too, are indeed a scientist’

Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s mobile Curiosity Cruiser brings education to all

BY CLARKE READER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

When the Denver Museum of Nature & Science was looking for di erent ways to engage with the community, sta kept receiving a similar request through its community outreach.

Feedback included statements such as: “We love going to the museum, but we will love it more if it comes to us” and “Can you imagine the museum showing up in our neighborhood like an ice cream truck, but with science?” e newly launched Curiosity Cruiser is the museum’s response to these requests. It is a kind of museum on wheels — one that brings activities and education to the inquisitive of all ages.

“ ese comments inspired us to explore ways to bring the museum experience directly to the neighborhoods, making it more accessible and convenient,” said Daniel Ville, the museum’s manager for community engagement.

“ ere was a massive amalgamation of ideas, prototyping, design, redesign and collaboration, with not just our internal sta and partners,” said Zack Garvin, community event specialist. “We did our homework with the community as well. So, the Curiosity Cruiser was designed for multigenerational groups involving adults and families.”

Currently the Cruiser has three di erent exhibits to o er visitors:

Wonder-osity, Flavorology and Spicy: Revealed. Experts travel with the vehicle to connect with visitors and run the exhibits.

Wonder-osity provides participants with the opportunity to solve a mystery centered on missing hikers, and encourages critical thinking and the power of keeping an open mind. Flavorology immerses participants in the world of the ve tastes — bitter, spicy, umami, sweet and sour — to teach about the di erences between taste and avor. And Spicy: Revealed delves into the science behind spicy foods and avors.

“ ere are so many basic things that people do all day, everyday with fascinating scienti c explanations,” Garvin said. “Our three themes explore how you interact with the world around you and understanding it through the scienti c method.”

Designed to be highly mobile and adaptable, the cruiser has already appeared at events such as Adams County Pride, the Juneteenth Music Festival and Denver PrideFest. In addition to large community events like these, it can also be brought to smaller-scale happenings like block parties and breweries.

“ e activities o ered on the Curiosity Cruiser are carefully crafted to ensure they appeal to a wide range of interests and abilities,” Ville said. “From fun personality quizzes to hands-on experiments, the experiences provided are designed to spark curiosity, foster learning and encourage active participation.”

Not only does the cruiser meet residents where they are, it also provides a critical service by demystifying scienti c concepts and o ering informal ways to learn about complicated concepts.

“Providing everyone with the understanding that you, too, are indeed a scientist — by very de nition — can help inspire and foster creativity,” Garvin said. “Everyone deserves to know just how brilliant they are. If we can come bring that to your neighborhood, all the better.”

It isn’t often that an institution like the DMNS can respond directly to community feedback and meet people exactly where they are, but the Curiosity Cruiser allows the museum to do both.

“ e Curiosity Cruiser’s content has been thoughtfully created to address community voices and provide welcoming spaces,” Ville said. “ e goal is to leave people with smiles on their faces, fostering a love for learning, and nurturing their curiosity for the world around them.”

Look for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Curiosity Cruiser at these summer events in Denver:

Family Nature Adventure Day at Blu Lake

July 15: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Mile High Flea Market

Aug. 6: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Huerta Urbana Farmers Market

Aug. 11: 2-6 p.m.

Cherry Creek Farmers Market

Aug. 19: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Find more information on the cruiser, including stops that are outside of Denver, at dmns.org.

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