Journey Through the Human Brain

Did you ever want to get inside someone’s head? Now you can. A new interactive exhibit called Journey Through the Human Brain takes visitors on a tour of the brain and its different parts and functions, including what it is that makes us all human. The permanent exhibit at the South Florida Science Museum and Aquarium in West Palm Beach gives the public a better understanding of brain health, brain medicine and brain disorders.

“The exhibit is completely unique in its use of interactive and immersive features,” said Randy Blakely, Ph.D., executive director of the FAU Brain Institute, professor of biomedical science in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and part of the brain power behind the creative exhibit. “It is the most high-tech thing going. What we have here exceeds some of the best brain exhibits in the world.”

Blakely was recruited by Kate Arrizza, museum CEO, to serve as science advisor to the museum. Nicole Baganz, Ph.D., director of community engagement and programming at the institute; Esteban Parchuc, science center creative director; and Joseph Moore, chief exhibit consultant, rounded out the design team. Over the past three years, the two worked together to map out the blueprint for what has become a permanent high-touch and high-tech exhibit of the museum. The $2.5 million exhibit was made possible by the Quantum Foundation and Stiles-Nicholson Foundation, and with support from other foundations and private gifts.

The goal behind Journey Through the Human Brain was to avoid overwhelming its audience. It achieves this through carefully curated display signage written in clear and understandable language, colorful visuals, touchable models, and interactive features that explain some of brain science’s most complex processes and characteristics. This exhibit is designed to engage a wide age range of people curious about how the brain works, as well as to entice the next generation of scientists into the field of neuroscience.

“This exhibit demonstrates a significant and successful long-term effort between researchers and museum curators, all who are passionate about community education,” Blakely said. “What results is a compelling, fun and technically sophisticated exhibit. While the exhibit borrows some of its appeal from the world of ‘edutainment,’ at its core this is a science exhibit that successfully shows that the brain is the most complicated piece of matter in the universe – it is what makes us human.”