Event 3: Aquarium of the Pacific: Ocean Science Center

This weekend, I made a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific. When I walked into the Ocean Science Center, I didn't expect to see a gigantic sphere suspended in the middle of the room. I took one out of the many seats surrounding it. I noticed that there was a projector in the corner. When the lights turned off, a short movie was projected onto the sphere, which was constantly spinning. 

 


The featured show was "Exploring the Depths," which discussed the history of ocean exploration. I learned about major oceanic discoveries over the years, including how Pytheas of the Greeks is credited to a lot of sea exploration of and around Great Britain. 

This exhibition exceeded my expectations. As short as it was, I really enjoyed the movie because it was informative without being boring. The information was constantly being supplemented by the movie images, and the music composition went well with the movie. I think that this was an excellent fusion of art, technology, and science. This is a clear illustration of how a creative use of technology can be employed in order to enhance the art form and educate the audience. The use of a moving sphere as the projector screen made it so the movie was much more engaging and interesting to watch for both children and adults alike. 

Though it is not necessarily about robotics, I would connect this event with Robotics + Art, because of its use of a projector and making of a movie, which are various forms of computer technology. In, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, Walter Benjamin views mass reproduction of art as having a negative impact. However, a lot of mass art production can positively impact the world by bringing awareness to certain issues. Here, the Ocean Science Center uses the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Science on a Sphere in order to educate viewers while exploring the planet and telling stories about ocean phenomena and their impacts. 

This was only one of the ways I saw science and art being enhanced by each other. There was also an Ocean Exhibition Hub, and a Surge Channel which replicates the furiously pounding waves that accompany the bitter cold sea and air temperatures of the North Pacific Ocean. Overall, I had a very fun experience exploring the different events that the aquarium has to offer. I would definitely suggest going because you will get the chance to learn about ocean exploration and sea life. You even get the chance to pet some sharks and sting rays!



SOURCES:

Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction . Diss. 1936. Print.

"Exploring the Depths." Science on a Sphere Shows. Aquarium of the Pacific: Ocean Science Center. California, Long Beach. 11 12 2013. Reading.