Exploratorium on Pier 15 Transforms STEM Education into Interactive Play
Located on Pier 15 in San Francisco, the Exploratorium is a museum dedicated to hands-on learning with a focus on STEM through its interactive displays. Founded in 1969, it brings together artists, scientists, exhibition developers, and volunteers. Among its notable exhibits are Fujiko Nakaya's Fog Bridge #72494 (2013), which utilized desalinated water during California's drought in 2014, and Heather Dewey-Hagborg's Probably Chelsea (2014), which features DNA-based portraits of Chelsea Manning. The facility also houses the Exhibit Development Shop, where exhibits are designed and maintained. Jessica Strick, an exhibit developer with over 20 years of experience, notes that developers play a key role in creating these installations. Additionally, the Exploratorium organizes the Hindes Prototyping Event, a hackathon that encourages interactive play to clarify complex scientific ideas.
Key facts
- The Exploratorium is located on Pier 15 in San Francisco, California.
- The museum has been creating hands-on exhibitions since 1969.
- Fujiko Nakaya created Fog Bridge #72494 in 2013, using over 800 nozzles to pump water at high pressure.
- In 2014, during a drought, Fog Bridge was reconfigured to run on desalinated water from the Bay.
- Heather Dewey-Hagborg created Probably Chelsea in 2014, commissioned by PAPER Magazine, producing 20 portraits of Chelsea Manning from DNA samples.
- Probably Chelsea was presented in the museum's Cells to Self collection.
- The Exhibit Development Shop is a visible workshop where developers build and maintain exhibits.
- Jessica Strick has been with the museum for over two decades and mentions the laser cutter as a favorite tool.
- The Hindes Prototyping Event gives 10-12 participants $300 and three days to prototype exhibition ideas.
- The museum's exhibits include Colored Shadows, Mood Lighting, Giant Lens, and Geysers.
Entities
Artists
- Fujiko Nakaya
- Heather Dewey-Hagborg
- Chelsea Manning
- Jessica Strick
- Brian Eno
Institutions
- Exploratorium
- PAPER Magazine
- Genspace
- designboom
Locations
- San Francisco
- California
- Brooklyn
- Pier 15