EVENT 3: ACADEMY OF THE SCIENCES

On November 22^rd I visited the California Academy of the Sciences in San Francisco with my family. The Academy of Sciences is similar to the Exploratorium in San Francisco in that it tries to create interactive learning and exhibits that are appealing to groups of all ages. This museum is dedicated to scientific research and educational outreach and does so by creating exhibits that combine the principles of science with the beauty of art and space.

My sister Kira and I standing in line for the rainforest dome

I went to all the exhibits, from the earth quake simulator to the indoor “Rainforests of the World” dome. All the exhibits were art projects in essence, because they used real life references (rain forests and earthquake data) to recreate this space in a safe, confined, and beautiful manner. Everyone’s experience of both exhibits is unique, similar to the way individuals interpret works of art. The exhibits reminded of our earlier look into how art and technology can overlap in more ways than we realize. The Academy of the Sciences is "advertised" as a space for science learning so it is easy to see how one could miss the connection between art and science that is heavily present here.

Butterfly inside rain forest dome.

The Academy of Sciences, although not a traditional "art exhibit" is in essence an art museum. The rain forest dome uses technology to recreate rain forest climate conditions, from humidity to dew and temperature. However, it is the surrounding space that brings the whole exhibit together. As you make your way up the dome, spiraling upwards, you view different heights of the canopy. Each canopy heights looks different with plants of various colors and trees of varying height. Butterflies of all colors and sizes float around you. The exhibit is a live work of art. The colors, light, and angles or perspectives of the dome are dynamic but are nonetheless fundamentally the same as a painting. All these factors lend the the experience of the exhibit.

In front of the butterfly panels

There are also more obvious forms of art and science intertwined throughout the museum. The hallways of the museum have different "mini art works" For example, one wall had different drawings of butterflies and other insects, in different colors creating a collage of beautifully depicted insects. Other wall created patterns with pictures and drawings of insects and animals.

Earthquake Simulator