Connect - The National Museum of Scotland

Scientists have reached sufficient understanding of life’s genetic technology that they can now manipulate genes — but how do you get the sensitive subject of cloning across to young people without influencing their opinions? HMC Interactive was asked by creative agency Newangle to program a simple yet effective system to get young grey matter ticking.

Simple yet exciting

The exhibit’s mission was to help bring about a new focus on science and technology to complement the world class collections already held at the museum. The requirement was to engage younger members of the public in the happening world of science and technology. Through use of educational games, one of the biggest challenges was to engage the targeted visitors in some fairly grown-up scientific principles, taking stock of moral and social issues along the way.

Making learning fun

HMC Interactive programmed the multimedia interface keeping in mind the need to encourage young people to explore the world through creativity, discovery and innovation. Simple touch-screen technology was used to create an invigorating learning environment with games and thought-provoking electronic tests.

The finished exhibition includes three interactive experiences — a Spot the Clone thought-inspiring multiple choice quiz sending visitors on a mission to spot cloned plants and animals, a Vote on Cloning interactive poll including a database to record people’s votes and a Design your own GM crop, fact-based interactive game.

All the exhibits were designed to get across, in simple terms, the potential role that the science of cloning has in our lives today and could have in the future. Having absorbed the main issues of debate visitors make up their own mind and their input forms part of the exhibit for future visitors.

Exhibition design: Portland Design Design & production: Newangle Software programming: HMC Interactive