Port Discovery?s newest exhibit brings you up close and personal with the everyday inventions you never notice ? robots.
“Robots: The Interactive Exhibition,” opening today, will be on display at the children?s museum through September 8. The exhibit is based on the 2005 29th Century Fox animated feature, “Robots,” which depicts a world populated entirely by robotic creatures.
“Robots are almost like magical beings, like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz, it was magical when he came to life,” said Nora Moynihan, Director of Community Initiatives and Volunteer Services at Port Discovery. “Robotics brings magic to the subjects of science, technology, engineering and math. What?s neat about this exhibit for children is that it demystifies how robots work.”
Featuring more than 15 interactive displays, “Robots” offers a glimpse into the strange and exciting world of robotics. Visitors can build a robotic probe to explore an underwater environment or the surface of Mars in “Robots Explorers.” Explore the role of robots in the workplace in “Industrial Robots,” which demonstrates the many tasks that a robotic arm can accomplish. In “Future of Robots,” families can take a look into companies and machines that are shaping the future.
Michelle Winner, Vice President of Marketing at Port Discovery, said the exhibit has great appeal for adults as well. “We have the Movie Star Robots Hall of Fame, which has replicas of robots from movies like ?Star Wars,? ?Land of the Lost,? ?The Day The Earth Stood Still,? and ?Forbidden Planet.? I can especially see the dads getting into it, being into the workings and the mechanics.”
Port Discovery is also fostering a partnership with UMBC?s engineering department students, who are currently building functional robots that visitors will be allowed to operate when a new display is created in mid-June.
“In our country today, we need to be stimulating kids to be excited about things like math and science. Exhibits like this one are a great vehicle to do that,” Moynihan said. “It?s so much fun, but at the same time it?s also educational and applicable in their lives.”
IF YOU GO
Robots: The Interactive Experience
- WHERE: Port Discovery, 35 Market Place, Baltimore
- WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- TICKETS: $11.75
