formula D_, a producer of internationally recognised and renowned visitor experiences, recently attended the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo in Denver, Colorado.
One of the key themes from the agenda at this year’s event was that environmental literacy has increasingly become a priority for many museums and science centres around the world, due to the wealth of scientific proof exploring the dramatic decline of our environment. In recent years, formula D_ has gathered specific expertise in developing interactive exhibits that help museums to communicate complex issues about the environment.
Sustainability on the agenda
At the recent AAM event, a number of presentations and discussions were dedicated to sustainability topics, for instance looking at how to reduce the emissions of a museum or a touring exhibit. Within this scope, several presenters looked at the growing need for strategies and content that can boost the environmental literacy of museum audiences.
During the session “Different Lenses for Addressing Our Planet Crisis”, presenters from various museums talked about how they were promoting environmental and climate literacy in their new exhibitions.
Noteworthy strategies and exhibits included the experiential showcase of microplastic in the ocean (“ocean snow”) and a multiplayer microplastic Pacman game designed by The Monterey Bay Aquarium, as well as the smart use of mental models to explain biodiversity by Denver Botanic Gardens.
Jen Tobias, associate director of exhibitions, explained that it is important to include references to human activities in the biodiversity exhibits, in order to break with the view that humans are somehow separate from nature. Michael Wolf, co-CEO of formula D_ says: “We must understand the audiences’ belief systems and mindsets to find narrative angles that evoke care for environmental issues.”
The firm develops strategies to make environmental knowledge relevant to diverse audiences by applying knowledge from behavioural science.
Exhibits for environmental literacy
Over the last years, formula D_ has gathered special expertise in designing interactive exhibits for environmental literacy and has built up a sustainability exhibit catalogue with interactive displays that are available for purchase by museums around the world. The exhibits tackle topics like renewable energy, consumerism and responsible shopping, water saving, biodiversity, green living, climate change and more.
Marco Rosa, co-CEO, explains what drives formula D_: “In these times it’s crucial we focus our energy on environmental literacy. formula D_ has made great leaps in this area and is ready to share this know-how with the museums and partners.”
Rosa will be available to meet potential collaborators at the Ecsite Conference in Malta this week.
Recently, formula D_ shared with blooloop five reasons that museum designers have the power to make a difference, and explained why the firm’s mission is to create experiences that matter.
