DNA Discovery Center: Field Research Kiosk

CLIENT

The Field Museum of Natural History was originally incorporated in 1983 as the Columbian Museum of Chicago, part of the World's Columbian Exposition. In 1905, the museum changed its name to honor its first major benefactor, Marshall Field. Since its inception, the Field Museum has had a focus on accumulating and disseminating knowledge as well as preserving and exhibiting objects from science, history, art and archeology. The Field Museum also funds and supports a variety of new research initiatives, an essential component of its mission.

BACKGROUND

In May of 2008, with funding from a number of generous benefactors, the Field Museum opened a new permanent exhibit, The DNA Discovery Center. The heart of the DNA Discovery Center is the Pritzker Lab, which is home to a number of scientists and researchers employed by the Field Museum. This new exhibit also included plans for a number of compelling interactive elements, including a 42 inch touch-screen kiosk developed by 15 letters to convey the breadth of active research projects taking place around the globe on behalf of the Field Museum.

THE SOLUTION

We designed a touch-screen interface to allow visitors of all ages to explore the wide range of DNA research projects in several ways: first, via a large dynamic 3D globe covered in pinpoints of research sites; second, by iconic images of organisms and their respective taxonomy; and third, by a special featured project status on the main page of the kiosk.

On each project's page, visitors can read a short project synopsis, view a photo of the scientist and their brief professional details, and see the project's site marked on its own locator globe. Each project page also features a large media gallery to spotlight relevant images, videos, and audio clips from the field, plus an interactive quiz and the ability to link to another related project.

Driving the entire kiosk is a robust back-end system that allows the Field Museum employees to log-in to a content management system, as either an editor or publisher, to continually refresh the content as the Field Museum continues their work around the globe.