AQI IAI< I I IMS: I H E FUTlJRF, 1

h i Zoo Y/J (1995) 34: 1-6 0 The Zoologiciil Society of‘ London

Aquariums: a look to the future JOSEPH A. WETZEL & MOLLY O’BRIEN Joseph A. Wetzel Associates, Inr. 77 North Wnshington Street, Boston, Mrrssachusetts 02114, tJSA

Public aquariums are enjoying increasing popularity. This paper enumeratcs several reasons for the cur- rent appeal of aquariums and considers possible future developments, including improvements in design and an increased commitment to education and conservation. The author, discuss why aquar- iums can add value to the urban landscape, and what they ciin d o to remain responsive and viable institutions.

The past two decades have witnessed unparalleled growth in the design and construction of new aquariums and major renovations of existing ones. This bur- geoning community of modern aquariums reflects a concurrent rise in public popu- larity. All this activity prompts a number of questions: what accounts for the increase in facilities; how have aquariums changed: where are they headed; what can wc learn from this explosion?

THE RISE IN PUBLIC POPULARITY Several factors no doubt play a part in the public popularity of aquariums but one in particular stems from the circumstances of contemporary society. We live in a world where nature is more and more removed from our daily patterns of life. To many people ‘nature’ typically refers to a remote location, a place where one might go on a trip if outfitted with the right equipment or a foreign locale captured by committed wildlife photographers and beamed into our living rooms or displayed in glossy magazines. Paradoxically, as our everyday lives become further disengaged from nature, its availability grows in the safe and visually appealing forum of media. Aquariums, however, offer possibilities situated somewhere between the expense

and grit of outdoor adventure camping and the flat, anaesthetized world of tele- vision. In aquariums, people can see and even touch real, three-dimensional crea- tures that are representatives of the nat- ural world.

Now that the environment is threatened around the globe, human interest is on the rise. As apprehension about the earth’s health grows, so does the need for places where people can feel a positive connec- tion with the environment. Aquariums are well positioned to draw on this increased public concern about the natural world. With displays of colourful, lively and often unfamiliar aquatic animals and plants, an aquarium of the new generation offers an inviting destination. A visit to an aquarium does not require any experience or special background knowledge, so the atmosphere is welcoming and non-judge- mental. Our ‘information age’ world can be alienating in its overwhelming com- plexity, yet a coral reef fish swimming before one’s eyes is anything but an abstract idea. Non-threatening ‘mediating sites’, such as aquariums, can provide direct and positive opportunities for learning and understanding.

Visiting an aquarium fulfils a desire to connect with something natural, and par- ents can feel good about bringing their children to a facility that clearly offers both educational and social opportunities. The growth of families with both parents working outside the home has no doubt added to the appeal of aquariums as places to spend ‘quality time’ with chil- dren. In addition, an aquarium visit takes place largely or entirely indoors, offering

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a sheltered and convenient year-round destination.

New and renovated buildings and exhibits have also played an important part in attracting larger audiences. Exhibits, in particular, have undergone improvements in design and technique aimed at involving visitors and making their entire experience more engaging and memorable. In these modern structures, tanks are bigger, windows more extensive and the species represented are larger or more exotic. Habitat recreations have become exceptionally realistic, graphics are sophisticated, copy has a friendly tone, participatory devices are fun and engaging and gift shops offer an abun- dance of educationally and environmen- tally appealing items.

Some of these changes are the result of technical advances but they owe even more to a realignment in thinking about how to develop exhibitions, the nature of the audience for which the facilities are designed and how best to reach these vis- itors. Practices that were once rare, dis- regarded or not even contemplated are now significant in the design process. They include shaping a strong visual and narrative story-line, considering various learning styles, conducting visitor evalua- tion and outreach, and promoting wildlife and habitat conservation. Today, many aquariums have moved towards dis- playing natural communities and habitats in toto, creating more appealing environ- ments and enabling visitors to view species in context.

INSTITUTIONAL REASONS BEHIND THE BOOM As new aquariums enter the urban land- scape, it is worth taking into account some of the institutional reasons behind their popularity, Four primary motiva- tions come to mind. First, it is possible to assess accurately the cost, attendance and operating expenses of a new aquarium. The past decade has witnessed the com- pletion of enough new facilities for useful

comparisons to be drawn. Aquariums cur- rently in development have the benefit of consulting firms with meaningful experi- ence in everything from economic feasi- bility to visitor circulation, making possible functional studies of potential sites, audience bases, appropriate area, circulation pitfalls and peak visitor hours. All these factors make building an aquarium less of a gamble and more of a solid civic investment.

Second, aquariums have definable space requirements. They are eminently viable for urban and suburban environments where space is at a premium. While new theme parks and zoos may require sub- stantial areas for development, aquariums can fit into restricted sites. If necessary, an aquarium can grow upwards and be multi-storey .

Third, aquariums are popular. They are proven draws that attract both local resi- dents and tourists. Civic leaders, business owners and educators like the kind of people that aquariums attract; they rep- resent a sought-after, middle-class demo- graphic. There is a growing feeling that every world-class city needs a world-class aquarium. This leads to a fourth explicit reason behind the boom. These public facilities can reintroduce much needed foot traffic and enliven quiet or even failing downtown waterfront areas. As exemplified in American cities such as Boston, Monterey and Tampa, aquariums work well as components of urban water- front development projects.

WHERE ARE AQUARIUMS HEADED? Now that aquariums are recognized as vital elements in the urban fabric, attrac- tive to visitors and to city councils, what next? Has the golden age of aquariums reached its peak? Fortunately, aquariums do appear to have the flexibility to con- tinue evolving and improving. There are three factors that appear integral to the process of growth.

One element in the forecast involves the living organisms that visitors see. As well

AQIJARIUMS. TIII. i-'Il'I'IJRE 3

as a greater diversity of fish species, exhibits will expand to include other mem- bers of the animal and plant kingdoms. Arthropods, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and varied flora not only add interest to displays but also demonstrate biodiversity and implicitly communicate the importance of natural communities. To this end, there is no reason for aquar- iums to adhere solely to aquatic exhibits. The world of water criss-crosses and laps around the edges of the land and these ecotones are some of the most interesting and biologically rich places on earth. Aquariums can strengthen their own envi- ronments by incorporating exhibits of proven popularity and educational interest, such as the diving birds, seals, sealions and large crocodilians often found at zoos, and the live satellite links to deep-sea exploration at science museums.

A second prognosis rclates to tech- nique. Historically, aquariums have closely mimicked art museums in their dis- plays. Small tanks placed into walls present 'pictures' of aquatic life. As exhibit design advances, the cmphasis will increasingly tend towards the direct involvement of visitors in the experience. This shift can traverse both 'low-tech' experiences, such as recreated tidepools where visitors can pick up and examine some of the species on display, and 'high- tech' experiences, such as manoeuvring a remote-operated submersible through an underwater canyon.

Finally, aquariums will extend the boundaries of their traditional domain to be ever more inclusive in their subject matter. Themes drawing on everything from geology to indigenous cultures and from art to archaeology can be success- fully woven into the exhibit experience. If aquariums offer experiences that awaken aesthetic delight, provoke curiosity about other species, encourage social exchanges, engage the senses and inform about the possibility of new technologies, they will be responding to people as multi-sensory,

multi-dimensional beings and they will open new avenues for interpretation.

MOVING AHEAD One of the most appealing aspects of this crystal-ball gazing is that it envisions aquariums as viable and responsive insti- tutions with the potential and ability to forge new ground in the next century. At this point, it is especially important not to stagnate but to keep pushing ahead.

An increased commitment to education will solidify the mission of aquariums and set them apart from profit-seeking enter- tainment centres. This commitment involves not only philosophical agreement with the importance of informal learning but also strong economic support for pro- grammes, education staff and innovative exhibits. Aquariums need to attract and offer worthwhile encounters to audiences that grow more diverse annually. Encour- aging visits by people who represent a broader segment of the population means first finding ways of bringing them through the doors and then of ensuring that once inside they find meaningful exhibits. This entails developing experi- ences that satisfy a variety of learning styles and appeal to different cultures.

If this decade is any indication, it seems that the pace of our lives will not slow down, that the market place and transfer of ideas will continue to grow more inter- national and electronic and that visitors will become increasingly sophisticated about entertainment and recreational options. One way that aquariums can take advantage of these trends is to implement an institutional structure that is able to react promptly to a changing, complex world. Fundamentally, this implies a cer- tain responsibility to staying relevant and fostering a dialogue with the public. Insti- tutions of informal learning need to respond to the challenge of interpreting contemporary issues and providing useful information. Keeping current with issues in the news and in the minds of the public, staying abreast of developing technologies

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and becoming an integral part of the com- munity can open up a wealth of interpre- tative possibilities.

Aquariums can cultivate a responsive environment in several ways. The first involves the physical layout of the insti- tution. A facility with flexibility built into the design is much more likely to consider periodic alterations and new exhibits. Along the same lines, adaptable com- munication systems, such as computers, can make it easier to change information without a sizeable capital expenditure. Generally, the easier it is to institute changes, the more likely it is that they will occur.

With a more flexible building comes the ability and incentive to mount special exhibits. These could be major centralized extravaganzas, comparable with an art museum ‘blockbuster’, or smaller dis- persed elements that enliven and update several exhibit areas. A schedule of special exhibits brings a sense of vitality to an institution, attracts repeat visits and pro- vides fresh opportunities for interpreta- tion. Another advantage is that it permits room for new trends and technological innovations. It is difficult to guess what the demands of the 21st century will be but a versatile layout allows for any number of possibilities.

Finally, an aquarium will put itself in a stronger position if it develops a clear point of view that is made public in the exhibits. This is particularly true where wildlife conservation is concerned. Instead of maintaining a third-person, objective manner of expression in every circum- stance, which can be bland at best and deceptive at worst, an aquarium can take the lead in advocating ecologically sound ideas. An institution that takes on a per- sona in its exhibits gives itself a signifi- cant, identifiable voice to which visitors can relate. In addition, aquariums can present a richer spectrum of ideas if they exhibit, yet draw a distinction between, their institutional stance and other varying viewpoints. In this way, for

example, they can clearly introduce a range of opinions from members of the scientific, corporate or political domain.

Aquariums must come to terms with conservation, an issue that has many per- mutations. Most obviously, the exhibition of members of the animal kingdom brings with it the responsibility to promote their continued survival. While zoos now exhibit animals that come largely from captive-breeding programmes, many aquariums still tend to acquire their stock in the wild or purchase it from dealers. In the future, aquariums should strive to emulate zoos, putting a greater emphasis on breeding and rearing animals for dis- play. Aquariums should also support and spearhead efforts at conservation out- reach, from breeding programmes to adopting an endangered area or funding a research or scientific exchange programme.

With thousands of potentially sympa- thetic visitors passing through their doors every year, aquariums are in an ideal posi- tion to promote conservation. A con- vincing and coherent conservation ethic should underpin the entire aquarium pro- gramme. With this in mind, aquariums should also find ways to integrate conser- vation into the design of their physical plants. Incorporating environmentally sensitive materials and methods, using materials judiciously and appropriately, and finding smarter ways to build makes sense in today’s world of shrinking resources and imparts a unified conser- vation message.

Individual aquariums have already made several leaps forward in the design of their facilities and exhibits but aquar- iums as a group need to adjust their design philosophy and practice. To begin with, aquariums need to design from the inside out. This means that before a line is drawn, thought is given to the story and its principal components, desired educa- tional outcomes, composition and needs of the audience, and the requirements of the animals to be displayed. In other

AQUARIUMS’ THE FUTURE 5

words, the goals and demands of the interpretative programme should drive the design of the building.

In the coming years, aquariums will need to offer a richer variety of experi- ences. In part, this will frequently dictate a move away from industrial, black-box structures towards buildings that can emphasize a sense of place (or places). Interior spaces can re-establish links to the natural world by featuring site-specific palettes of colour, lighting, sound and other environmental clues. When the line between what is a building interior and what is an exhibit blurs, the entire visit becomes more experiential and powerful.

The key will be to offer a well-crafted mix of experiences. Instead of galleries filled with tanks of similar size and all at eye level, there should be a ’well-cadenced blend of exhibit ‘events’ featuring a variety of techniques. Large habitat-based environments that surround visitors can be combined with galleries offering live demonstrations, simple participatory devices and high-tech interactive computers.

For example, visitors might first enter an Amazon habitat that recreates a sec- tion of lowland rain forest. The air is thick with humidity and the smells of thriving plant life. Birds and butterflies flit through trees and the screams of a monkey troop filter down from the canopy. Visitors tra- versing this environment discover walking sticks on a branch near the path and a large snake staying warm in a patch of sunlight. Because visitors are enveloped by the sights, smells and sounds of the Amazon, they not only observe but also enter into the experience at hand.

Following this sensory-rich adventure, visitors might move on to a demonstra- tion area where a live snake, similar to that in the exhibit, is being held and dis- cussed by an educator. Nearby, an informal theatre presents a child-orien- tated ‘what’s happening in the rain forest?’ play, with actors dressed as various plants and animals. For more

technologically interested visitors, an assortment of interactive computers and video monitors offers programmes on everything from creating and maintaining your own rain forest to an Internet hook- up to researchers in the field. Multi-media elements and live demonstrations are notable for their capability to be changed, to be customized to an individual, to enable hands-on opportunities and to react immediately to visitor feedback. Under these circumstances, learning and understanding come from a variety of sources and are possible on many levels. The design of exhibits stresses the ability of visitors to enter into an experience, to participate and ideally to enjoy a personal connection.

The issues that have been discussed attest to the many possibilities that aquar- iums can explore. It should also be noted that while they are often built or exist as such, aquariums do not need to be stand- alone facilities. Much potential exists for their becoming components of zoos, nat- ural history museums and urban centres. Cross pollination has generated renewed vitality in areas ranging from academia, where the barriers of traditional fields of study are being broken down, to enter- tainment, where several types are being combined at a single centre. The addition of an aquarium, exploring the world of water, to a zoo investigating the environ- ments of land, would enhance both institutions.

Aquariums need to think about what the future holds because, in a sense, their audience is already being exposed to it. The mobile population of today is far more likely to encounter world-class aquariums on visits to major cities. Increased audience expectations are a factor with which aquariums will continue to grapple. Fortunately, facilities in the planning stages can take advantage of high quality, existing institutions. There is currently enough information available to develop new or renovated facilities with a high probability of success and to provide

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the opportunity to move beyond design by trial and error.

‘Smart design’ takes advantage of known methods and materials in ways that have been used for years in other fields, such as aerospace. Primarily it involves collecting and processing the right type of information to make informed judgements. Before ground is broken for a new facility, studies should be made to determine the potential market. From these data, it is possible to assess the appropriate size of the building. Focus groups and ‘front-end evaluation’ study the audience and proposed subject matter. Tight management and cost con- trol can help to keep the process within budget. Design is not forgotten; it remains foremost but the trick is to procure the most experiences for the least amount of money. Efficient design makes the most of space and budget to enable a wealth of exhibit opportunities.

As this process suggests, aquarium development will be an increasingly col-

laborative effort in the future. Funding will need to come from many sources, both public and private, and continued support will require broad-based com- munity efforts. A team approach will strengthen the development process at a time when aquariums need to reach a broader audience and incorporate more multi-disciplinary subject matter. Tack- ling an uncertain future is a formidable task but aquariums that take the lead and assemble the right tools and talents can look forward to fresh experiences, vital institutions and happy visitors.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Joseph A. Wetzel, founder and president of Joseph A. Wetzel Associates, has been a leader in the field of exhibit planning and design for over 25 years. He has been involved in 12 major aquarium projects, both nationally and internationally. Molly O’Brien has worked as an exhibit developer in projects ranging from zoos and aquariums to history museums and nature centres.

Manuscript submitted 21 December 1994

Int. Zoo Yh. (1995) 34: 6-14 0 The Zoological Society of London

The role of zoos and public aquariums in fish con se rvat i on PETER S . MAITLAND Fish Conservation Centre, Easter Cringate, Stirling FK7 9QX Great Britain

Around the world, freshwater and marine fishes face a variety of threats and many fish species and com- munities have disappeared in recent years. Zoos and public aquariums have an important role to play in helping to reverse this trend. Although the aim of conservation must be to protect and restore habitats in the wild, thereby saving fish communities and individual species, captive conservation activities can provide important back-up to this objective. In parti- cular, zoos and public aquariums can play a major part in public education, the provision of holding facilities for fish and the captive breeding of some threatened species. Many zoos and public aquariums

are now taking part in such activities and are becoming recognized as major contributors to the field of fish conservation.

Around the world, fishes, the most abun- dant vertebrate group and a major com- ponent of biodiversity on the one hand and human food on the other, are under threat. A number of fish species have already become extinct and several others will do so before the year 2000. Recent