Family Interactions with Biodiversity in a Natural History Museum

Abstract

Natural history museums (NHM) have the largest collection of extinct and extant biodiversity. The specimens represent biodiversity in the moment and in that space for the visitors. Traditionally, NHM provided visitors contact with representatives of biodiversity, but that is no longer enough. The interactions the object triggers are as important as the presentation of the object. We applied actor-network theory and observations to define how 190 families (305 children, 273 adults) interacted with the Museum fur Naturkunde (Berlin, Germany) Biodiversity Wall. We found gender and age of the actors may be predictors for the interactions occurring in relation to the boundary object (exhibit). To delineate the family interactions at an exhibit, we developed the term synergy of the unresponsive. Family members may view the same exhibit at the same time, but their interactions with the boundary object may not result in conversation among all actors. The unresponsive actors in the group will influence the synergy, or developing interactions. Diverging interest in the boundary object becomes a conflict, and the result is the family does not interact at the exhibit. Defining the synergy of the unresponsive may provide a breakthrough in techniques and strategies for coaxing visitor interactions.