With the aim of using Citizen Science to awaken the researcher’s instinct in visitors and to get the public more involved in the scientific processes in the museum, the Natural History Museum Vienna has developed a new platform for science communication together with the Ars Electronica Futurelab and INSEQ Design: In the new Deck 50, museum visitors can experience the connection between science and society through active research and experimentation.
Inside Futurelab: Deck 50 Naturhistorisches Museum Wien
Research in Deck 50 takes place in a modern and inspiring setting that includes a publicly accessible laboratory area with workshop boxes and microscopes, a versatile meeting zone with interactive research stations, an eleven-meter-long screen for immersive projections, and a comfortable seating area that can be used as a stage for presentations or as a platform for discussions. Deck 50 is a contact point for the most diverse target groups and a hub for scientific innovation.
How environmentally damaging is the production and disposal of our smartphones? What is conscious consumption and can it really help the depressed stocks of fish and seafood to recover? Is the coexistence of humans and wolves still possible in 21st century Central Europe? These are very different and very current topics that motivate visitors to Deck 50 to actively explore and experiment. Their results, in turn, are evaluated by scientists and flow into ongoing environmental and socially relevant research projects. Thus, mere museum visitors become “Citizen Scientists” who participate in scientific projects as interested laypersons.
NHM Deck 50; photo: Gebhard Sengmüller
NHM Deck 50; photo: Gebhard Sengmüller
NHM Deck 50; photo: Birgit Cakir
NHM Deck 50; photo: Birgit Cakir
NHM Deck 50; photo: Gebhard Sengmüller
NHM Deck 50; photo: Gebhard Sengmüller
NHM Deck 50; photo: Gebhard Sengmüller
NHM Deck 50; photo: Gebhard Sengmüller
Credits
Ars Electronica Futurelab: Marianne Eisl, Christopher Lindinger, Johannes Pöll, Kerstin Blätterbinder, Julian Zauner, Erwin Reitböck, Peter Freudling, Stefan Mittlböck-Jungwirth-Fohringer
Naturhistorisches Museum Wien
Generaldirektion: Dr. Katrin Vohland und Mag. Markus Roboch
Projektleitung Deck 50: Mag. Iris Ott
Strategie und Museumspädagogik: Mag. Iris Ott, Mag. Agnes Mair
Wissenschaftliche Koordinatorin der Citizen Science-Projekte des NHM Wien: Dr. Silke Schweiger
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter bzw. Abteilungsdirektor des NHMW: Meerestiere Station: Andreas Kroh und Helmut Sattmann
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter des NHMW und Leiter der Säugetiersammlung: Wolf Station: Frank Zachos
Textilforscherin des NHMW: Karina Grömer
Leiter bzw. wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin der mineralogischen Abteilung des NHMW: Station Mobiltelefon: Uwe Kolitsch und Vera Hammer
INSEQ Design: Jakob Illera
Garamantis: Oliver Elias, Marcus Dittebrand, Jules Dörig