Bio:

Architect and Science Exhibit Developer at the Science Studio, A.M. Qattan Foundation. Saja studied Architecture at the Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron and worked as a teaching assistant at the Engineering Department. She has also worked in several places as a trainer and designer. During her work at the Science Studio, Saja participated in a five-month training residency program in exhibit development at the Exploratorium, Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception in San Francisco. Currently she’s applying her knowledge and skills in label design and wood works.

Abstract:

Interactive Science Exhibit Development: A Team Based Approach

The Science Studio is one of the projects implemented by the Educational Research and Development Program (ERDP) at the A.M. Qattan Foundation, in partnership with the Ramallah Municipality. One of its main programs is the Exhibit Development Program where a team of exhibit developers experiments continuously with designing and building exhibits, as well as working with researchers and community members to come up with ideas for new exhibits. This program is considered one of the Studio’s approaches for science communication with the community.

The session will highlight the importance of Team Approach (TA) in exhibit making, which engages cross-departmental staff and community members. The approach focuses on how to build interactive “Hands-on and Hearts-on” exhibits, which, according to research, attract and hold visitors’ attention for longer periods of time. The goal of this model is to create exhibits that transfer the role of visitors from recipient of knowledge and instructions to active participants in generating activities, questions, and explanations related to the exhibit.