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Science Central was the final stop in a three-year of tour of Indiana for a colorful, interactive exhibit on genes designed by Indiana University researchers.
IU President Michael McRobbie was at the children’s museum Wednesday to unveil the exhibit and appoint Science Central its permanent resting place. The main theme of “Genes and Your Health,” is how genes affect alcoholism: Is it in people’s nature to become alcoholics or is their environment the main contributor?The answer, told through videos, cartoon drawings, touch-screen computers and other interactive aspects, is both. The exhibit also educates children and adults on how genes influence the risk for cancer, depression, Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis.
“This is really quite a contribution, quite an asset to our city,” Mayor Tom Henry said during a news conference. “It’s going to be such a statement to our community what we can do when we put our hearts to it, our minds to it.”
“Genes and Your Health” was written and designed by more than 30 IU faculty, staff, students and alumni in association with the Indiana State Museum over six months. It debuted at the Indiana State Museum in December 2004 and was developed as part of the university’s celebration of the life sciences in January 2005. During its tour of Indiana, the exhibit was displayed at Science Central for three months in 2006.
About 20 children sat on the floor around a lectern as McRobbie spoke, waiting to get their hands on the illuminated exhibit behind a huge sheet of clear plastic.
In simple terms, McRobbie described what genes are to the children and told the story of IU alum James Watson, who helped discover the structure of DNA and won a Nobel Prize.
“Hopefully, what this will show you is if you come to IU and you study the sciences, … you too have the opportunity to grow up and win the Nobel Prize,” McRobbie said.
ksoderlund@jg.net
