The New York Hall of Science is the only major science center in the New York Metropolitan Area and serves a rapidly growing audience with both public and school-based programs and exhibits. Low income families and members of diverse minority communities are a major part of its target audience. The present award will support a major 3,000 square foot permanent exhibition on microbiology and microscopic organisms organized around themes of disease, its causes, prevention and cure, benign and beneficial microbial agents, and the nature of microscopic life. The exhibition will make extensive use of new microscopic display technologies for interactive exhibitry, with extensive formative evaluation and testing of principal exhibit components. Professional publications, an exhibit monograph and low cost videotapes will be used in national dissemination and a classroom kit based on the exhibit will be circulated widely throughout the New York Metropolitan area. This innovative project will form a significant part of the permanent exhibits of this newly reorganized science center. NSF support will constitute approximately 28% of the $ 1.3 million total project cost.
