S4.9: Volcanoes in the museums
Convener(s)
Maria Manousaki
Earthquake Planning & Protection Organization, Greece
mmanousaki@oasp.gr
Nikos Zouros
Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, Greece
nzour@aegean.gr
Charalampos Fassoulas
University of Crete, Natural History Museum of Crete, Greece
fassoulas@nhmc.uoc.gr
Earth is a dynamic planet which never stops moving and sometimes it can be a violent planet. All Museums of Natural History, includes the category of volcanoes so as visitors to have a closer view on the creation of volcanoes, the distribution of volcanoes and why they are formed in that specific zones, the products of volcanoes, the beauty and the threat of volcanoes, the hazards, the side effects, their history and how they are connected with earthquakes. Looking at the movements of our planet’s plates in the past and referring to the previous eruptions, visitors can understanding the development of the volcanic areas and the earthquakes of the future. Photos, paintings, rock exhibitions,objects such as fossilized trees, maps, films, videos, works of art, volcanic literature, computer models based on educational demands are some of what a visitor can see in a Natural History Museum.However, it is important to have a more exciting and interactive experience on volcanic activity. But how we can attract more students and specially kids? It is so interesting to have landscape miniatures, simulators, to push a button or watch a film and see an eruption with light effects, hear the explosion and feel the earthquake. Virtual reality is also a teaching tool on volcanic fields in a museum.