# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A PhD candidate in the history of science at Rice University, Joel A. Bartsch has served as the president and CEO of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) since 2004. Earlier in his career, as a curator of the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals at HMNS, Joel Bartsch was responsible for creating award-winning exhibits.

When designing a museum exhibit, it's useful to adhere to certain standards that may increase its effectiveness. For starters, it's important to know for whom the exhibit is intended, as that will help tailor it to the specific needs and expectations of that audience.

It's also important to make sure the exhibit allows visitors to make their way through the area effortlessly. An easy-to-follow flow of traffic makes the exhibit interesting and may contribute to visitors' overall satisfaction with the museum.

Moreover, a good exhibit design should, where possible and appropriate, leverage technology to keep visitors engaged, especially if the exhibit is meant to appeal to young audiences.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A PhD candidate in the history of science at Rice University, Joel A. Bartsch has served as the president and CEO of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) since 2004. Earlier in his career, as...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The president and CEO of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS), Joel A. Bartsch has been working as a museum executive for more than two decades. Since joining HMNS in 2004, Joel Bartsch has doubled the annual ticketed attendance of the museum, due in part to his focus on the creation of engaging museum experiences.

When it comes to attracting visitors, museums are increasingly reliant on guest experience, which depends heavily on audience engagement, an approach to marketing and museum design that focuses on how institutions interact with and connect to their target audiences. Such interactions create a positive visitor experience and ensure guests come back and tell their friends about their trip.

This approach is starkly different from the former museum strategy of letting guests calmly walk around and view exhibits. Rather than this old strategy, museums are incorporating scavenger hunts and hosting exhibit-related events to draw attention to their new operations. Doing so helps museums appeal to visitors personally. Deeper, more powerful experiences help guests remember the museum and its various offerings.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Creating Memorable Museum Experiences for Visitors

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The president and CEO of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS), Joel A. Bartsch has been working as a museum executive for more...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Texas native Joel A. Bartsch began his career as curatorial assistant and assistant to the director at the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum. Since then, he has held such titles as curator of earth sciences at the Lyman House Memorial Museum and curator of earth sciences at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS). Joel Bartsch is the current president and CEO of HMNS, where he is responsible for creating engaging education programs.

According to the American Alliance of Museums, museums in the United States play an essential role in teaching state, local, and core curriculum. In a single year, they offer over 18 million instructional hours and spend more than $2 billion on education.

Museums are such an important part of the education system in the US because they help students bridge the gap between what they learn in the classroom and what they experience in the real world. Many exhibits and educational programs at museums offer hands-on learning opportunities, which improves how students understand classroom material.

At the same time, museum educational programs grant students the skills they need as they develop emotionally, socially, and academically. This is because many museums encourage the use of a student's skills when engaging in an educational program or exhibit.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Important Role of Museums in Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Texas native Joel A. Bartsch began his career as curatorial assistant and assistant to the director at the Colorado School of Mines...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Experienced museum executive Joel A. Bartsch leads the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) in Texas as president and CEO. Since accepting this role in 2004, he has grown museum membership and nearly doubled annual ticketed attendance. Joel Bartsch accomplished this in part due to his commitment to creating immersive museum exhibits and highly interactive education centers. Many museums are boosting their immersive exhibits by adopting technology such as augmented reality (AR).

In recent years, AR technology has seen a dramatic growth in application, from the gaming world to museums. It's seen in many museums around the globe, including the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and National Museum of Singapore. Use of AR technology in museums helps create more immersive and interactive exhibits for guests.

Rather than adhering strictly to the traditional method of walking and looking around, AR technology lets visitors view exhibits from varying angles or learn about additional information related to displays. This allows scenes to come to life, thus helping guests make new connections with what they are seeing and experiencing. It also grants museums the opportunity to layer relevant augmentations to present richer stories and perspectives to visitors.

Part of why AR technology is becoming so widely adopted by museums is the fact that it's easier to incorporate than virtual reality (VR) technology. AR can function from most tablets and smartphones that visitors already have, so museums can refresh their exhibits without spending too much on their projects.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
AR Technology - Bringing New Life to Museums

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Experienced museum executive Joel A. Bartsch leads the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) in Texas as president and CEO. Since accepting this role in 2004, he has grown museum membership and...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Broad Overview of Natural History Museums

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A natural history museum is a science museum consisting of various natural history collections, often featuring archives of animal, plant, and fungi records, along with other geological and…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As public libraries, museums play a critical role in preserving society. They preserve specimens, educate the public, and conduct research. However, the survival of museums largely depends on…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Established in 1909, the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) is home to diverse exhibits that highlight the marvels of the natural world and beyond. With more than two million visitors each year, the museum ranks just below the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco and New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art and American Museum of Natural History as the best-attended non-Smithsonian museum in the country.

Visitors to HMNS can experience the Cockrell Butterfly Center, a lush, tropical rainforest habitat enclosed in a glass cone. The center features thousands of butterflies, including many emerging from their chrysalises, highlighting important aspects of species' life cycles and habits. The center also houses an impressive collection of exotic insects worldwide.

Next, visitors might check out the 10,000-square-foot Hall of Ancient Egypt, which showcases many artifacts, including mummies, ancient tomb furniture, and intricate amulets. Visitors can immerse themselves in the ancient Egyptians' mythology, religion, and daily life while marveling at well-preserved artifacts that provide invaluable insights into this era.

In the Wiess Energy Hall, visitors can explore a state-of-the-art exhibit offering an in-depth journey into the world of energy, its sources, consumption, and prospects. From traditional fossil fuels to renewable energy solutions, the hall provides a comprehensive understanding of the global energy landscape through interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and captivating visualizations.

The Morian Hall of Paleontology invites visitors on a "prehistoric safari" through an extensive collection of ancient fossils and prehistoric specimens. The collection includes dinosaur skeletons like the awe-inspiring Tyrannosaurus rex and predators captured in action as they hunt and chase. The hall's immersive displays and life-like reconstructions make it a favorite among visitors of all ages, igniting a sense of wonder about Earth's distant past.

At the Burke Baker Planetarium, immersive shows and experiences bring the cosmos to life. Drawing on state-of-the-art technology, the planetarium offers a journey through the stars, exploring distant galaxies and showcasing celestial phenomena like never before. Current and recent shows include an oceanic journey through the world's coral reefs, a trip into the fascinating world of black holes, and a laser light show set to the music of Pink Floyd.

The HMNS is also home to the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, where visitors can observe more than 700 mineral specimens, including an 850-pound amethyst. The hall's collection includes a crystallized gold cluster, numerous gem-cut minerals, and priceless jewelry in the Lester and Sue Smith Gem Vault. These pieces came from natural stones cut into faceted gems designed by renowned jewelry designers like Ernesto Moreira.

History enthusiasts and art collectors should not miss the Fabergé: Royal Gifts Collection, which showcases the unique craftsmanship of the House of Fabergé. These art pieces feature intricate and opulent gifts exchanged by European royalty in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The collection includes the renowned Fabergé eggs, each a masterpiece of luxury and creativity.

For residents and travelers passing through Houston, the Houston Museum of Natural Science offers a rich opportunity for education and entertainment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Treasures to Discover at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Established in 1909, the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) is home to diverse exhibits that highlight the marvels of the natural world and beyond. With more than two million visitors each...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The George Observatory, part of the Houston Museum of Natural Science network, provides groups and individuals with the opportunity to explore the galaxy through the use of both live camera feeds and a series of dome and deck telescopes. These resources, coupled with expert insight offered by the observatory's staff, make it easier than ever for visitors to locate and identify various celestial bodies. That said, some constellations, stars, and planets are easier to identify than others.

A few of the easiest constellations to observe in the nighttime sky include Ursa Major, Centaurus, and Cassiopeia. Ursa Major is an extension of arguably the most well known constellation, the "Big Dipper," named after its resemblance to a large spoon or ladle. This constellation makes up the lower section and "tail" of Ursa Major, which creates the image of a bear. Ursa Major is not only one of the largest constellations in the sky, but is visible year round, making it a great place to start a stargazing section. Furthermore, Ursa Major is a good reference point for Polaris, the North Star, which is located just above Ursa Major and forms the tail end of Ursa Minor, the "Little Dipper."

Polaris may be the most recognizable star in the sky, but there are several other interesting stars and star systems individuals can search for with a telescope. Sirius, for example, is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, resulting in the nickname "the Dog Star." The name Sirius, meanwhile, comes from the Greek word meaning "glowing." In reality, ancient Greek astronomers had not discovered an unusually bright star, but an entire binary star system made of Sirius A and a lesser white dwarf, Sirius B. Other points of interest include the Alpha Centauri system and Betelgeuse, an easily identifiable red supergiant located about 65 light years from earth.

When it comes to locating planets, individuals should know that five planets can be seen without the aid of a telescope: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. However, the naked eye cannot provide much information regarding these celestial bodies, and a person's ability to locate them can vary depending on location, time of year, and other factors. For example, Mercury travels extremely closely to the sun and therefore can be difficult to see around dusk and dawn. Even Pluto, the most distant planetoid in the Milky Way, can be observed with a standard 10-inch telescope, assuming a person is not stargazing in a location with heavy light pollution.

As mentioned, certain times of the year are better for stargazing than others. Broadly speaking, the autumn through spring months are considered stargazing season by most astronomers. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the nights leading up to and following the summer solstice, are sometimes so bright that stargazers can only see the brightest stars in the sky. Regardless of the time of year, stargazers should always follow the moon cycle. Full moons diminish the apparent light given off by stars and, similar to the summer solstice, obfuscate all but the brightest.

While these and other celestial bodies can be located on most typical stargazing sessions, there are countless annual and special events that novice stargazers should be aware of. These include meteor showers, eclipses, and rare events such as Halley's Comet, which will next pass Earth in 2061.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Easy-to-Identify Stars and Planets for Stargazing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The George Observatory, part of the Houston Museum of Natural Science network, provides groups and individuals with the opportunity to explore the galaxy through the use of both live camera feeds and...