Science and technology correlates itself directly to innovation and learning; science and technology museums works to make this process of learning even more interactive, relatable and hands on experience. Old science museums generally focused on static displays of objects related to paleontology, geology, industry and machinery. However, the modern ideology has added yet another dimension of curiosity to it.
Making museums technology oriented enhances displays with interactive features, creating that Eureka moment. Technology museums are mainly devoted to applied sciences and technological developments and a combination of Science and Technology museums are hence unbeatable.
Science and technology centers came in account with the establishment of Saint Louis Science Centre in 1959; this came into existence with the grand efforts by the academy of Science that belonged to Saint Louis. They featured a number of interactive exhibits here and this pioneered the whole idea about such museums. Further, in 1969, the world saw the establishment of Explanetarium and Ontario Science Centre in August and September respectively.
In 1973, first Omnimax theatre opened at the Reuben H. Fleet space theater and science city. In the same year, Association of Science – Technology Centers (ASTC) was found as an international organization to provide professional support and a collective voice to Science centers and museums globally. In addition, 1990 onwards this arena greatly expanded in East Asia, south Asia and at many other parts around the globe.
Today there at certain Science and technology museums, those we can reckon as the wonders of innovation and learning. The following list will help you acquaint yourself with these wondrous Science and Technology museums.
- Overall Exploratorium, San Francisco: This science and technology centre brings out a curious child in everyone, helps learn in an interactive process with almost 400 completely functional interactive exhibits.
- Natural History, American museum of Natural History, Manhattan NY: This is a favorite science and technology center amongst people. This museum has an iconic approach of providing T- Rex Skeleton and fossil friends to learn. It also offers a detailed purview of various fields for example hall of human origins.
- Planetarium, Griffith park observatory, Los Angeles CA: This centre is situated at the top of Mt. Hollywood and enables a planetarium show, and solar telescope study, making it almost possible to touch a meteorite.
- Technology, the Tech museum of innovation, San Jose, CA: This science and technology center is the true example of inspiration and innovation and brings a fling for science to the ones who visit it.
- Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA: This magnificent centre provides you with the experience of crawling through heart and arteries. It has a massive EkG machine and allows a simulated open heart surgery and more. It offers you flamboyant experience of riding a sky bike and pedaling a weighted bicycle on a thin string attached in air, challenging the laws of gravity.
- Museum Of Science And Industry, Chicago, IL: This is by far the largest science center in the entire western hemisphere. This has 35,000 artifacts including the U-505 submarine that was the only German U- boat captured during WWII.
- Montshrine, Norwich: This center provides both indoor and outdoor museum amenities. It has a 100 acre outdoor ground, that rejuvenates enthusiasm. It has a living laboratory and a two-mile walk displaying sun to the dwarf planet Pluto.
- Oregon Museum Of Science And Industry, Portland: This massive center is placed at the Willamette River in Portland. It has eight science labs, a planetarium, five exhibition halls and an OMNIMAX giant theater.
- California Academy Of Sciences, San Francisco, CA:Built at the Golden Gate Park, it has a dome enclosed 4-story rainforest, digital planetarium and a natural history museum. It is the greenest museum with a solar canopy.
Summary
Science and technology centers have become a major source of learning as these provides your kids with an opportunity to learn hands on and disguise themselves as doctors, engineers, astronauts and manufacturers. This helps in overall development and helps in a better understanding of your child’s interests.