A Vanguard Visit to The Museum of Science and Industry!

Markos’s Health class and the Heldmann/Felfle Science class ventured over to the MSI on Wednesday, November 25th, for a day of “educational fun”.

… Yeah, I said it. Really, though, the group had a blast going to the Museum; especially the brand new exhibit.

“You! (The Experience)” arrived at the MSI on October 8th, and it is a hit! Explaining how your self-care affects the way your body functions, the 15,000 square-foot exhibit explores personal health and well-being. The exhibit features cutting-edge technology never before seen in a museum setting, and hosts an incredible amount of visual references; for the young and old to gawk at, of course.

Chris Pehm gladly (and graphically) explained his very memorable experience.
“Don’t dissect pregnant women,” Chris remarked. “I saw a pregnant woman that was cut into slices, so I got to see her insides. She was dead, of course, and it was to show her anatomy, but it still was really gross,” Chris explained.

The pregnant woman was just one of many visual exhibits the museum showcases. Others included things such as an organ-stretched corpse or a series of fetuses in the gestation cycle (Pregnancy). Though the “You!” exhibit isn’t suited for the faint-of-heart, or those with weak stomachs, not all of the features are disturbing. As a matter of fact, a good number of them were very hands-on.

“Mindball was the BEST,” Mr. Heldmann said. Mindball was just one of the many activities that were available to students, all of which were mind-blowing. “Get in the Action” involved trying a few moves with a virtual basketball coach, while another activity allowed you to send your pulse to beat along with MSI's 13 foot “Giant Heart”. Yet another feature actually aged your face and voice by 30 years! The new favorite, though, was definitely Mindball. It’s an interesting game in which the more relaxed player wins, and it seems like a great way of seeing who’s stressed.

Right from the get-go, nothing but good words were spoken about the “You! (The Experience)” exhibit, and it’s easy to imagine why. Being less of a typical museum exhibit and more like an amusement park attraction, students were glad to have been part of the trip. This totally sounds like an advertisement, but this is all for your benefit. Oh, and if you’re wondering, yes, the exhibit is permanent, so there’s no rush, but it's STILL strongly suggested that you check it out.



Kevin Bazarek, Reporter
image courtesy of http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/you/for-teachers/