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Event Three: California Science Center



The California Science Center is a place that I had been many times before. Growing up in Los Angeles, it was a very popular field trip location for elementary and middle school classes. However, visiting this museum after taking this class, I had viewed it very differently. Although the museum is focused on science as its name indicates, there are many other aspects to the museum and one is the way it incorporates art. 

Before you even enter the museum, you can notice the architecture and art that was involved in the creation and design of the museum. Near the ticket office right before the entrance doors, there is a big circular overhead feature. It provides shade at the entrance but it also has a very interesting design. There are small metal balls hanging from the top of it and it seems to mimic a consolation of stars. It clearly has the look of something including science but is also something that has beauty and is designed to be that way. 

There are many exhibits in the museum that are open to the public including a history of dogs, transportation, the Endeavor space shuttle, and IMAX theaters. However, there was one exhibit that most relates to our class and I think that was the ecosystems exhibit. Here there was the clear information of the science of ecosystems. The first thing you see upon entering this exhibit is a video showing clips of the beauty of nature from kelp forests in the ocean to lava flowing from volcanoes. The presentation clearly was done with photographers and videographers who used their skills to show nature. Moving further through the exhibit there were different areas for different types of ecosystems. Inside each there were interactive activities that shared the information. There were also the recreations of many of the ecosystems. The desert was a very cool room as there were the plants and landscape you would see in the desert. There was even a recreation of a flash flood. I think that by allowing visitors to enter these exhibits and feel like they are entering the place they are learning about makes it very effective. The connection of art and science really is seen in this museum and specifically this exhibit. 

I think that this was a very worth while event. Even though this class is over, I would highly recommend this museum to the students in this class. This museum and the permanent exhibits are free yet there is so much to be learned and gained from a trip here both in the fun you have as well as the demonstration of the connection of art and science. 

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