Program on the Environment

As technology becomes increasingly integrated in our educational spaces, the need to evaluate how this technology impacts public spaces like zoos, aquariums, and museums. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of digital exhibit design in increasing pro-conservation attitudes and behaviors in aquarium visitors. Making scientific information accessible to the public is the key component of informal educational spaces like the Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST). Through working onsite at the Highline MaST Center in Des Moines, WA, I was able to conduct social science research to gather evidence that helped identify if digital or non-digital exhibits were more effective at increasing pro-conservation attitudes and behaviors. I designed an interactive touchscreen exhibit centered on the sixgill shark, and compared it to the pre-existing non-digital grey whale exhibit. I collected data through in-person surveys with Likert-scale questions. MaST visitors on Saturdays. I then analyzed visitors’ scores and was able to identify cohesive results. The results indicated that the non-digital exhibits were more effective than the digital exhibits at increasing pro-conservation attitudes and behaviors about local species. However, both types of exhibits showed an increase in attitudes and behaviors overall. The results from this study indicate that digital exhibits are less effective at conveying the importance of local species conservation. This suggests that digitalizing design in educational spaces should be considered carefully. As technology begins to be incorporated in these experiences, it’s important to make sure they are not hindering the communicative skills of the center itself