River of Grass goes interactive
South African touch for museum in US
AUS SCIENCE museum will soon have a South African touch thanks to the efforts of a local design company, Formula D interactive – an interactive specialist design consultancy that focuses on creating interactive experiences in museums, science centres, corporates and educational environments.
The project by the Cape Town based-company, River of Grass, is an interactive display for the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science in Miami, Florida.
It will generate understanding about the conservation of local wetlands while exploring the topics of environmental science, ecology and hydrology.
The founder of Formula D interactive, Michael Wolf, said this is the second project they have done for the museum.
“We help our clients to tell a story and engage their audiences by creating rewarding and memorable interactive experiences. Our first project for this museum was an 18 metre audio-visual installation that represented the Gulf Stream, a powerful warm ocean current off the coast of Florida.
“When the museum opens its new facility later this year, this installation will fit alongside the museum’s aquarium facility to educate visitors about the importance of the local food chain, fish schooling behaviour, and the impact man has on this important ecosystem,” he said.
The company said that the River of Grass will be a permanent exhibition to be located in the William R Kenan Jr Charitable Trust Gallery of Frost Science, and will introduce young children and their parents and other caregivers to the importance of water in the Everglades, an important ecosystem in South Florida.
Frost Science chief executive Gillian Thomas said: “Named after a poetic phrase created by Everglades conservationist Marjorie Stoneham Douglas, this immersive environment will help young visitors to explore the relationship between water levels and the animals and plants of this special place.
“It is also designed to engender a sense of both wonder and empathy, with the intent of encouraging people to want to help conserve these wild places and better understand their importance.”
She explained that exploring the interaction between water levels and the animals can reveal the fundamentals of ecology, biodiversity, hydrology, environmental science, and environmental stewardship – all themes in protecting the environment.
Wolf said: “We’re trying to bring across a message about the dynamics of water as a central component of the ecosystem.
“The installation includes a wall projection of about 20min length and about 45m2 of projected floor space. The massive projection area will comprise 14 high-definition projectors, which will be blended together into one seamless environment.” – Staff Reporter