Students from the local John Adams Middle school damaged the Shark and Jellyfish displays during a recent visit to the Albuquerque Aquarium.
In this instance 2 thoughts immediately come to mind:
http://www.koat.com/news/11818765/detail.html#
In this instance 2 thoughts immediately come to mind:
- Why don't aquariums place sacrificial windows in-front of the acrylic aquarium viewing panes. This would provide a reasonably priced prevention as the sacrificial pane could be more easily replaced. If they used plate glass, the added benefit is that it's harder to scratch than simple acrylic. I understand that this may not be entirely practical in the case of large monolithic view panes. But honestly, would a 1 inch glass panel 8 feet tall be that big a visual obstruction?
- The Georgia Aquarium probably got things right creating a secondary "learning loop" aquarium that was dedicated to education and school groups.
http://www.koat.com/news/11818765/detail.html#
7 comments:
A glass panel such as you describe would ruin the visual effect of the large acrylic panel.
A scratch in an acrylic panel can be buffed out; a scratch in a glass panel is permanent. Buffing out most scratches is less trouble than replacing sacrificial panels from time to time. Most scratches are comparatively minor (names or curse words) and are repaired for aesthetic reasons.
As for a learning loop; it isn't only kids who vandalize and you would be amazed at how far vandals would go. Kids must be closely shaperoned and beyond that your exhibits should always be designed to minimize vandalism potential.
I should have posted this with the original blog. Basically, this incident reminded me especially of a piece I'd seen online a few years earlier: http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Lawler_Aquarium_Ideas.html
Basically describing the use of tempered glass protective panes where ever possible.
If it isn't already obvious, I'm by no means a public aquarium curator. Just a hobbyist with a passionate interest in exhibit design.
Mr. Albrecht,
I've used glass panels in such applications so the concept is valid.
However, I've been to their aquarium and in the Albuquerque's case, it probably would have been cost prohibitive and, in the case of the shark tank, would have ruined the look of the acrylic pane.
oz,
I understand where you're coming from in terms of the massive acrylic panels and glass panes ruining the effect.
In your experience are there any infrastructure changes that can help prevent or minimize this risk. While I appreciate the need for supervision. Have you seen any traffic control devices such as railings, ledges, etc. That would help minimize the potential of scratches?
Also, how effective are docents stationed near a tank at preventing this type of issue?
All of the strategies you have suggested help reduce the level of incidents. However they all have their limits.
A docent’s primary job is to serve as a guide and presenter, not to watch for vandals. If you visit the large acrylic panel in front of the big tank at Albuquerque for example, when there are hordes of school kids and it is very hectic, you can see what I mean.
In terms of railings or other devices to hold people back from the large acrylic panels, again, it is a balance. Many of those panels are designed to make the viewer feel as if they are immersed in the tank. Some of these panels run from floor to ceiling to achieve this effect. Adding a railing or other restraint takes away from that effect. Overall most aquariums will likely say that the effect is probably worth the inconvenience.
Again, kids aren’t the only vandals and some of these people go to great lengths. I had a backlit graphics panel with regular slot head screws that were constantly being removed. We switched to Phillips head, same results. We then switched to a variety of star –shaped patterns and hex head patterns that aren’t normally found on your Swiss army knife and they kept disappearing.
Thank you so much for the comments. Do you have any idea why that particular panel was targeted? Were the vandals targeting panels in general or that panel specifically? (I'm assuming the aquarium had multiple similar panels throughout the facility).
Other than the fact it was a high visibility panel, I doubt anyone other than the vandal knows why.
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