Elements: From Actinum to Zirconium is an ambitious attempt to transform the periodic table into an engaging exhibition through a range of interactive displays, everyday objects and artefacts from the Ulster Museum’s collection.
The theme for the exhibition was inspired by Theodore Gray’s The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe and, like the book, the exhibition has a vibrant and exciting design. The logo and associated graphics are used successfully on wall text and in display cases, but perhaps this lively and appealing look could have also been used effectively in other areas such as on the walls and floors.
The exhibition is glass-heavy with lots of display cabinets. The first – a large model of the periodic table – introduces the themes that are explored in detail later in the exhibition.
Having surveyed the periodic table in its entirety, visitors are then invited to look at objects in a number of thematic display cabinets covering topics such as earth, technology and light. I enjoyed seeing the museum’s diverse collection used to tell a scientific story, with objects ranging from brazil nuts to jewellery.
It made me look at these objects in a different light. Brazil nuts, for example, contain 11,000 times the average background level of radium, but fear not – this is well below the level considered to be dangerous.
One interpretative element that stands out as engaging, exciting and a focal point for sparking conversations among visitors is the Local Heroes wall. This is a simple but brilliant way to link the history and development of the periodic table to Northern Ireland, and to truly spark the imagination of visitors.
Did you know, for example, that Robert Boyle (1627-91) – also known as “the father of chemistry” – was born in Northern Ireland? Or that an Irishman, Ernest Walton (1903-95), was the first man to split an atom using car parts and a broken petrol pump?
Alongside a range of thematic display cabinets, the exhibition had a number of interactive exhibits. These include a large map of the world where visitors are asked to decide if elements are “mined or made” by pressing a button that reveals the answer. Another interactive exhibit is a large wall-mounted jigsaw puzzle that asks visitors to combine compatible pieces to create compounds.
However, by far the most effective interactive is a large touchscreen display of the periodic table, which allows visitors to click on an element to learn more. This simple interactive was particularly engaging – during my time in the exhibition, the average dwell time on this was about 10 minutes, which meant I had to watch others rather than getting to play myself.
I only wish it had been given a more central role in the exhibition. A larger screen, multiple screens or even a more central location would have changed the dynamic and energy of the exhibition.
Despite some exciting approaches to design, interactivity could have a more prominent role in the exhibition. Museums are not science centres – they serve a different purpose through collecting and research rather than simply exhibiting.
Maybe glass cabinets and wall text are the preserve of museum exhibitions while science communication is the preserve of science centres, such as Belfast’s W5. However, as this exhibition shows, interactivity can help museums to turn complex scientific concepts into engaging and exciting exhibitions.
I enjoyed Ulster Museum's Elements exhibition, but a bigger emphasis on facilitating conversations and debate would have added greatly to the visitor experience.
Oonagh Murphy is a freelance arts manager, writer and lecturer
Main funders: Foyle Foundation; Power NI; Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure; Friends of the Ulster Museum (programming)
Curator: Michael Simms
Exhibition ends 28 February 2016
The theme for the exhibition was inspired by Theodore Gray’s The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe and, like the book, the exhibition has a vibrant and exciting design. The logo and associated graphics are used successfully on wall text and in display cases, but perhaps this lively and appealing look could have also been used effectively in other areas such as on the walls and floors.
The exhibition is glass-heavy with lots of display cabinets. The first – a large model of the periodic table – introduces the themes that are explored in detail later in the exhibition.
Having surveyed the periodic table in its entirety, visitors are then invited to look at objects in a number of thematic display cabinets covering topics such as earth, technology and light. I enjoyed seeing the museum’s diverse collection used to tell a scientific story, with objects ranging from brazil nuts to jewellery.
It made me look at these objects in a different light. Brazil nuts, for example, contain 11,000 times the average background level of radium, but fear not – this is well below the level considered to be dangerous.
One interpretative element that stands out as engaging, exciting and a focal point for sparking conversations among visitors is the Local Heroes wall. This is a simple but brilliant way to link the history and development of the periodic table to Northern Ireland, and to truly spark the imagination of visitors.
Did you know, for example, that Robert Boyle (1627-91) – also known as “the father of chemistry” – was born in Northern Ireland? Or that an Irishman, Ernest Walton (1903-95), was the first man to split an atom using car parts and a broken petrol pump?
Alongside a range of thematic display cabinets, the exhibition had a number of interactive exhibits. These include a large map of the world where visitors are asked to decide if elements are “mined or made” by pressing a button that reveals the answer. Another interactive exhibit is a large wall-mounted jigsaw puzzle that asks visitors to combine compatible pieces to create compounds.
However, by far the most effective interactive is a large touchscreen display of the periodic table, which allows visitors to click on an element to learn more. This simple interactive was particularly engaging – during my time in the exhibition, the average dwell time on this was about 10 minutes, which meant I had to watch others rather than getting to play myself.
I only wish it had been given a more central role in the exhibition. A larger screen, multiple screens or even a more central location would have changed the dynamic and energy of the exhibition.
Despite some exciting approaches to design, interactivity could have a more prominent role in the exhibition. Museums are not science centres – they serve a different purpose through collecting and research rather than simply exhibiting.
Maybe glass cabinets and wall text are the preserve of museum exhibitions while science communication is the preserve of science centres, such as Belfast’s W5. However, as this exhibition shows, interactivity can help museums to turn complex scientific concepts into engaging and exciting exhibitions.
I enjoyed Ulster Museum's Elements exhibition, but a bigger emphasis on facilitating conversations and debate would have added greatly to the visitor experience.
Oonagh Murphy is a freelance arts manager, writer and lecturer
Project data
Cost: undisclosedMain funders: Foyle Foundation; Power NI; Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure; Friends of the Ulster Museum (programming)
Curator: Michael Simms
Exhibition ends 28 February 2016
