Mobile Science Museum

The Mobile Science Museum (MSM) is an outreach activity of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Science Learning Center at California State University, Long Beach. It is a traveling version of the on-campus Science Learning Center – a science museum on wheels that is able to bring science to the students of schools that may not otherwise have the opportunity to visit a science museum with interactive displays and exhibits. The MSM contains over forty individual exhibits including the very popular marine "touch tank," with its collection of animals found in the intertidal zone along California's coast. The exhibits cover science from Astronomy to Zoology.

The MSM's displays are designed to provoke questions and stimulate the visitor to make their own discoveries about the world of science. The "hands-on" experience of personal discovery tends to have a much more lasting effect on the visitor than simply presenting large amounts of science "facts." This interaction of the visitor with the exhibit provides the positive action-reaction response so necessary to the educational process. And have fun while you are learning!

The Mobile Science Museum is intended to bring a variety of scientific exhibits and activities to students, schools, and public venues, that might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit the campus Science Learning Center and explore in detail some of the wonders of science and beauty of nature.

The Details

• The MSM is a 27-foot converted recreational vehicle.
• Requires at least one conventional 110-volt outlets with grounded plugs.
• We have 50 foot extension cords, so the van needs to within 50 feet of the outlets.
• Needs an area large enough to maneuver in and the area should be as level as possible.
• Requires at least six exhibit tables that need to be setup outside the van. So plan on the museum covering an area roughly 40 feet by 20 feet.

The Exhibits

• Require about one hour for us to setup and take down.
• Require usually about four persons accompany the van to set things up and to make sure the exhibits work properly.
• Will usually stay open for about three to four hours due to the nature of some of the displays (e.g. live organisms, which we are committed to keeping alive).
• Are almost entirely hands-on and we encourage people to try things for themselves.
• We can handle up to about thirty visitors per half hour. We have found that number allows everyone time to see all of the displays with the least amount of congestion.
• We would appreciate it if the visiting teachers would send us a quick note with their impressions of the van visit including what they liked, did not like and what can be improved on the museum.