04466nam a22004935i 4500001001800000003000900018005001700027007001500044008004100059020003700100024003500137050000700172072001600179072002300195072001500218100008600233245011700319250001800436264006900454300006700523336002600590337002600616338003600642347002400678490005800702505070700760520199601467650002503463650003203488650004003520650002503560650003303585650003003618710003403648773002603682776003603708776003603744776003603780830006503816856004603881912001403927912001403941999001703955978-3-031-69429-5DE-He21320251030113117.0cr nn 008mamaa240930s2024    sz |    s    |||| 0|eng d  a97830316942959978-3-031-69429-57 a10.1007/978-3-031-69429-52doi 4aGN 7aJHM2bicssc 7aSOC0020002bisacsh 7aJHM2thema1 aSmith, Shelley L.eauthor.4aut4http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/aut98533410aConnecting with Our Ancestors: Human Evolution Museum Experiencesh[electronic resource] /cby Shelley L. Smith.  a1st ed. 2024. 1aCham :bSpringer Nature Switzerland :bImprint: Springer,c2024.  aXXXII, 528 p. 25 illus., 23 illus. in color.bonline resource.  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  atext filebPDF2rda1 aInterdisciplinary Evolution Research,x2199-3076 ;v90 aPart I: Museum Exhibits -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- Chapter 2: The Texas Museums -- Chapter 3: The National Museum of Natural History -- Chapter 4: The American Museum of Natural History -- Chapter 5: The Great Lakes Region: Chicago and Cleveland -- Chapter 6: The West Coast: California -- Chapter 7: In the Center: The Denver Museum of Nature and Science -- Chapter 8: The “Outgroup”: London’s Natural History Museum -- Part II: Interviews -- Chapter 9: Content and Change -- Chapter 10: Fantasy and Reality -- Chapter 11: Self-Assessment -- Chapter 12: Education and “Edutainment” -- Chapter 13: Religion -- Chapter 14: Politics -- Chapter 15: Race and History -- Chapter 16: Conclusion.  aThis book combines documentation and analysis of the contents of exhibits in 12 museums (Part 1) with interviews with experts involved in the creation of exhibits (Part 2) to explore variation in human evolution exhibits. To be successful, museum exhibits must make a personal connection with visitors, inspiring them to learn more. Human evolution exhibits thus need contemporary relevance. It is crucial to find ways to bind our deep past to our lives today. Presenting our story, and our collective history, some human evolution exhibits reach an audience of millions each year. An understanding of evolution is fundamental to modern biology, and a lack of knowledge of basic principles has practical consequences, including impairing reception of health messages. The goal of the volume is to stimulate discussion of how the presentation of evolution, and in particular human evolution, can be improved, contributing to scientific literacy and engagement with evolutionary science. To enhance relevance to a broader public, the author argues that incorporation of evolutionary medicine and clearer explanations of ancestry and human biological variation are needed. The surveyed museums include four in Texas, the author’s home state, seven additional renowned U.S. museums, and the Natural History Museum in London. Some of the 35 interviewees are prominent academic researchers; other contribute their expertise in design, art, and education. Topics discussed include exhibit content and changing exhibits, the ideal vs. reality in exhibit creation, self-assessments of exhibits, education and “edutainment,” and exhibit content intersections with religion, politics, and the history of representations of race / human biological variation. A bibliographic essay, appendices, and text boxes provide additional information for readers desiring more in-depth study. This volume is of interest to a wide range of readers in anthropology, museum studies, and science communication. . 0aAnthropology.960002 0aEvolution (Biology).964762 0aSciencexStudy and teaching.95995214aAnthropology.96000224aEvolutionary Biology.96616624aScience Education.9690952 aSpringerLink (Online service)0 tSpringer Nature eBook08iPrinted edition:z978303169428808iPrinted edition:z978303169430108iPrinted edition:z9783031694318 0aInterdisciplinary Evolution Research,x2199-3076 ;v998533540uhttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69429-5  aZDB-2-SBL  aZDB-2-SXB  c63870d63870