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A Science Atlas of Montreal

Front Image: TRAVEL NOIRE

Presented by

Dr. Jorge Perez-GallegoMs. Alexandra Kuechenberg

Ms. Sally DuensingMr. Paul Orselli

ASTC 2015 SESSION PRESENTATION

Montreal Science CentreMontreal, QC, Canada

Saturday, October 17, 2015

FROST SCIENCEFROST SCIENCE

POW!

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INTRODUCTIONDressed as Snow White, Evil Queen, and Magic Mirror we will briefly share our efforts designing and developing exhibitions for the new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science in Miami, FL.

Prior to this session, with help from the Montreal Science Centre, we produced this Science Atlas of Montreal. For that, we reached out to the Montreal local community to ask a series of questions to be answered through the lens of science, and designed to gather authentic and relevant content for our atlas. This atlas is organized according to those questions.

To kick-off our highly interactive session, we will share our collective explorations. This will serve as the foundation for group activities in which teams will ideate imaginary exhibitions and experiences based on their knowledge of the city. The purpose of this session is to illustrate how science centers can serve as a platform for community input by mirroring the beauty (and occasional annoying pimples) of their hosting cities. In this scenario Snow White and the Evil Queen grow closer together and the mirror is the tool that facilitates their bond.

The atlas is being distributed to ASTC attendees for general use, and to session attendees as a starting point.

Image: DISNEY

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Pierrefonds-Roxboro

Sainte-Geneviève

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

Outremont

Lachine

Côte-des-Neiges

Greenfield Park

Ahuntsic-Cartierville

Vieux-Longueuil

Saint-Hubert

Laval-sur-le-Lac

Laval-Ouest

Verdun

LaSalle

Sainte-Dorothée

Hochelaga

Maisonneuve

Sainte-Rose

St-Laurent

Senneville

Saint-Lambert

Saint-Amable

Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot

Kahnawà:ke

Montréal-Ouest

La Prairie

Pointe-Claire

DorvalKirkland

Baie-d'Urfé

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue

Candiac

Brossard

Sainte-Catherine

Saint-Basile-le-Grand

Hampstead

Boisbriand

Sainte-Thérèse

Blainville

Saint-Eustache

Sainte-Julie

Varennes

Bois-des-Fillion

Boucherville

Montréal-Est

Chambly

Terrebonne

Longueuil

Laval

1 : 178 791

5 km

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520

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440

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116

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Pierrefonds-Roxboro

Sainte-Geneviève

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

Outremont

Lachine

Côte-des-Neiges

Greenfield Park

Ahuntsic-Cartierville

Vieux-Longueuil

Saint-Hubert

Laval-sur-le-Lac

Laval-Ouest

Verdun

LaSalle

Sainte-Dorothée

Hochelaga

Maisonneuve

Sainte-Rose

St-Laurent

Senneville

Saint-Lambert

Saint-Amable

Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot

Kahnawà:ke

Montréal-Ouest

La Prairie

Pointe-Claire

DorvalKirkland

Baie-d'Urfé

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue

Candiac

Brossard

Sainte-Catherine

Saint-Basile-le-Grand

Hampstead

Boisbriand

Sainte-Thérèse

Blainville

Saint-Eustache

Sainte-Julie

Varennes

Bois-des-Fillion

Boucherville

Montréal-Est

Chambly

Terrebonne

Longueuil

Laval

1 : 178 791

5 km

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A PUBLIC SPACE

IN MONTREAL WHERE YOU HAVE FELT

INSPIRED

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Science and art museums, botanical gardens, and many other cultural institutions are committed to serve and inspire the communities that host them. It is not surprising that locals and tourist alike look for education, recreation, and entertainment opportunities within their doors.

These institutions are designed to inspire, but inspiration is everywhere. As Helen Keller once said “the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.”

At the same time, where do these institutions look for inspiration? In the communities they serve? Beyond those communities?

When developing exhibitions, one of the main goals should always be framing this inspiration, wherever it may come from, for a specific purpose, so it can be felt by an audience.

“It is quiet and beautiful. It is the second largest botanical garden in the world, and was founded by Quebec botanist Brother Marie-Victorin.” —Anonymous Contributor

Previous Clockwise: INSECTARIUM, BOTANICAL GARDEN, BIODOME, BIOSPHERE Current: MONTREAL SCIENCE CENTRE

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There is a name for it. The frustration caused by the stress involved in driving a motor vehicle in difficult conditions is known as road rage.

It is not surprising that in many major cities across the globe frustration often arises from modes of transportation and traffic management. Furthermore, this is a type of frustration we can all relate to. We have all been stuck in traffic, missed a connecting flight, or waited at the metro station.

How can this frustration be turned into an exhibition development opportunity? Is that even possible? Can this ultimately ease everyone else’s frustration?

The reason Richard Branson decided to create an airline was his own frustration as a passenger. “Screw it, I can do it better than you,” he said.

“It may be obvious to some, and it may not be specific to Montreal, but sometimes those parking restrictions signs are very difficult to figure out.” —Anonymous Contributor

Current: HIGHWAY AT NIGHT Next Clockwise: AIRPORT, STREET UNDER CONSTRUCTION, TRAFFIC, HIGHWAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, METRO

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A PUBLIC SPACE

IN MONTREAL WHERE YOU HAVE FELT FRUSTRATED

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A TIME WHEN YOU

HAD AN INSPIRING

CONVERSATION IN A PUBLIC SPACE

IN MONTREAL

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Many of the conversations we have are shaped by the environment and the context in which we have them. We all know this as it is not the same to talk to a colleague before a business meeting or during the ASTC dinner reception.

“Don’t talk to strangers” is the advice long given to children by parents of all classes and races. But as we grow up, strangers become assets as we explore the world we live in.

Travelers know this well. They often share with their friends back at home hidden gems they find on their travels after talking to welcoming locals; gems that oftentimes may not be advertised on your favorite travel brochures.

“It was at the Mount Royal Park. My wife and I, newly married, held hands in a large cirlce of strangers. It was magical. As were the conversations that follow.” —Anonymous Contributor

Previous Clockwise: GUITAR PLAYER, ARTIST ALLEY, SAINT-LOIS SQUARE, RUE DU SQUARE SAINT-LOUISCurrent: PARK BENCH

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“The construction history of the islands always amazes me. Backfill tiny islands being born out of the soil from the construction of the Metro in 1965. One truck at a time.” —Anonymous Contributor

Children often ask how everything is made. As we grow up, curiosity sometimes takes a step back for different reasons. Nevertheless, it does not go away. We still wonder how things are made, we may just be better at not needing to know everything.

Behind every man-made artifact, infrastructure, or system, there is a story ready to be told. A story that will certainly feed our curiosity and, one way or another, empower us.

Current: VICTORIA BRIDGE,SAINT HELEN’S ISLAND Next Clockwise: TURCOT INTERCHANGE, SAT DOME, NOTRE DAME BASILICA

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A TIME WHEN YOU

HAVE WONDERED HOW

SOMETHING WAS MADE IN A PUBLIC SPACE

IN MONTREAL

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A TIME WHEN YOU WERE

AMAZED BY NATURE IN MONTREAL

1515Current: BOTANICAL GARDEN Previous Clockwise: CAP-SAINT-JACQUES NATURE PARK, MOUNT ROYAL, WINTER SNOW

Albert Einstein once said “look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” He did not say it would be easy, but our ability to be amazed by nature sparks curiosity and facilitates understanding.

Science seeks explanations of natural phenomena based on empirical evidence. Scientists gather information by observing the natural world around us and conducting experiments.

Developing science exhibitions usually focuses on either facilitating the understanding of these observations, or prompting new ones in the next generation of scientists.

“I am always amazed when the first snow comes.” —Anonymous Contributor

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EPILOGUEThe Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, located in Miami, has been a cornerstone of science, technology, and STEM education in South Florida and Southeastern US for many years.

The new Frost Science is currently under construction in downtown Miami, and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2016 to an expected yearly audience of up to one million visitors. The five-level, 250,000 square-foot structure was designed by Grimshaw Architects, it will be LEED Gold certified, and demonstrate best practices in energy management, green design, and new technology. The four main sections of the campus-like structure feature a state-of-the-art Planetarium; an entrepreneurial Innovation Center; an Exploration Center to host permanent and travelling exhibitions; and an unprecedented Living Core of five iconic

South Florida ecosystems, including a three-story 500,000 gallons Gulf Stream aquarium.

Frost Science is set to become and active member of the community it serves by reflecting on its strengths and weaknesses with a forward-looking constructive approach.

Image: PATRICIA AND PHILLIP FROST MUSEUM OF SCIENCE

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