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The exhibit is divided into six sec Science in American Life tions and has a Hands-On Science Cen exhibit opens Science in general suffers from an image problem. From chemophobia to the Hubble Space Telescope and the super conducting supercollider, science takes public relations hits every day. It costs all scientific disciplines more than just money—talented young people choose other careers, risk is under- or overesti mated, and the potential good that sci ence can do is ignored. The ACS and the Smithsonian Insti tution's National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, are endeav oring to address some of the public's concerns and misconceptions in Science in American Life, a permanent exhibit that opened April 27. The exhibit was designed to demonstrate the role that science plays in our everyday lives and to show that the history of science is part of our history as a society. The 13,000-ft2 exhibit consists of more than 900 artifacts, 600 photos, and 20 interactive displays and was funded by $5.3 million in donations from the ACS. The choice of topics to be covered was based not only on the amount of space available but also on the views of the advisory board and the Smithsonian that this exhibit was not to be a scientific pep rally. The exhibit is aimed primarily at nonscientists and those who tradition ally have not chosen science as a career. Visitors entering the exhibit first en counter their contemporary "host scien tists" in the form of life-size photos and recorded voices (two host children are also included). The host scientists ex plain to the visitors on a personal level their philosophies about the pursuit of science and what it means to them to carry out this type of work. Biographies of the hosts, along with photos of their families, let visitors see that scientists lead personal lives that are much like their own. The hosts were chosen so that visitors will be able to identify with at least one host and children will have positive role models.
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ter. Among the topics covered in "Labo ratory Science Comes to America 18761920" are the appearance of research laboratories, the synthetic organic chemicals industry, and the chemical industry's involvement in World War I. "Science for Progress 1920-1940" exam ines the image of the scientist as "dis passionate, objective seeker of truth"; science versus religion; and science as the key to progress. "Mobilizing Science for War 19401960" focuses on how government, in dustry, and academia joined forces to serve the national defense in the form of the Manhattan project. In addition to a reenactment of the first controlled selfsustaining nuclear reaction at Chicago Pile number 1, visitors are given the op portunity to pull control rods out of a replica of Chicago Pile number 1 to me diate the flux of a nuclear reaction. "Better Than Nature 1950-1970" ex plores the impact of science on our stan dard of living, from automobiles to kitchen appliances. It is here that the
public's opinion of science is also shown to change. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring pointed out that although chemicals such as DDT are miraculous, they are also dangerous. In addition to launching the environmental movement among the general public, her book sounded the death knell of science as absolute au thority. "Science in the Public Eye 1970Present" explores the hope science pro vides for the future (genetic engineering and a replica of a recombinant DNA lab oratory) as well as the continued erosion of public support (Love Canal, Bhopal, Three Mile Island). It also explores questions such as, "Are Americans will ing to pay for long-term investments in science and technology?" "Looking Ahead" urges visitors to think about the interaction of science and society using biotechnology as a case study. ACS and Smithsonian exhibit planners hope that the exhibit will be fun, will give visitors an appreciation of the role of science in our society and in our lives, and will demonstrate the need for an informed and scientifically literate public.
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