Reaction Paper: Mind Museum

It’s one of the strangest paradoxes in the world: science plays such a vital role in every aspect of daily life, yet no one seems to appreciate or even understand its value. A cognitive rift exists in public mindsets which separates science and technology from the humdrum processes of normal life. Too often, science is seen as an overly technical, even pretentious subject that is detached and incomprehensible to your average person on the street.

The staff of the Mind Museum (who call themselves Mind Movers) recognize that this cognitive rift exists and must be dismantled for the good of society as a whole. In order to break down the false dichotomy that separates us from science and technology, they have turned to one of the oldest and most powerful tools of communication: stories.  In essence, they weave the cold hard facts of physics, chemistry and biology into a living tapestry of color which inspires their audience to immerse themselves in these subjects.

However, the Mind Movers don’t tell just any story; they tell the story of everyday life, as seen through the lens of science. They create explosive experiments using kitchen materials, use the human body to illustrate the immense scale of the solar system, and bring things as simple as a paper bill and alcohol to flaming life. More than simple tricks, these demonstrations are a powerful way of showing how even complicate topics such as specific heat or Einstein-Bose condensates are actually extremely relevant to our lives. The fact that these issues are presented as a coherent story is highly important, as it allows us as an audience to engage in the story and enjoy it without realizing that we are actually processing facts we might not have found interesting otherwise.

In the end, the Mind Movers play an important role in bringing back a wonder and appreciation of science for a new generation. In this sense, they not only tell a story of science in the past and present; they also help write the continuing story of science for our future.

Marco Del Valle 2013-20474