HIST 205 Tech Explorers visit the Smithsonian!

by Professor Sadegh Foghani

My students in HIST 205 (Technology and Culture) and I went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History to explore two exhibits on Saturday, October 5:

1- Cellphone: Unseen Connections (Special Exhibit)

2- Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky (Temporary Exhibit)

The plan was to arrive at the museum at noon and meet on the first floor, by the magnificent African elephant, with its impressive tusks in view. Except for one student who unfortunately could not make it due to illness, the other nineteen students showed up along with nine parents, friends, or significant others, which made the experience more enjoyable. As students arrived, I handed them out a document called “Museum Visit Guidelines,” to remind them of the main purpose of the museum visit: To observe what was included in the exhibits and think about what else could have been included. This could be a historical actor, geography, culture, or, most importantly, a perspective. I asked them, as they explored the exhibits, “What did you wish to be on display in the exhibit that was not there or what do you think should have been included but was missing?” On the “Museum Visit Guidelines” document, I included themes ranging from consumerism, nationalism, and religion to labor issues, gender, and social inequality, hoping they would help the students structure their museum project’s research idea.

In order to be able to reflect on their museum experience properly later, I encouraged the students to make notes and take photos of signs, notes, and artifacts that they found interesting, controversial, or historically significant. I specifically asked them to upload a minimum of three photos for each exhibit accompanied by a brief description onto the post-trip survey form.

When we reached a sizeable majority, we took a few group photos. I did ask students and their companions to meet again at 2 pm by our beloved elephant to take a few more group photos since a few students missed the first ones.

In reflecting on their museum visit, students shared a colorful mix of thoughts and emotions, ranging from glowing praises to more measured critiques. While some students offered wholehearted commendations, others balanced their appreciation with a few constructive observations or mild criticisms.

The Cellphone exhibit sparked a variety of reactions among students, with some commenting on its engaging look at the evolution of mobile technology. “I thought [what] was interesting was the evolution of cellphones over time. It seemed like, aside from their size, cellphones evolved much slower in their earlier years than they did in the early 21st century” J. remarked. Several others reflected on the nostalgia the exhibit evoked, especially for those who had experienced the rise of smartphones firsthand. “Both me and my father had a wonderful nostalgia trip when we found the part of the exhibit that showed what was used before and after smartphones,” S. shared. For M., the exhibit’s detail and historical progression were especially captivating: “It was something which was really interesting and because we went there as a class for the project I was looking at everything in depth with detail… I liked the fact that there were all these cell phones in a glass display which showed the evolution of cellphones.”

However, not all reactions were entirely positive. E. noted that while the exhibit may have been more engaging for a younger audience, it was less enjoyable for someone of her age. “I think the cellphone exhibit was targeting an audience younger than me, which in part made some of the areas a little grating. I think if I took my sister (for context she’s about eight years old), she’d probably like it.” Despite acknowledging some interesting elements, E. shared that the “how do you do fellow kids” vibe detracted from their enjoyment, rating the exhibit a 5 out of 10. Others, like N., appreciated the exhibit’s inclusion of the manufacturing process behind cellphones but felt it could have been more critical of the social and labor issues. “I liked that they included the process of making a cellphone, describing how every mineral is obtained,” N. said, “However, I felt like it wasn’t critical enough of said process.” B. echoed this sentiment, noting, “I would rate it an 8.5/10… I would have enjoyed it more if the exhibit more closely and extensively depicted how much of an impact the mass production of cell phones has had on different countries and people, such as the DRC.”

In contrast, the Lights Out exhibit drew more positive feedback for its immersive experience and thought-provoking content. E. was particularly surprised by the exhibit’s broader scope, saying, “I thought it was going to focus solely on efforts to reduce light pollution, but I was pleasantly surprised when the exhibit also covered some cultural impacts the night sky has made on several civilizations.” The exhibit’s design also left a strong impression, with B. noting how it skillfully conveyed its message: “[The exhibit] was able to create the atmosphere of darkness where only the information sections of the exhibit had light, demonstrating in an ironic way how important the history described in the exhibit is to our lives in the present.” L. found the experience especially enlightening, stating, “[It was] a very insightful trip because I got to learn how light pollution affects things much more than I expected.” C. described the exhibit as “very professional,” praising how it told a clear story about humanity’s relationship with light: [The Lights Out exhibit] laid out a very clear story of how we have been creating light to keep back the darkness and how that has been impacting the world around us.”

Overall, the students rated both exhibits positively as many described the experience as “enlightening,” “all-encompassing,” and “uncovering history.” Others found it to be “fun,” “insightful,” and “an amazing experience.” By and large, the interactive nature of the exhibits left a strong impression, with some noting that the visit was “extraordinary” and that they were “pleasantly surprised” by how well-organized the exhibits were. All in all, my students enjoyed visiting both exhibits, with the Lights Out receiving a slightly higher rating (8.21/10) than the Cellphone (7.71/10).