Project Feature: Cornell University's Nanobiotechnology Center

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Evaluating hands-on museum exhibits
“Introducing Nanotechnology to Children”

The Nanobiotechnology Center, an NSF-funded Science and Technology Center led by Cornell University, created a traveling museum exhibition to introduce nanotechnology to elementary children in an interactive and fun way. Nearly one million visitors toured the exhibition in its first year.

As external evaluator, Edu, Inc. designed innovative activity-based focus groups that were embedded in classroom lessons. During front-end research over 400 students in Florida, New York, and California helped scientists understand what children know and can learn about the sub-visible world.

Story boards tested exhibit concepts; formative evaluation tested prototype exhibits, signs, and video with museum visitors. A summative study evaluated the exhibition while on display at Disney's Epcot ®.

Cornell selected Edu, Inc. to evaluate a new nanotechnology exhibition, currently in development.