Introduction
The mediation of expert activity with public curiosity touches on most fields of human endeavor and on the ethics of accountability, security and scrutiny. We have coupled this program with the institution’s desire to educate the public about its activities, providing an opportunity for children and adults to learn directly from the experts themselves.

Program
The Center creates an axis between the expert and the public, where the activities of a lab can simultaneously be mingled with the curiosity of the public. The proposed site is an elevated railway, such as exist in Paris, New York and many other cities. The site is planted with a cross-section of natural environments. The public may bring in objects - from a leaf of a tree to a bug - which are then given to expertise to appraise.

Click on above images for technology examples

Technology
Technology can be used as a bridge between experts and amateur observers. The computer no longer tethers the user to a monitor and keyboard, but frees us in physical space, so that by picking a plant’s leaf and placing it on a table, the machine can orient its information from the expert at the user’s line of enquiry. Even a humble leaf can be a starting point for a conversation between the public and the expert.

Orientation
The orientation room is a space where the public can learn about the research activities of the Center and how the public can sample this expertise. A cylindrical space combines panoramic camera outputs into continuos stop-motion movies that the public can access at different dates and times. This real-time information database starts with the opening of the Center, allowing the public to access all its past and present activities.

Nature Trail
The elevated railway is converted into a nature trail, the public can ride on platforms and collect samples of nature as they go. Once back at the Center, they can use the samples as their admission to the building.

Cafe
The cafe sells products each of which is chosen to reflect the Center’s thinking, as the product moves from counter to table it contains its own movie/game/society, which is displayed on the table. The public can watch the movie, blog and comment on the product or drink the cup of coffee!

Mud room
The mud room is a simple space to prepare or box samples, whether animal, mineral or vegetable. These are then taken to the Table. If people have not provided a sample of their own, which is the price of admission to the Center, then they can choose one of the samples already prepared.

Table
The table is a large intelligent system that scans and attempts to recognize the samples brought into the Center. Using a simple multiple-choice format, the table interacts creatively with the user. By asking the public to notice the detail of what they have, their attention becomes focused on the various issues surrounding their choice samples.

Comment wall
The scans from the table are then projected onto the surrounding Comment Wall. The public can go up to the scan on the wall and write or draw next to it. This acts as a public ‘repository’ of information on the environment.

Lab
On the cross axis to the public’s activities, the lab’s activities can be seen below the public. The comment wall here acts by discovering the actions of the public, and screening for them clips of the lab’s activities.

Studio
In the studio the public can interact directly with an expert. More formal than other areas of the Center, it’s a place where people can ask questions directly to live experts.

Pods
The pods are discussion spaces with no fixed agenda. They can be used by the Lab, school classes, temporary drawing or extension spaces.

Table
This program can serve as a paradigm for nature discovery centers, but the concept can also be applied to museums, research institutes, universities or any center of advanced learning where public interest and expert knowledge can combine.

All the technologies presented here can be built by Kinecity Llc.