Exhibit Development and Evaluation with the Indianapolis Zoo
I have been working with the Indianapolis Zoo as the Clowes Fellow for 2015-2016 since August 2015. My work has focused on evaluation of the Zoo's exhibits and programs, particularly for the bottlenose dolphin presentation and exhibit space, and exhibit development for an upcoming exhibit about lionfish. My experiences have brought me through the evaluation process from start to finish, I have honed my research and communication skills, and I have learned so much about conservation efforts in zoos and aquariums.
Evaluation Planning
I researched, wrote, and implemented several different evaluations for the Indianapolis Zoo. I worked with a variety of tools and techniques, including surveys, interviews, and timing and tracking tools. Each instrument was carefully designed to meet the needs of the project, and I used pilot testing to make sure that I was getting the best data possible. For example, I designed a sorting activity for an evaluation asking about visitors' understanding of watersheds to help visitors relax and answer honestly, instead of feeling like they were being tested.
Data Collection and Analysis
I collected data for a number of different evaluation projects – I often worked directly with visitors, and got a lot of insight into the visitor experience. I collected nearly one hundred interviews with Zoo visitors for an evaluation project looking at what visitors wanted to know about dolphins. We expected that visitors would be most interested in the stories of our individual dolphins, but we found that the majority of visitors were interested in dolphin communication and intelligence, which will inform the development of new exhibit elements in the underwater viewing area to create a more meaningful visitor experience.
I also used my writing skills to translate this data into reports that effectively and efficiently communicated our findings for both internal and external stakeholders. For all the evaluations, I used Microsoft Excel to determine basic statistic results for quantitative data, and to code qualitatitve responses. I also experimented with other forms of data analysis, such as the heat map I created for a timing and tracking evaluation in the dolphin underwater viewing area. Using a basic graphics program, I overlaid visitor paths through the space to immediately identify which parts of the space were most popular with visitors.
Research and Label Writing
One of my biggest projects this spring has been my work on an upcoming exhibit on lionfish. Before starting this project, I knew very little about lionfish and their status as a dangerous invasive species in the Atlantic Ocean. I did extensive research on invasive lionfish and their effect on reef communities and other local species. Working with the needs of the Zoo’s audience, which includes many families with young children, I created exhibit labels that highlight the lionfish’s beautiful appearance and unique physical adaptations, as well as the role visitors can play in limiting the spread of invasive species.
