Science Center Of Iowa

FY 09 EARMARK ENTITLED, `TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO GO INTO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THOUGH SKILLS-BASED LEARNING EXHIBITS THE SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA'S

THE SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA WILL CREATE NEW INSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS FOR BILINGUAL LABELS, GRAPHICS AND ENGAGEMENT. WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH A LATINO/A ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND WITH THE HELP OF PAID INTERNS, THE PROJECT TEAM WILL CREATE NEW STYLE GUIDE THAT OUTLINES INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE AND INTERPRETATION FOR EXHIBIT SIGNAGE AND COMMUNICATION TOOLS.  THE CENTER WILL HIRE AN EXHIBIT COORDINATOR TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STYLE GUIDE FOR USE IN WRITING, EDITING, AND GRAPHIC DESIGN OF EXHIBIT LABELS TO ACCOMMODATE BILINGUAL TEXT. STAFF WILL ALSO RECEIVE CULTURAL AWARENESS TRAINING AND ENGAGE IN OUTREACH TO LOCAL HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.

"THE SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA WILL UPDATE ITS 10-YEAR-OLD GALLERY, 'WHAT ON EARTH,' TO TELL THE STORY OF HOW IOWA'S HABITATS AND ANIMALS ARE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AND TO HUMANS. NEW EXHIBITION COMPONENTS WILL INCLUDE TOUCH SPECIMENS, INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS, AND AN INTEGRATED STORYLINE THAT CONNECTS THE LIVING SPECIMENS TO THE BROADER CONTEXT OF A DELICATE AND CHANGING ECOSYSTEM. THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE FINAL PHASE OF EXHIBITION UPDATE, INCLUDING THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC CONTENT AND EXPERIENCES THROUGH AN EVALUATIVE PROCESS, AND THE FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION OF EXHIBITIONS, LABELS, AND GRAPHICS. THE MUSEUM WILL PARTNER WITH THE SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA TO CONDUCT A SUMMATIVE EVALUATION OF THE NEW CONTENT AND EXPERIENCES GEARED TO A CORE AUDIENCE OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5 AND THEIR CAREGIVERS."