The Museum of Science and Technology opened the “Deconstructed” exhibit in collaboration with computer company Micron.
Transcript
Valentina LaFranca: The Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse is becoming more high tech. As N-C-C’s Anthony Leon reports, the new “Deconstructed” exhibit is part of a bigger initiative with Micron to introduce more people to robotics.
Anthony Leon: Officials at the Museum of Science and Technology say this display allows the museum to give people exclusive access to technology they won’t find anywhere else. As the only semiconductor exhibit in the world, Director of Education and Curation Emily Stewart says the museum’s partnership with Micron was instrumental in expanding the type of exhibits they currently have.
Emily Stewart: This is kind of unique in the sense that it’s our first real significant investment in a kind of high tech exhibit.
Leon: When designing the exhibit, museum officials say that the display’s combination of colors allows the permanent exhibit to maintain a timeless look. Teacher Daniel Hayden (HAY-DEN) says the exhibit’s aesthetic is helpful in keeping children engaged with microchips and data processors.
Daniel Hayden: I think that it looks chic. It looks modern, I think it’s very contemporary. I think it takes a lot of everyday technology elements that we use in our lives, whether it be a gaming station or an iPhone, and displays them in a way that’s really fun and interactive.
Leon: People can go visit the exhibit for free on Thursday, however it’s not completely finished. According to the museum, “Inside a Chip” is scheduled to open for a preliminary experience this weekend.
Anthony Leon, N-C-C News
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – The Museum of Science and Technology opens the microchip exhibit “Deconstructed” in collaboration with Micron.
When designing the display, the museum wanted to present technology in a way that both kids and adults can understand. By simplifying concepts such as semiconductors and memory processors, museum officials say this exhibit helps separate the museum from other competitors such as the zoo and the newly-approved aquarium.
“I think this is a really exciting opportunity to show people it is complex and revolutionary,” Director of Education and Curation Emily Stewart said, referring to the exhibit’s technology. “But it’s also something that you can learn, and it’s possible to learn and you don’t have to have any particular skill set to start to learn.”
The exhibit also includes the Skill Bar, which has videos from current Micron employees as the company tries to help foster the next generation of STEM workers.
“These [are] really accessible videos that introduce young children to what these [STEM] careers can look like, in a way that’s really accessible and fun for them,” Stewart said.
Daniel Hayden, a teacher in the Clyde Savannah School District, believes the design of the Micron exhibit was really helpful in better understanding the technology people use everyday.
“I think that the exhibit is designed in that way, you have… buttons for kids to press and things for them to watch,” Hayden said. “But also, you have these really great displays, with wonderful displays of information that as an adult, I’ve been learning so much.”
Although the exhibit opened on Thursday, the museum will incorporate new elements and update the display’s statistics as the industry changes. One section of the exhibit called “Inside a Chip,” is scheduled to open for a preliminary experience this weekend.