1. A Youth-Developed Astrobiology Exhibit
Combining Youth Engagement with Public Outreach
Underserved Youth Designing, Building, and Facilitating Astrobiology Museum Exhibits
Program Goals: 1) Engage Boston-area youth in the process of exhibit design and content development, educating them about Astrobiology, and helping to build their communication skills. 2) Educate and expose the public to the field of Astrobiology and to the research taking place within NASA’s NAI program.
Exhibit displayed at MIT, MIT Museum, Cambridge Science Festival – reached 1,500 + members of the public. Content topics include extrasolar planets, extremophiles, Mars geology, MSL, and the importance of water to life.
Survey data show both youth and public gained content knowledge about astrobiology as a result of the exhibit; youth also showed gains in communication skills and confidence.
Exhibits were facilitated by youth apprentices who acted as guides and interpreters during all public exhibit events.
Youth interacted with NAI scientists, museum educators, exhibit designers, and other professionals during the exhibit design and construction process.
Program was run by the MIT NASA Astrobiology Team and the MIT Kavli Institute, with funding from the NASA Astrobiology Institute & NSF.
Intern Feedback:
“I really enjoyed the hands on aspect of building the exhibits [and] also having more responsibility.”
“…although astrobiology is the hope of finding life elsewhere it also points out how lucky Earth is to be a planet with life”
Exhibit Attendee Feedback:
”I love the interactive things! Very hands on and interesting.“
"I came to understand more deeply how the Earth fits in to the universal perspective and I definitely got my questions answered!” 1
May 23, 2012