Interview with Christopher Jameson - the Director

BM. You originally described Techniquest as a hands-on science centre and have also mentioned this term "interactive". Can you elaborate a little bit about the importance of interactivity and "hands-on."

CJ Yes, the term hands-on was originally used, as a distinction from - simply looking at things in glass cases or admiring large objects on pedestals. So - I mean and that, that adjective was coined - I was probably in the States in the 30's, I should think. And the hands-on science centre phase probably originated with something like the Exploratium in the 1960's in California. Interactive suggests that it's not simply that you touch it but it touches you both physically and mentally. And some people have said well it's hands on and minds on. And clearly it's not just a question of touching it's a question of thinking as well.

And, I mean one of the interesting things is watching young children here on their first visit, many young children will have their hands on an awful lot of things and their minds, probably on the next thing rather than on the thing they're doing at any given moment. And you can actually stand and look from up and above and you can pick out children that have been before because the ones that've been before are actually, going back to familiar friends and, and looking at those things again, and wanting to show them to people. And, having gained the confidence "oh I know what this one is I know what it does let me explore this one a bit further." And that's when the minds-on bit starts because, you know and that's if you like interactivity. But none of these, these words is terribly adequate. And the current phrase is public engagement with science rather than public understanding of science or public awareness of science. I mean the key thing is that there is something engaging the mind.