Griffin Museum of Science & Industry - Thalía Estrada, Week 1

 

              Griffin Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago, IL.

Week 1 with Thalía Estrada

        Through my internship this week at the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry, not only have I learned a whole lot of what the museum has to offer, but I have also grown more confident navigating the subway through the city (which is a necessary skill if I do say so myself). However, all jokes aside, on my first day (Monday, July 8th), I got there by car and met the museum's Talent Partner, Gina Ciametti, who took me up to the museum's offices.

        When greeted by Gina, she handed me a goodie bag with merchandise (a cute plushie too!) and gave me an introduction to the whole team (via screen). There, I realized, truly, how teamwork plays a significant role in professional work life. The museum works collaboratively with one another. Different departments are dispersed throughout four different massive winged hallways, color-coded by department; I was in the education team. 

        After meeting with Gina, I was introduced to the museum's community engagement manager, Dulce Enriquez, who not only is very nice and hardworking but has also been leading me into what the next four weeks of my internship will look like.

         Dulce Enriquez manages and gets to work on impressive events at GMSI. From engineering and Science Works, all the way to a program called “Girls in STEM.” On Friday, week 1, Dulce spoke to me and asked for my help/input in making the STEM kits more engaging for younger female-identifying audiences. These STEM kits include items for girls to bring into fruition their ideas in prototypes for everyday scientific problems. As a kid who took advantage of STEM clubs in Elementary and middle school, knowing how to keep children interested in STEM can be tricky, especially also whilst trying to make them appeal to different communities (mainly the Latinx community). This plan has barely begun, but I’m excited to work more on it!

(As you can tell by the picture above, the STEM kits are both in Spanish and Language. This helps steer the attention of the Latinx/Hispanic community towards the museum and event)

        Back to Monday (my first day), Dulce also introduced me to one of the museums VP’s, Dr. Jessica Chavez (she has the cutest pink couch in her office!) my first day as well. Later on, after learning how to set up my account on a Dell laptop, I was able to start with the main project Dulce gave me; branching out to the Latinx and Hispanic community here at the GMSI, and figuring out how this specific demographic is reacting toward the museum's Science Works Event! As of now, I have researched surveys from the years 2023 and 2022 with ages, zip codes, and typed responses. These surveys will provide analytical data that can help pinpoint how certain visitors feel about the Science Works event, but can also be used as a tool of comparison to the Latinx and Hispanic demographic. Since this is a project barely in the making, not a lot can be shown through pictures now, but it is very interesting to see how even migration from Latin America, which is still increasing presently, can make an impact. Using what I learned through our pitching campaign project during our Washington D.C. trip, I have researched and dived in deep to figure out geographical barriers (such as location, transportation, or language barriers—that being Spanish and English handbooks/exhibition translation) deter the Hispanic and Latinx communities away from the museum. Overall, knowing this information and assessing it helps bring Hispanic and Latinx representation to the museum. Accommodating the needs of Hispanic and Latino visitors also helps guide their attention to the Science Works Event with Dulce! This opens more opportunities for our Latino and Hispanic communities, giving the youth more knowledge in STEM careers. 

A quick change in topic: through this, I have also improved my Microsoft skills; I have gotten better at using Excel sheets, learning how to communicate through Microsoft Teams, and the process of gathering information through Microsoft 365. 

           Adding on to Friday (July 12th), using my interests and career path, Dulce recommended I explored the following exhibitions: Notes By Neurons—which opened in May—and The Blue Paradox. 

          (I got to see mice & baby chicks while waiting for the first exhibition)

        As I am approaching undergraduate school at Northwestern University, and leaning towards a Neuroscience major, Notes by Neurons sparked my interest highly. For my college essay my senior year of high school, I wrote about Professor Nina Kraus at Northwestern. Her research of the brain through the implementation of the arts (such as music and learning languages) allowing a better understanding of humans, is something completely infatuating to me. Coincidentally, I was able to recognize Northwestern’s Professor, Nina Kraus’s name on the side of the exhibit wall. 

                      (I also got to see some of the new English/Spanish translations that the museum has implemented for guests.)

         I loved how interactive this 360-like exhibit was, with "neurons" being projected and floating around, changing at the beat of the music guests could choose. It was a sentimental experience knowing how a baby lullaby, Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1 at graduation, or Amazing Grace being softly played at a funeral, can shape our feelings towards the world...all of which start in the brain. 

        (There is even heart monitors displaying how your heart is impacted by the frequency, pitch, and type of music you listen to.)

        Moving along to the second exhibition, The Blue Paradox opened my eyes to how incredibly damaging microplastics are to the Earth’s ecosystem. 

        (A beautiful presentation of the earth's marine life at the beginning of the exhibit was given, and the whole room felt like an aquarium. )

        (Blue-lit screens that resembled water, surrounded all of us with swimming jellyfish). 

(Towards the end of the exhibit, I was shocked just to find out how much microplastic I contribute to the world, even after believing my plastic habits were not as bad as others…)

        This exhibit makes an individual rethink their choices, and it would be nice if more of this could be as accessible to everyone. It also reminded me of the Molina gallery, with its interactive screens! As I walked around, I noticed the QR codes on the wall and began to think of how some of these already cool ideas could tie out with the project Dulce gave me to work on. 

        To wrap things up, I enjoyed my first week experience at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry! I love the environment and work that goes into creating innovative events like the ones I've been exposed to so far! I am looking forward to next week! Commuting one hour through the subway is 100% worth it!