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Teaching

Clary, Renee [1].

Paleo-Plant Blindness? Botanical Representation in Museum Fossil Displays.

The 15 Degree Laboratory (15degreelab.com) identified and researches the concept of Plant Blindness, which encapsulates how humans typically pay more attention to the animals in a landscape, with plants blending into the viewers’ (cognitive) background (Wandersee & Schlusser, 1999; Wandersee & Clary, 2006a, 2006b; Clary & Wandersee, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014). This research examined the extent of paleontological Plant Blindness within museums’ evolutionary fossil displays. Using case study methodology (Yin, 2013), museums with evolutionary progression displays (N = 4) were photographically documented and analyzed for the extent of paleobotanical inclusion. This investigation included a university museum (1000+ visitors annually), state museum (100,000+ visitors annually), large city museum (1-million + visitors annually) and national museum (7-million+ visitors annually).
With minimal signage, analysis of smaller museums proceeded via allocated space examination of fossil plants. The university museum relegated plant fossils to 4.89% of traditional evolutionary progression display. A newer exhibit that featured the state’s geologic timeline fared better, with 23.1 % plant fossils displayed. The state museum analysis revealed 5.58% plant fossils in evolutionary displays. Neither university nor state museum interpreted fossil plants for effective visitor botanical literacy, with the exception of the newer university timeline exhibit.
The larger city and national museums were analyzed via signage, and naturalistic lived learning experiences. While the large city museum included 12.6% plant fossils within its entrance display, more systematic inclusion was observed through 9 interpreted displays (e.g., emergence of first plants, coal forests, Pangaea’s climates). The national museum’s evolutionary fossil display is undergoing renovation, and analysis represents a transitory exhibit. With some fossils included in an ocean exhibit, paleobotany is represented by algae. Within the dinosaur exhibit hall, fossil plants within Hell Creek’s environment constitute 25% of a floor display, and 20% of a wall mural. Fossil plants are also included in the insects/plants exhibit, and local fossil displays.
This case study indicates that some smaller museums allocate insufficient space to fossil plants, with minimal interpretation. However, newer fossil displays and larger museums’ exhibits include more fossil plants, for greater botanical awareness. Content analysis (Neuendorf, 2002) of signage revealed two stable themes: 1) paleobotany in fossil displays documents the important role of plants in the colonization/support of terrestrial environments, and in interpreting climate change in Earth’s geologic past; and 2) Plant Blindness also exists in evolutionary fossil displays as plants’ value is often described with respect to animals in the ecosystem.


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1 - Mississippi State University, Geosciences, P.O. Box 1705, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

Keywords:
Plant Blindness
informal education
Paleobotany.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 18, Teaching Section Papers Session I
Location: 101/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016
Time: 8:15 AM
Number: 18002
Abstract ID:395
Candidate for Awards:None


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