continued from Vol.1
I will soon have the opportunity to get to the heart of what aquariums are and what their role is. Hence, I would like to look back at some of our past visits to overseas aquariums in a series of articles.
Purpose of inspection
I have visited several aquariums on the West Coast of the United States to learn more about the unique characteristics of local volunteerism in 2013 and 2016. This time in 2018, I visited some particularly topical aquariums in the eastern United States and considered the future roles aquariums.
Itinerary
I have gone to 8 aquariums as follows during the itinerary for ten nights and 12 days from Saturday, Sep. 22nd 2018 to Wednesday, Oct. 3rd.
- New York Aquarium (New York) Sunday Sep. 23rd
- National Geographic Encounter (New York) Sunday Sep. 23rd
- National Aquarium (Baltimore) Monday Sep. 24th
- John G. Shedd Aquarium (Chicago) Tuesday Sep. 25th
- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (Gatlinburg) Thursday Sep. 27th
- Tennessee Aquarium (Chattanooga) Friday Sep. 28th
- Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta) Saturday Sep. 29th
- New England Aquarium (Boston) Sunday Sep. 30th (Whale watch), Monday Oct. 1st (Inside the aquarium)
Introduction of each aquarium
5. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (Gatlinburg)
- Before my visit, I wondered why a small aquarium at the foot of a rural mountain would be among the “top 10 aquariums in the world”.
- Certainly, the creatures were not carefully introduced. There were no sea animals to highlight.
- But there was a history of aquarium x amusement park x museum, a playground for children, and the American people connection to the sea. These, along with the creatures, created a unique world and existed as a center for tourism in a rural town.
A unique world of connections between people and the sea in a small tourist destination
Collaboration of the aquarium’s biological exhibits and the museum-like exhibit of the shipwreck
6. Tennessee Aquarium (Chattanooga)
- With the great river in front of us as a gateway, it offered a spectacular journey from the local plateau to the sea.
- There were no tricky gimmicks or eye-catching marine animals, just a fish tank and interpretive panels that conveyed the beauty of nature and the conservation efforts that are being made to protect it.
- I was reminded that the abundance of the ocean leads to the abundance of rivers, and life below water leads to life on land.
A long journey from the mountains to the sea
The local dam lake exhibit is one of the largest freshwater tanks in the world
7. Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta)
- The exhibition was consistent with the strategy of leaving a strong impression on people’s minds through its popularity, scale, and power.
- The 23,800-tonne tank, the well-sophisticated dolphin and sea lion shows, and the musical puppet show that tells the story of the creatures may be the perfect teaching tool, immensely to arouse children’s interest.
- There was a sheet on the floor for observation, but it was difficult for us to make use of.
Impressive scale and intensity
The largest aquarium in the U.S., where whale sharks also swim
8. New England Aquarium (Boston)
- Whale Watch made me realize the immense power of the real creatures of nature to fascinate people, even if we can only see a few movements of the animals.
- It was clear that their marine research and conservation efforts are truly at the forefront of the world.
- About one third of the information panels next to the aquarium had messages such as “What you can do” written on them to encourage visitors to take action, demonstrating a belief in the importance of increasing the number of people playing a role in environmental conservation.
A Global Leader in Expanding Environmental Protection Activities in Every Way
The powerful message of the concluding panel, “Together we can raise the next generation of ocean stewards.”
Summary
- They were all very unique aquariums. I have many personal preferences, but this is not a good or bad thing; this is the diversity of aquariums.
- Of course, there will be some places that will be eliminated in the future. Specifically, the time will soon come when only those aquariums that can develop and transmit good content will survive. In particular, it isn’t easy to differentiate an aquarium from other aquariums with just a huge tank or a show of famous animals. And this is what virtual technology is good at.
- The important thing is to clarify the value and selling point of your own aquarium, and at the same time, collaborate with other institutions to incorporate the best parts of the aquarium. We need to start by clearly communicating the purpose of our mission and the purpose for which we are creating exhibitions.
- Visitors are encouraged to “Let’s share it!” to share their thoughts on nature. It could be a catalyst for unexpected resonance. Japanese aquariums would like to follow this trend.
コメント