>Dear Friends:

>The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle is preparing for a
>major new exhibit, "Fish and Chips: Nature, Culture and Technology on Puget
>Sound".   The exhibit will examine how technological change impacts the
>natural and cultural landscape.   It will center around a salmon-butchering
>machine patented as the "Iron Chink"  that was designed to replace
>decreasing reserves of skilled Chinese workers just after the turn of the
>century.  From this artifact, we will look at racism and labor relations,
>the process of invention, and the understanding of salmon biology at the
>turn of the century.

>In addition to traditional media, we want to use hands-on devices to deliver
>some of the exhibit concepts and content.  For example, having learners
>physically stack the number of cans that come from one salmon,  measure how
>fast they disassemble a Velcro salmon, or look through opposing
>stereopticons at contrasting  views of cultural stereotypes, etc.

>Has anyone out there worked with similar concepts, content  or delivery
>devices?  We are also considering working with local artists to create a
>space for the community to respond to issues of technology  and culture in
>their daily lives.  We would love to hear  your  ideas, contacts, words of
>encouragement or words of warning!

Ed, For younger kids, how about a room full of inflatable vinyl salmon for
kids to go into similar to the plastic ball rooms that are very popular.  Call
it "Fish Packing Plant".  Kids go in, wading through the fish,  if they load
fish into big hopper at one side of room, air blower or something carries the
inflatable fish around up to a shute where they all cascade down on the kids
again.  Use same fish for a sorting activity:  a conveyor brings different
kinds or sizes of fish to be sorted, sometimes slowly, sometimes speeding up
to faster than anybody could sort (consult Alan Funt on this one).  Where to
get inflatable fish?  Hmmm.  I don't know.  We did look into getting or making
inflatable items about a year ago.  We may have some info, let me know and
I'll hunt for it.  I think your plan for interactives, as in velcro attached
fish, stereo viewers, as you mention above is the way to go.

Cheers.
Joel Clark
Science Center of Connecticut
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>Ed Lambert, Education Department:

>e-mail: [log in to unmask]

>Museum of History and Industry
>2700 24th Avenue E
>Seattle, WA  98112
>(206) 324-1126
>Fax 342-1346