November 2023 Meeting

• Poll of who is in the room: 
• 
• Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13yUrIPsfbz7u-ou5KZwY85jsnP8Qw0S5StyHm8-OU1A/edit?usp=sharing 
• Overview of Museum of Natural History
  • Where is it? What is it?
    • It used to be located in the Ruthven Building
      • The building was built in 1928 
      • Housed 4 different museums Anthropology, Zoology, Paleontology and Natural History
      • Closed in 2017
    • New site
      • Biological Sciences Building built in 2015
      • Exhibits were taken down and reassembled in the BSB
        • One of the only and first pair Mastodon exhibit of a male and a female Mastodon
        • Prehistoric whales
        • Opened first half of exhibits in April 2019
        • Second half in November 2019
  • Wayfinding
    • First three floors are stacked over each other the top two floors are on the other side of the building
    • You get to see real scientists working
  • What has changed since moving from Ruthven?
    • Ruthven was an encyclopedic representation of natural history and other sciences
    • The BSB experience tells a story
  • Galleries
    • Exhibits: https://lsa.umich.edu/ummnh/visitors/exhibits.html 
    • People and the planet
    • Measuring Time and Space
    • Dynamic Planet
    • Prehistoric Whales
    • Evolution: Life Through Time
    • Exploring Michigan
    • Under the Microscope
  • Palmer Parking Structure
    • Accessible to wheelchairs
    • Elevators to access space
    • Better accessible drop off needs
    • They have accessible parking and drop off however they are still working on how to accommodate people better.
  • Features missing in Ruthven they wanted to make sure was included
    • Lactation room
    • Quiet space for people with sensory issues
      • Previously directed people to the league for this concern which is a few blocks away.
    • Have a couple wheelchairs to check out
      • They use a sign-out sheet 
    • Stools for resting 
      • Light. Can be used for visits.
    • Sensory backpacks
      • Fidgets, sunglasses, headphones, social story for what to expect (elevators, expectations about before getting to the museum).
  • Exhibit design
    • Attention to wheelchair accessibility
      • 
      • Red circles show the radius the ADA stipulates for wheelchair accessibility
        • Diorama in a cave-like structure to look at a bear from multiple perspectives is able to accommodate wheelchair access as well.
    • Font size and hierarchy of information
      • Considers ADA standards for font sizes
  • Additions to exhibits
    • Please touch exhibits that the public can touch (green)
      • T-rex skull
      • So people can feel differences between skulls or take photos with items
    • Please do not touch exhibits (red)
    • Videos with closed captioning
    • Testimonial: “Not only was the place entirely wheelchair accessible but there were so so so many *please touch* displays that he could feel that he had a blast and really didn't feel like he was missing out without his sight.”
  • Virtual Exhibit: Whale Evolution
    • Partnership with Saganworks
    • https://lsa.umich.edu/ummnh/visitors/exhibits/whale-evolution.html 
      • They chose this exhibit because it is spread out throughout the museum
  • Planetarium and dome theater
    • Added 4 spaces for wheelchairs
    • Accessible seats- able to be opened on the side allowing for people to slide into chairs
    • Microphones
    • Listening devices to connect to hearing aid
    • Sound systems with microphones in educational and programming spaces
    • Object cameras to highlight objects more closely
      • Often also walk around with items
    • Voice amplifiers for gallery spaces without microphones and for tours
    • Hands on discovery stations
      • Allows people to touch things, taller for smaller children, often includes a task or game.
  • Lessons learned
    • Automatic door openers on galleries with doors were needed to be installed
      • Some galleries must live in a controlled environment and need doors.
      • Now this item is accomplished and door openers are installed
    • Easy access to the museum 
      • Long walking distances
      • Washtenaw entrance for accessibility
        • Originally for buses but now open to public
        • Working to make the curb sloped 
        • Callbox with signage for anyone who needs that access for wheelchair or stroller
          • Security office staff nearby to help accommodate
      • Wayfinding to the museum
        • Better signage
        • Photocopies of quickly made versions of these were put up until permanent fixtures were added.
        • Signage to most direct way to the museum
        • Larger signs
• Discussions
• For those that have visited the Museum of Natural History, did you notice anything that you appreciated or we could improve upon?
• Do you still take advantage of virtual or online opportunities at museums? 
  • What have you seen at other museums that they have done well?  
    • Virtual tours
      • UMMA has done this
      • Virtual photo walks
      • More interactive allowing for questions and interaction
        • Allows for taking pictures and requests
      • https://petapixel.com/2012/03/05/virtual-photo-walks-make-photography-accessible-to-people-with-disabilities/ 
      • https://chazen.wisc.edu/a-virtual-docents-tour-with-heidi-knapp/ 
      • https://www.doublerobotics.com/ 
        • "Virtual Docent Tour"
      • https://www.google.com/search?q=%22virtual+docent+tour%22
      • Example of grant funded  project for K-12 Schools to be connected with the Korean ceramics selection at the art museum to make a virtual live interactive docent tour.
  • Appreciation and concern notes:
    • Portable stools for people of various sizes, weights, heights
      • Can also be a safety concern for people with balance issues or if someone is bumped or pushed
    • Appreciate acknowledging the ways in which the building was not made accessible 
    • Slope of curb for accessible entrance could be a concern and should be thought about when designing it.
  • Exploring developing virtual option for the natural history museum
  • Quick email responses
  • The pumas were moved

• [email protected]
• [email protected] 

• First hybrid celebration
  • 40 online 40 in person
  • Working on adding video stream to website
• Feedback form to be sent out at a later date
  • Soliciting nominations from more diverse pool
    • Alumni association
  • Tips for nominators to advocated better for their nominees
  • New committee members
  • How we announce the winners
    • Send to nominee and nominator
  • Feedback about promoting the ceremony
  • Parking
  • Seating
  • Virtual issues
    • Issues joining the meeting through sessions because of extra logins. 
    • Issues with getting into the meeting if you didn’t RSVP in advance
    • Clear path to communicate tech challenges to the event
      • Issues getting in for people other than students
      • Having chat open can be a problem for people using screen readers
      • Share email of the tech person for during the event for issues getting in
      • Features to allow for virtual engagement
      • Hard to make out what was happening for virtual attendees. 
        • Live captioning was too slow
          • Unfortunately live captioning is never in sync with event
        • Hard to follow what was happening
      • We will include captions and ASL when the video is sent out
      • Accessible copy to the script
      • Multiple pathways for asking for help during live streamed event for virtual participants
      • Send out feedback request to zoom attendees
    • Todd Lindborg Austin
      • Further conversation with tech committee
      • How to lessen impact of live captioning delay
      • Hard to allow for tackling tech issues directly through the tech team may be a better suited task for members of the organizing group.
      • The tech team did great! 
  • Planning debrief with team

When an Academic’s Brain Becomes Her Worst Enemy: A True Story -- Book Launch for "Can You Hear the Music? My Journey Through Madness"

• Memoir release of Ann Jeffers. Link to pre-order the book is on sessions or you can purchase at the event using credit card
• Hosted by The Civil and Environmental Engineering DEI Committee
• Hybrid Disability Event on 11/30 from 6:30-7:30 (hybrid) and 6:30-8:30 (in person reception) 
• For more information and to RSVP visit: https://sessions.studentlife.umich.edu/track/event/14982