[plase use the BACK key to return to your previous pageexploratorium
(iconosphere entry)

the concept of the exploratorium was first illuminated by 
Max Oppenheimer (brother of the physicist, Robert J.). I 
believe that it was in Chicago that the idea first came to
him that a science museum could be INTERACTIVE. 

Thus, rather than looking at a static display and reading 
some sort of explanatory note. A diagram could illustrate
the actual mechanism and the viewer was then allowed (in
fact encouraged) to perform some action with the actual
equipment. For example, the idea of syphoning and water
flow and hydro-electric power generation would be illustrated
by having the person pump water from a reservoir up into a
large tank from where it would flow down various pipes 
starting a siphon, turning a mill-wheel, and even turning
a "see-thru" electric generator that would light up a bulb.
As the water flow subsided, all of these events would 
"wind donw" -- encouraging the participant (now no "mere" viewer!)
to "do it again!".  

In keeping with the ancient Confucian saying:

   If i hear about something, then i know.
   If i see something, then i understand.
   If i do something, then i remember.


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