Orlando Science Center

When the Orlando Science Center wanted to build a new exhibit about hydrogen energy, they turned to IDEAS for help. The intention was to educate the public about the potential and realities an economy and society based on hydrogen would provide, and also to define and establish a new business model for the science center industry – the event.

IDEAS began with its signature StoryJam™ experience, in which the Orlando Science Center staff, IDEAS personnel, subject matter experts and stakeholders met for two days to put their collected resources to work. Everyone in attendance learned about hydrogen, imagined what such a world would be like, and generated the wellspring from which the hydrogen story could emerge. IDEAS took that knowledge and primordial soup of information and created both a core story that underlies the event, and a design and execution plan that meets the needs of the new standard for science centers.

Detailed audience analysis and guest pathway models were constructed, keeping in mind the learning objectives and marketing drivers so as not only to generate excitement and interest in hydrogen, but also to expose visitors to the hard facts about this new energy system. IDEAS realized the key to the success of the event is not only buzz and word of mouth bona fides, but self-evident proof of practical implementation of current technologies. Therefore, the event delivers not only the limited engagement anticipation and social stimulation that fosters public debate and momentum, but also demonstrates the relevant applications hydrogen energy has for people’s daily lives and the health of the planet.

All of this is housed within a story context that exposes visitors to learning in a 21st century dynamic using the vernacular of the times. Web-based social networking and trade-show quality installations bring a brand new level of engagement for science centers to the Orlando community. And going forward, the plan is to send the event on the road to other science centers and museums around the country, again setting a new precedent in the industry and teaching the world about hydrogen.

In 2010 IDEAS completed an 8 week refurbishment of the Hydropolis Exhibit. IDEAS was asked by the staff of OSC to re-examine the guest experience at the H2NOW exhibit sponsored by Progress Energy.  IDEAS took a fresh look at the year old exhibit and rather than just give it a tune up they decided to supercharge the exhibit and exceed the expectations of OSC. One new feature is a MYSQL database and PHP server that tracks the progress of the Hydrocell as the guest takes it from kiosk to kiosk. The response time and accuracy of the RFID chip has dramatically improved. Hydropolis is “a forward-looking hydrogen powered city of the future” and it is the centerpiece for H2NOW as first stage in building the larger event experience.

The result is a next-generation exhibit with dramatically improved speed and reliability. As part of the user experience, guests pick up an RFID embedded acrylic “Hydrocell” which they take to one of six interactive kiosks where they earn Hydrogen Energy Units (HEUs) which can then be used to power activities at Hydropolis, a miniature city that runs on hydrogen energy by using six additional interactive kiosks located around the model .