Museum of Life and Science — Investigate Health
project type: fabrication , graphics , museums , prototypes
A collaboration with Jeff Kennedy Associates, Design Dimension and The Museum of Life and Science, Investigate Health is an interactive exhibit that teaches kids several important lessons about how everyday activities can have an impact on their overall well-being.
The hand washing exhibit station allows kids to test their own hand washing proficiency using an indicator gel and ultraviolet lights. After coating their hands, children are instructed to wash their hands thoroughly and then check them again to see how good a job they did. At the Investigate Stress Exhibit kids practice relaxation techniques by watching a stress level monitor with flashing lights while listening to different music. The emergency phone interactive shows kids how to report an emergency by calling 911 on a closed-circuit phone with a pre-recorded operator, and a sun screen interactive with and infrared camera shows kids how a clear lotion can protect their skin from damaging sun rays.
Parents and kids alike are both fascinated and disgusted (and inspired to vacuum their homes) by the dust mite viewer, where live specimens in a petri dish can be seen lunching on dusty fabric with a magnified video camera. The most popular exhibits are the Lab and the Crash Test. At the Lab, trained volunteers lead kids in interactive science experiments and demonstrations around a semicirular counter. At the Crash Test, visitors watch in amazement as a kid-sized dummy is subjected to various crash simulations with and without proper seat belt restraints and booster seats. A high speed video camera records the action for slow motion playback, which is generally met with oohs and aahhs.
With concept and design by Jeff Kennedy and the Museum of Life and Science, and design engineering, fabrication and installation by Design Dimension, Investigate Health has become a popular and successful addition to the exhibit program at the Museum of Life and Science.