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Marie Curie was right when she said, "Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less."
Believe it or not, there was a time when Science was my favorite subject in school. It may be because I had good grades even if I didn't study that much. But as lessons progressed, I found myself grasping for answers. In time, my love for Science turned to fear. I was afraid that no matter what I did, I would need help to get the principles as easily as before. I didn't know then that I was just undergoing a learning plateau, and the only solution was to "embrace the discomfort and move forward."*
I began applying this principle in my late twenties as I tried hard to make sense of my career and life. In time, I reaped the rewards and began to see the favorable change in me from the inside out. But it took a lot of work.
Now that I'm a mom, you can't blame me if I want to shield my son from life's difficulties as much as possible. However, if I don't prepare him for the challenges ahead, I only set him up for destruction. Life will never be easy. And the sooner he realizes it, the better his chances of conquering himself and life itself.
In a small way, I taught my son the value of "embracing the discomfort and moving forward" in his reading. The joyful thing is that in just over a year since he learned phonics in school, he can now easily read paragraphs, including the English subtitles of my favorite Korean Dramas.
Dada and Baby @ the National Museum of Singapore
Aside from reading, I want Bebe Tutapel to fall in love with Science and continue to be passionate about it. Only by exposing him to its many wonders regularly will I be able to help make this dream a reality.
You can understand my elation when I learned that my son's preschool recently scheduled an educational tour of The Mind Museum. I expected to see an impressive, world-class facility, and that was precisely what I experienced and so much more. I felt like I was at the National Museum of Singapore sans the paintings, for The Mind Museum evoked a similarly classy and sophisticated ambiance. I can't help but tell myself, "Ang sossy! Pinag-isipan talaga!"
I might have been impressed, but did the preschoolers think the same way?
Allow me to answer that question while walking you through the contraptions and interactive displays at the four designated galleries: EARTH, ATOM, UNIVERSE, and TECHNOLOGY.
Science Comes Alive at The Mind Museum
Let the tour begin.
Entrance Wristband at The Mind Museum @ Taguig
Audi The Friendly Robot.
THE EARTH GALLERY
Stan T-Rex.
Audi is an idea spelled backward. Adorable and intelligent, this robot is the museum's official greeter, and he welcomed us in style.
Welcome to The Mind Museum @ Taguig!
Tutapel with bestie Nathan
THE EARTH GALLERY
Stan T-Rex.
Despite my enthusiasm, I must admit that the only thing I knew about the museum was the Giant T-Rex fondly called Stan which looked pretty much similar to the one found at the American Museum of Natural History as featured in the movie, A Night at the Museum.
When we finally saw it, boy, were we impressed! Even Bebe Tutapel, who disliked striking a pose, generously offered several K-popified moves for the photo-op. Unfortunately, we can't sneak our way in front of it without bumping into equally excited kids.
Dinosaurs through the centuries
The Human Story.
In one corner of the impressive gallery, we saw what many believe are life-sized models of our ancestors.
Courtesy of Mommy Camille
The Human Brain.
As famous astrophysicist Carl Sagan once said, "The brain is like a muscle. When it is in use, we feel perfect. Understanding is joyous."
The massive installation applies this principle by lighting up the different brain parts to show their individual functions.
Courtesy of Mommy Camille
Whale Shark.
An impressive life-sized model of the whale shark or butanding in the vernacular is considered the largest fish in the sea, measuring about 40 feet or even more.
Courtesy of Mommy Jerissa
Bernoulli's Principle.
This super fun device aims to explain how things such as paper, frisbees, and aircraft fly. In essence, this principle says that when there's more pressure on the bottom, the air on top moves faster, creating less pressure and eventually lifting the object in question.**
Courtesy of Mommy Jerissa
Nature's Hourglass.
The Atom Gallery
For 20 minutes, we were treated to an exciting 3D animated film comparable to what we've seen from the Shrek 4-D Adventure at Universal Studios Singapore or Mickey's Philharmagic at Hong Kong Disneyland!
The Mind Museum @ Taguig
Courtesy of Mommy Camille
The Atom Gallery
Newton's Cradle.
Visitors will learn first-hand how Newton's Third Law of Motion works through this fun fixture. Is there really an equal or opposite reaction to every action?
Carbon: Basis of all Life on Earth.
Due to its valency, carbon can create a variety of allotropes, such as diamond, graphite, or graphene. Tutapel could play with the toy allotropes in this interactive display by combining them.
Electric Table: Magnets & Currents.
Visitors can move the ring from one side to the other using the electromagnetic field theory, which can be explained by both a direction and a magnitude/ strength.
Atom Centerpiece.
A fun 3D representation of how electrons move in atoms is necessary for technology development.
Everything is Made Up of Atoms.
A super cute Hershey-like installation aiming to debunk the ancient theory that all matter is a variation of Earth, air, fire, and water only. It was only at the dawn of the 20th century that scientists were able to prove that matter, in fact, is made up of atoms.
Static Ball.
Once my son's teachers touched the static ball, the Van de Graaf generator, their hair became positively charged, causing the hair strands to repel one another. So cool!
Shadow Box.
Our friends in school struck a pose or two on the phosphorescent wall, which was utilized with a timed light source to encapsulate and later show their shadows.
The Universe Gallery
The Solar System.
It's unthinkable that there was once a time when people actually believed that the Earth was the center of the solar system. In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus introduced a conflicting theory that it was not the Earth but the sun as the true center, and all the planets, comets, asteroids, and moons revolve around it. Instead of being celebrated, the theory received massive opposition, but further experiments and discoveries have since proven the Copernican theory to be true after all.
Look at the Moon.
As we all know, the moon is the only celestial body ever visited by man. Funnily, considering its close proximity, we call it the Earth's BFF. The museum's impressive display gave us an idea of how the moon might look up close, alongside an introduction to its 8 phases in its 29. 5-day cycle.
The Lifetime of A Star.
Considering their popularity in Science and life, stars are some of the most spectacular celestial bodies ever created. At the Mind Museum, three giant round red, yellow, and bluish-white fixtures wish to show how stars are formed in the galaxy and how long they usually last.
Dressed For Space.
Outer space can be overwhelming. To help astronauts breathe and survive the freezing temperatures, a special spacesuit has been designed especially for them.
What Is On Mars?
We have been attracted to Mars for so long because its physical conditions are similar to those on Earth. In this particular corner at the Mind Museum, visitors can "steer and control the Mars Exploration Rovers named Spirit and Opportunity" to get a glimpse of their job on the Red Planet.
Spaceshell.
Although much smaller than the NIDO FORTIFIED Science Discovery Center Planetarium, the Mind Museum's highly esteemed centerpiece still successfully presented the stories of the universe more intimately.
The Mind Museum @ Taguig
Principle of Parallax.
By aligning the viewfinders toward the star, the principle of parallax can be simulated to measure the distance of some nearby stars.
Virtual Universe Gallery.
At first, we thought the giant touch screen was filled with interactive games. However, it was a repository of the museum's generous sponsors.
The Technology Gallery
Avenue of Life.
Not all escalators are created equal. The Mind Museum's version clearly has a vision of elegance as it tries to showcase the Earth's various natural environments, as seen in its displays.
Courtesy of Mommy Jerissa
Gutenberg Press.
Interestingly, a simple movable printing press, such as the one below, has tremendously revolutionized printing and literature—all thanks to Johannes Gutenberg's creativity and ingenuity!
Language.
Have you ever wondered what would happen to humanity without language? A unique contraption was created to challenge visitors to match certain words to their corresponding English, French, and Filipino translations to pursue this thought.
Literature.
Visitors are encouraged to read passages from certain literary pieces provided in the gallery while holding the heart rate monitor to show how the written word can move human beings.
The Mind Museum @ Taguig
Beauty Symmetry.
We've heard it before, and The Mind Museum has found an interestingly different way to present the age-old romantic adage, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
Mommy Camille at the Mind Museum @ Taguig
Mathematics: Cars With Different Wheel Shapes.
Tutapel rushed to this section mainly because of his unending fascination with cars. He almost blurted out, "Ka-chow!" in the process. This display aims to teach visitors about Reuleaux Shapes that as long as a shape has a constant width in all directions, it can move as freely as a round wheel.
Mathematics: Kaleidoscope.
Surprisingly, when Tutapel turned the wheel, we saw exciting patterns come to life!
Storage and Recording: The Way We Store.
This contraption says, "Recording is a human act of self-preservation." Singapore continues to encourage netizens to contribute unforgettable memories about Singapore through the portal Singaporememory.sg. Even the US Library of Congress has initiated a massive campaign encouraging ordinary citizens to record their stories via the National Recording Registry.
Optical Illusion.
Do some people believe we see illusions because of the eye's physical characteristics? But still, some are convinced that optical illusions are influenced by perspective or how we look at something. Tutapel's classmate Jamille clearly had a blast in this particular section at the museum.
Courtesy of Mommy Camille
The Seed Drill.
Constructed primarily to position seeds in the soil and to conceal them afterward, the earliest known European seed drill was attributed to Camillo Torello but further developed by Jethro Tullo in 1701 at the height of the Agricultural Revolution.
Courtesy of Mommy Camille
The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments.
A separate exhibit that chronicles 10 of the most beautiful experiments in Science based on the book The Prism and the Pendulum by acclaimed philosopher and science historian Robert P. Crease.
Sustainable Communities.
Colorful displays show how the Payatas Project, farmers' schools in Dumangas Iloilo, and El Nido Resorts have adopted the green balance in their communities.
Giant Clam Project in Bolinao.
Tutapel was attracted to the lights around this fixture, representing Bolinao's position at the forefront of the giant clam conservation in the Philippines.
The Mind Museum @ Taguig
Conservation Science.
Fisheries Bycatch.
This is an LED presentation that tries to explain how the fishing industry has contributed to the demise of tens of thousands of sea turtles annually.
Sulu Sulawesi Seascapes.
When I saw the display above, I couldn't help but recall the first time I saw the statue of Lapu-Lapu up close.
Be responsible.
A colorful section that aims to explain the significant importance of rice and how Filipinos can help make our country rice-sufficient by year-end.
Interactive Game: Help The Animals Find Their Way Home.
A fun drag-and-drop game that even preschoolers find extremely enjoyable.
I was thrilled to see the info card about the Philippine Tarsier. I can't help but be reminded of how excited I was when I first saw it in Bohol.
After the tour, Tutapel and I went to the Mind Museum Store because I wanted to see its assortment of educational materials and other learning toys.
I got all revved up when I saw these souvenir items to celebrate the museum's highly popular Da Vinci-The Genius Exhibit, which is ongoing until November 30!
Da Vinci-The Genius Exhibit is ongoing until November 30!
Courtesy of Mommy Camille
Annyeong, The Mind Museum @ Taguig!
'Til We Meet Again!
* Embrace Discomfort to Overcome Learning Plateaus by lifehacker.com
** Bernoulli's Principle
The Mind Museum @ Taguig
Website
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Address: JY Campos Park, 3rd Avenue,
bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Sked: Open Tuesdays to Sundays
Time Slots:
9 AM to 12 NN
12 NN to 3 PM
3 PM to 6 PM
6 PM to 9 PM (Saturdays only)
Ticket Prices for 3-Hour Time Slots:
Php 600 (Adults)
Php 450 (Children)
Php 150 (Teachers & Public School Students)
Da Vinci-The Genius Exhibit Pass:
Php 250 (Adults)
Php 200 (Children)
** Bernoulli's Principle
The Mind Museum @ Taguig
Website
Address: JY Campos Park, 3rd Avenue,
bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Sked: Open Tuesdays to Sundays
Time Slots:
9 AM to 12 NN
12 NN to 3 PM
3 PM to 6 PM
6 PM to 9 PM (Saturdays only)
Php 600 (Adults)
Php 450 (Children)
Php 150 (Teachers & Public School Students)
Da Vinci-The Genius Exhibit Pass:
Php 250 (Adults)
Php 200 (Children)
Museum Tour + Da Vinci-The Genius Exhibit:
Php 800 (Adults)
Php 600 (Children)
Php 300 (Teachers & Public School Students)
Museum Tour + Da Vinci-The Genius Exhibit All Day Pass:
Php 950 (Adults or Kids)
Blog On Cue:
Meet the Real Multipotentialite in Leonardo Da Vinci
(As Seen in the Da Vinci Exhibit @ The Mind Museum)
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