“This Is Exactly the Type of Activity the Museum Should Be Doing All the Time”

Abstract

Recent research suggests that the use of natural history collections in museum education can be beneficial for science engagement and public education. This study expands on this extant research through an exploration of a natural history Live Lab exhibit, in which museum faculty, staff, and volunteers prepared paleontological specimens for collection while engaging the public in science education in an interactive exhibit space. Using a framework of activity theory, a mixed-methods survey was distributed to individuals who participated in the Live Lab to explore the interactions of the subjects, objects, tools, outcomes, rules, and labor division in the Live Lab. Twenty-two (n = 22) individuals responded, and their quantitative and qualitative responses to this survey were openly coded and analyzed. This analysis revealed that participants valued engaging the public with paleontology, believed both themselves and the public benefited from the exhibit, and expressed enthusiasm for future interactive and collections-based exhibits. Conversely, some participants also experienced challenges with the physical Live Lab space, feelings of unpreparedness, and hesitations about personal skills when engaging in public outreach. As such, a future Live Lab or similar collections-based exhibits are recommended alongside greater preparation and training for those staffing the exhibit.