methods into their curriculum. Caltech graduate students and postdocs help lead the workshops and develop their abilities as science communicators.
