This seems like such a wonderful opportunity to explore a comparison between an authentic and simulated immersive experience. Your video made me want to visit the actual tunnel, but I may have to settle for the simulated one!

I was curious about how you are thinking about the role of interpretation (graphics, media, interactives, staff, etc.) in each setting. How are you incorporating this into your research on the visitor experience?

Thanks, William! This is a great question. We are using a couple of different approaches to answer each research question. In one  study, we had the same interpreter give a tour in both the real tunnel and the replicate tunnel. While there are of course differences in terms of what she could focus on, we asked her to keep the interpretation the same to the extent possible. We have not yet analyzed the data but we are excited to see what emerges!

Welcome to Under the Arctic! We are in our fourth and final year of our project and busy collecting data from visitors for our summative evaluation and research. The traveling exhibition remains at OMSI through the summer and the national tour launches in 2019. You can find more information about the exhibition here: https://omsi.edu/products/under-the-arctic-digg...

Find out more about the tunnel and outreach in Alaska here: http://www.permafrosttunnel.org/

We are interested to hear from other projects communicating about climate change.

I just love that you're doing research on the differences! Are you seeing a difference in the affective components or sense of "adventure" in the real vs simulated tunnels? Is there an age at which kids know the difference? Does it make a difference if you draw attention to the real vs simulated experience? Such a rare opportunity to have that full experience in both modes!

That sense of safety was mentioned by a few people in the museum (especially those who had been inside a tunnel or cave before) and certainly experienced by visitors to the real tunnel. The real tunnel is an working research facility, so everyone wears a hard hat, gets a safety briefing before entering, and can possibly bump their head on a low point in the tunnel. It's pretty safe but certainly not as designed & accessible as the museum.

We are trying to capture the affective components through interviews and video recordings of the tours in both the real tunnel and the museum replica, and by changing exhibit signage to explicitly note if a displayed object is "real" and from the tunnel. We are really trying to capture what is compelling that creates the "aura" or significance of the real thing. I've just come off a weekend on the exhibit floor at OMSI collecting data on exhibit components, and I was noticing some of the same things noted in literature - (especially Leinhardt&Crowley, 2002 and Hampp&Schwan2014) such as feeling a connection to history, scale, age, uniqueness - are coming up for the OMSI visitors when they realize the objects are old and from the permafrost in Alaska. 

What an unusual immersive environment and a timely topic.  Has presenting this replica of a research environment that helps give evidence about climate change over time triggered any strong reactions such as climate change 'dis-believers'?  What sort of permafrost research data have you incorporated in the exhibition in addition to the large animal skeletons/horns?  

What an exciting project for so many reasons! As a classroom teacher I love to travel with students and take them to places that we have learned about. But of course that isn't always possible so I really am interested in your question of "What is the power of a real object?" and what it could mean in a formal classroom. If your research supports it, do you see making recommendations/strategies for using simulated/virtual objects to classroom teachers as a possible outcome of your research? 

Hi Julianne!

thanks for your comment! We do hope that some practical  teaching implications/recommendations will be an outcome of the research. Stay tuned for more in the conference Ming months and years!

Hi Vicki,

I really like the combination of authentic video footage and personal story at the beginning of the video and the challenge of how to create that feeling and experience for museum visitors,

-Catherine

Hi All:

It is nice to see the discussion about Real Objects. I have been a geologist/geophysicist for 40 years and have been fortunate to have been primarily an field scientist, so I have spent those years mostly dealing with Real Objects. I started giving tours of the permafrost tunnel nearly 35 years ago, and have given perhaps 800 such tours to groups as diverse as 2nd graders and to the Sec. of the Interior (under G.W. Bush)....and the real objects in the tunnel have always worked their magic on that very diverse audience.  Yet, the complex geometry of ice wedges and cave ice is difficult for people to grasp, and recently our physical manipulative models of these forms have been quite effective at helping people get the idea. 

So clearly we need both real objects (for their potent magic) and synthetic constructs and digital content (for its explanatory power).  The trick is: how much of each?

Matthew

Matthew, that is really impressive that you have given 800 tours! Your question about real and simulated objects/phenomena is a great one, and it sounds like this research may lend some insights into this.

What a fascinating project!    I have been grappling with the concept of authenticity --- what it means and what role(s), if any, it has in the visitor experience --- esp when there is no physical object (e.g. in data visualizations where visitors are manipulating scientific research datasets) and when there is no direct physical access to the object (e.g. micro-organisms under a microscope).    I would, therefore,  be very interested in your findings on real objects to help unpack the idea of authenticity.

Vicki...it is great to see the light at the end of the permafrost tunnel! The work of you and your colleagues is brilliant. I enjoy seeing the fine atmospheric touches I've come to expect from amazing & immersive OMSI experiences. Imagining you all prototyping possible candidates for the funny smell in this exhibit is priceless.   

How far and wide does this exhibit travel - or do you hope it will travel? Is it going to museums or science centers across the US?