Science-on-a-Sphere® at the Science Museum of Minnesota NOAA SOS Users’ Group Meeting January 22-24, 2007

Overview of SMM SOS Setup Timeline January – NOAA and SMM staff install SOS in temporary exhibition hall. April 2, 2006 – SMM closes SOS to make way for installation of Body Worlds exhibition. April 24, 2006 – SMM begins reinstallation of SOS in new long-term exhibition space. May 4, 2005 – SOS reopens to the public.

Overview of SMM SOS Setup Autorun Playlist IN OUR SOLAR NEIGHBORHOOD (15 minutes). The Sun Venus Day and Night on Earth Earth’s Moon Mars Jupiter Io--moon of Jupiter Europa--moon of Jupiter

Overview of SMM SOS Setup Autorun Playlist EARTH, THE WATER PLANET (25 minutes) NASA’s Blue Marble Earth’s Topography Day and Night on Earth Through the Seasons El Niño and La Niña Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Real-time Weather Earth at Night

Overview of SMM SOS Setup Autorun Playlist EARTH-SURFACE DYNAMICS (15 minutes) Earth’s Topography Earth’s Moon Mars Titan, Moon of Saturn Hurricane Katrina Through the Seasons Global Rivers Sediment Thickness Global Dams Earth at Night

Unique Aspects of SMM SOS Setup Technical NASA’s “Footprints” programmed to start automatically at the top of every hour

Unique Aspects of SMM SOS Setup Technical Graphic slides synchronized with visualizations

Unique Aspects of SMM SOS Setup Technical Audio feedback system that regulates speaker volumes according to ambient noise

Unique Aspects of SMM SOS Setup Technical Double projector tower with filtered ventilation

Unique Aspects of SMM SOS Setup Technical Stand-alone visualization rendering farm

Unique Aspects of SMM SOS Setup Technical Tour SOS as part of the 5,000 square-foot Water Planet traveling exhibition that opens at the Science Museum of Minnesota in fall 2008 and begins touring in spring 2009.

Unique Aspects of SMM SOS Setup Programmatic Partnership with the National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics

Unique Aspects of SMM SOS Setup Programmatic Undergraduate classes

Unique Aspects of SMM SOS Setup Programmatic Undergraduate classes St. Olaf College, January 19, 2007 University of St. Thomas, January 18, 2007 Augsburg College, December 7, 2006 College of St. Catherine, November 27 & 29, 2006 University of St. Thomas, November 8, 2006 University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, May 10, 2006 University of St. Thomas, February 21 & 23, 2006

Unique Aspects of SMM SOS Setup Programmatic Undergraduate internship program Macalester College University of St. Thomas College of St. Catherine Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Evaluation and Assessment Science-on-a-Sphere, February 2006 (n=81) Median Time Minimum TimeMaximum Time 3 min. 16 sec. 14 min., 4 sec. Science-on-a-Sphere, May 2006 (n=50): Median Time Minimum TimeMaximum Time Sat down (n=30)5 min., 54 sec. 51 sec. 30 min., 17 sec. Didn’t sit (n=20)2 min., 12 sec. 30 sec. 7 min., 30 sec.

Evaluation and Assessment Science-on-a-Sphere, May 2006 (n=50) BehaviorPercent of Visitors Read label82% Talked about content on SOS72% Pointed at SOS62% Sat down60% Read label out loud24% Talked about technology of SOS22% Pointed to label20%

Evaluation and Assessment Science-on-a-Sphere, May 2006 (n=50) Percent of Visitors Stood in one place26% Circled less than half26% Circled half or more12% Circled entire sphere36%

Evaluation and Assessment Science-on-a-Sphere, May 2006 (n=50) Percent of Visitors I was so interested I’d come see it again.72% I was interested, but I wouldn’t come see it again.22% I wasn’t really interested. 6% I didn’t find this interesting at all. 0%

Evaluation and Assessment Science-on-a-Sphere, May 2006 (n=50): Median Time Minimum TimeMaximum Time Sat down (n=30)5 min., 54 sec. 51 sec. 30 min., 17 sec. Didn’t sit (n=20)2 min., 12 sec. 30 sec. 7 min., 30 sec. Footprints, January 2007 (n=73): Median Time Minimum TimeMaximum Time Sat down (n=34)6 min., 37 sec. 30 sec. 22 min., 9 sec. Didn’t sit (n=39)40 sec. 7 sec. 8 min., 58 sec.

Evaluation and Assessment NASA’s “Footprints” program 27% of visitors viewed the entire movie. The most common reason visitors did not stay until the end was because of other members of their group (most often kids). None of the visitors who watched the entire movie felt that it was too long. Most felt the length was just right (11 out of 14). 98% of visitors enjoyed Footprints, with 56% enjoying it so much they would encourage other to see it. When asked what Footprints was about, 54% of visitors said it was about the solar system.

Evaluation and Assessment Undergraduate Classes College students felt their museum visit to use SOS was of high value (average rating of 8 on a 10 point scale for two classes, rating of 9 for one class). Most students (79% - 90% depending on the class) felt SOS helped them better grasp course topics. Most frequently mentioned student suggestions to improve SOS experience are more time viewing the Sphere and more discussions of what they were viewing.

Desired SOS Improvements/Additions Graphical User Interface to make it easier for general SOS operators to build playlists. Have the option to link playlists to a clock. Better documentation, especially when it comes to disaster recovery and program re-installation.

SMM SOS Contact Information Patrick HamiltonBette Schmit Water Planet project directorWater Planet lead exhibit developer Russ DurkeeDan Dahm Science-on-a-Sphere® prototyperWater Planet production manager Amy Grack Nelson Science-on-a-Sphere® evaluator