(cross-posted to Museum-L, ISEN-ASTC-L, and ChildMus lists)

One of the components in our newly opened "EarthQuake" exhibit
is a set of three small shake tables, with materials to build
structures, a button to activate shaking, and a knob to adjust
the magnitude of the shaking. Modular pieces represent floors
in a few different sizes, shear walls, and two lengths of
posts that allow for vertical placement and cross-bracing.

The pieces, made of PVC and Sintra PVC foam, were machined in-
house, and have a high breakage rate. Evaluation also shows
that visitors are frustrated with these pieces: it takes too
much time and energy just to build the structures, which
doesn't encourage experimentation with alternatives. We want
pieces that attach loosely enough for structures to fall with
strong shaking, but tightly enough for visitors to focus on
the outcome rather than the process of building.

We are interested in knowing about similar exhibits at other
institutions, especially about:
-- what kinds of building materials you supply for visitors,
-- what kinds of maintenance issues they pose, and
-- whether you have done any formal evaluation with visitors.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

Lisa Mackinney
Program Evaluator
California Academy of Sciences
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