The long history of optics in Rochester will be given a chance to shine in a forthcoming exhibit from the Rochester Museum and Science Center, “Optics Everywhere.”
The exhibit is in its early stages but got a big boost in the form of $264,000 in funding from the Science, Technology and Engineering of Lasers and Laser Applications Research, or STELLAR, regional innovation engine funded by the National Science Foundation. The exhibit would replace and refresh the optics gallery on the second floor of the museum, which has become a bit long in the tooth, said Calvin Uzelmeier, vice president of programs and exhibits at RMSC.
“This new gallery would move down onto the first floor, giving it a much more prominent location as you walk in,” Uzelmeier
said.
There aren't many details at the moment with the exhibit in such early stages, but Uzelmeier said it would build on the principles gleaned from a pair of successful exhibits at RMSC. Wonders of Water and Hodinöšyö:nih Continuity are recent permanent exhibits that, while very different, share some themes.
Wonders of Water is more kinesthetic, with climbing structures and a large shipwreck for kids to play on. Hodinöšyö:nih Continuity is more contemplative. Both, however, have good interactivity, tell a broader story and have social impact.
Developing the heart of the new optics exhibit, including and beyond the physics of the electromagnetic spectrum, is next for RMSC. The rest of the funding is being lined up, with the cost expected to make it to seven figures.
“We’ve already had some local industry reach out to us and say, ‘Hey, we saw the press release. How can we help with this?’” said Uzelmeier.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New RMSC exhibit aims to showcase Rochester optics legacy
