DENVER — Coloradoans love to learn about the world around them, even if the numbers tell them something. Thousands of visitors visit the Denver Museum of Nature and Science each month, and according to data compiled by the museum, attendance this summer is about 10% higher than last summer.
Still, the museum team recognizes that not everyone will be able to travel to see the exhibits in person. That’s why last year I continued to run on public roads by making use of the lessons learned.
Zach Garvin, the museum’s community events specialist, is one of the educators and the driver of the Curiosity Cruiser, a brightly colored trailer equipped with several science class materials. Several times a week, Garvin and teammates choose scientific topics and identify Colorado communities to visit.
“We want to serve underserved community members and partners as best we can,” Garvin said as he loaded Friday’s lesson materials into the trailer.
The lesson of the day was a deep insight into what the team calls “flavour science,” or our ability to taste and how genetics influence our perception of food. That makes the venue for the Huerta Urbana Farmers Market particularly appropriate. This market is a pay-as-you-can model, giving people in the Globeville area access to fresh produce regardless of their ability to pay.
The Curiosity Cruiser represents the Denver Museum of Nature and Science’s attempt to tackle the barriers some neighborhoods face in accessing learning opportunities. 2019 Colorado State Test A survey found that about 36 percent of fifth-graders performed above expectations in science, while only about 18 percent of students eligible for free or reduced lunches did the same. was.
“The reason it’s so important to bring this up is because it really makes some of the concepts behind the science easier to understand.” [and] Scientists,” Garvin said. “It’s something people do every day, every day. When you brew coffee, you’re doing chemistry. When you’re eating something, your brain has its own process. , uses a unique biological process to taste things, and perhaps even genetics makes people taste a little different than others.My personal opinion is that we here at this It’s an amazing state, surrounded by incredible nature, and through a little critical thinking, it can be appreciated as well as understood.”
The Curiosity Cruiser concept has been envisioned in museums for years, but was launched in its present form last year to better shape its mission, given the trials and lessons of the pandemic. The team continues to travel from Boulder to Brighton and beyond, always looking for new spots and opportunities to share their knowledge and love of science.
“The museum’s mission is to be the spark that ignites curiosity in our community,” Garvin said. “And if we can do that by coming to someone’s backyard, and the museum supports it, we should.”
See the schedule for upcoming Curiosity Cruiser visits. here.
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