Hands- on ‘ Goose Bumps’ exhibit spotlights the science of fear
Learning about what triggers your fears is one thing, but facingthemheadon is another. Visitors to a newFort Lauderdale exhibit have a unique opportunity to do both.
“Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear” at the Museum of Discovery and Science teaches people about the science of fear and provides stimulating activities to vividly illustrate the concepts.
The high- tech show, whichwasdeveloped by the California Science Center, is in the museum’s secondfloorTravelingExhibitHall.
“It’s so interactive. They’vemadefear fun,” said Michael Aguinaga, the museum’s public and school programs manager.
“MeetMr. GooseBumps” is a large representation of a human with five video displays at key anatomical areas involved in the fear response.
Visitors can learn from the display about the body’s fear response, which is controlled by the portion of the brain called the amygdala. Involuntary reactions like increased pulse and blood pressure, as well as sweating and goose bumps, prepare the body to react to a threatening stimulus, according to panels that surround the display.
The “Fear Challenge Course” has four colorcoded rooms “where visitors can face fears in a safe environment,” according to exhibit materials.
“We are physically testing your body and letting you see your response,” said Joe Cytacki, the museum’s vice president of programs, life sciences and exhibits.
A device provides an electric shock to a finger, and other stations test one’s fear of loud noises and animals. Perhaps their most scary experience is at the “Fear of Falling” station, where people are strapped onto a table, mechanically tilted backward and safely dropped.
“Itwas fun because it felt kind of like a roller coaster,” said Plantation Park Elementary School fifth- grader Ashley Engel, 11, who recently toured the exhibit on a class field trip.
Another portion of the exhibit is dedicated to “Fear in the Wild,” where people learn about the challenges the animal kingdom presents.
“Freeze Game” provides a test for people to outsmart a menacing leopard. Visitors enter a room with a projection screen, on which they can see all the action in the savanna environment unfold. The objective is to try to collect fruit from a tree and safely carry it off screen.
“You’ve got to watch the predator, and you’ve got to move accordingly,” Cytacki said. “Predators cue on movement to attack, and that’s what this exhibit’s about.”
Other displays detail collective panics, phobias, facial recognition of emotions, how fears get transmitted through media, pop culture and families, and howto cope with fears.
Onedisplay offers tips for parents, including not overreacting to their fears, talking to children about their fears, and to not have childrenconfront their fears before they are ready.
“There’s some really valuable points here. Being a parent of a young child, I’ve found these to be particularly strong points,” Cytacki said.
Visitors from Plantation Park Elementary said the exhibit provided an informative, scary and fun experience.
“Some people are afraid of things, and some people aren’t. If you do things more than once, you most likely would get used to it quicker,” said fifth- graderMercedes Barker, 11.
“It’s really awesome,” said fifth- grade science teacher Karin Singer.
A companion website, www. fearexhibit. org, provides additional exhibit information and resources for educators. A downloadable teacher’s guide contains instructions for related projects and keys the exhibit and additional content to National Science Standards.
The exhibit runs through Sept. 1. The museum is at 401SWSecond St.
For more information, view www. mods. org or call 954- 713- 0915.