BioBuilding
A traveling exhibition for future biomedical engineers
project Description
The Sciencenter will develop a traveling exhibition on biomedical engineering for small to mid-sized museums across the nation, bringing together graduate students and faculty from Cornell University’s Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and experts in exhibit development and reaching rural audiences from the Sciencenter and the University of Montana spectrUM Discovery Area to develop hands-on learning experiences that improve public understanding and appreciation for biomedical engineering and its impact on public health.
BioBuilding will engage non-expert audiences through a hands-on exhibition and supporting interactive activities that highlight ongoing research and applications from biomedical engineering that are improving human health. This project will increase knowledge and interest in biomedical engineering amongst rural youth 6-12, with a longer-term goal of encouraging career development in this and related STEM fields by supporting a more comprehensive, diverse pipeline.
Project Goals
- Generate knowledge of and interest in biomedical engineering careers among rural youth ages 6-12 and their families.
- Generate increased understanding within the general public of how biomedical engineers improve health.
- Increase opportunities to incorporate graduate student science communication training into informal science education venues.
Project Phases
YEAR 1: Experience development & design – front-end evaluation of target audience and current state of BME to identify relevant content areas; development of the exhibit’s content focuses, overarching themes, and design (to be tested with visitors in later years).
YEAR 2: Visitor testing & input – prototyping initial exhibit designs and concepts with Sciencenter visitors, at Sciencenter outreach events, and with colleagues at Cornell BME; refining designs based on feedback; translating BME content into engaging hands-on exhibit learning experiences.
YEAR 3: Prototyping & fabrication – continued prototyping of exhibit content; content research to inform the framing of the exhibit and drafting of labels; advising Sciencenter staff on the fabrication of field-specific apparatus for the exhibit (i.e. replicating lab tools or processes).
YEAR 4: Developing supporting activities & formative evaluation – developing and testing the activities and pop-up exhibit that will support the traveling exhibit; assisting in the evaluation of the exhibit; making revisions to the exhibit and activities as appropriate.
YEAR 5: Summative evaluation & dissemination – assisting in the summative evaluation of the exhibit; publishing anecdotal articles in disciplinary journals about the project and collaborative process; presenting sessions and posters at conferences; ongoing assistance as the exhibition tour nationally.
Project Process
Challenging Our Assumptions: Front End Evaluation for Biomedical Engineering Exhibition
Project Director: Adrienne Testa
Partner Institutions: Cornell University – Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and University of Montana SpectrUM Discovery Area
This project was supported by the National Institute Of Biomedical Imaging And Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R25EB035479. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
