Scientific principles behind exhibits; children's understanding of exhibits.
Bella: 'Any exhibits that you feel are yours?' Derek: 'Hydrogen rocket. They had a rough idea of what was required. We are going back 10 years'. Camera pans to Harold in kitchen. It was trial and error, and I was new. In the end they left me to it. Derek talks about safety (acid).
00:12:11:22
Bella: 'What was the scientific concept behind that?' Derek: 'Electrolysis.' Derek explains concept. 'It was left more or less to him how to do it.' He discusses the process of design and the choice of the materials for the rocket. He talks about the rocket, which has to be replaced every approximately 3 months.
00:14:32:05
Bella: 'Do you have an ideal exhibit that you would like to build.' Derek: 'a row of cabinets along the window where kids can go and turn the handle. It would demonstrate how a turning motion becomes a linear motion. Harold: 'simple mechanics.' Derek: thinks that simply pressing a button doesn't show how things work.'
Bella: 'To what extent do you think that kids learn about science and engineering in TQ?' Derek and Harold discuss: Kids come for fun and to have a good time. Derek thinks that TQ is missing out. He compares to the Science Museum in London - this is why he became engineer.
Bella: 'Do think that Kids would be inspired in the same way?' Derek suggests that in order to answer this question someone should follow up kids a week after they have been to Techniquest. Derek: 'I don't think that they do learn anything.' Harold talks about a test area that existed in Old TQ. The exhibit developers used to spend time watching the kids use the exhibits. Derek & Harold say that kids don't read. By way of example Derek talks about how children use Jacobs Ladder.
Bambo: 'If you know that children aren't going to read the instructions do you take this into account when you are designing the exhibit?' Derek: 'How do you design for the blind?' Harold 'you'd need just one button, but that would take the interaction out.' Derek: 'you have to have audio; they don't read, you have to tell.' Harold: 'People come for entertain and aren't in the right mood'
00:22:39:12
Mel asks Derek for time sheet.