There were so many people at these exhibits that it was truly SRO (Standing Room Only) at times. We were lucky because we had large empty store spaces (2000, 3000 sf respectively) to house these exhibits off of the main concourse. Of course we wish the best for Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping mall in increasing their ocupancy rate...but, geez, on the other hand we are hoping that we can have these locations again next year.
•More hands-on exhibits for public to EXPERIENCE (telescope viewing, interactive stuff)"
<Solar viewing, Solar System Stamp Rally 2004, MER Challenge 2004>
Many people enjoyed looking at the various amateur telescopes that were on display throughout the mall. Although they were intrigued by the instruments, most would have prefered to have been able to view something through them. In the future, we could hang some astronomical pictures on a wall at a distance and have one or more telescopes aimed at them to provide some sort of viewing experience. Solar 'scopes are another possibility if we set them up in the parking lot.
•Interface with mall vendors to promote the event better in the future
Mall management said that traffic was high and that total sales were up 13.2% over the same period the previous year. Now that merchants know what to expect, maybe we can work with them to promote the event a little better, through coordinated promotions and sales or coupons. We had many sponsors and prize donors from businesses outside of the mall. We hope to cultivate relationships with those within the mall next year.
•Have a greater retail presence to market items (pins and patches are popular collectibles)
This year only one exhibitor chose to sell merchandise at the event. We have found that many people were looking to purchase memorabilia and commemorative items at the event. We can encourage participants to have a retail presence in the future, as Prince Kuhio Plaza's marketing license agreement is very liberal. At the very least, the AstroDay organization should market the commemorative tee shirts in a visible location within the mall.
•More exhibits that captivate youngsters (robotics?)
<Botball Scholastic Robotics exhibit and competition 2004>
One possibility we were thinking of is to have a mini "Mars Rover" and an extraterrestrial landscape over which youngsters could drive. Another would be some sort of robotics exhibit, where kids could control some device like an arm that could manipulate objects. Anyone in Hilo with experience and a desire to create something like this?
•Astrophotography exhibit
<Richard Wainscoat 2003, Jason Ware, Wei-Hao Wang, Peter Michaud 2004>
People love pretty pictures. The only thing better than looking at them is being able to take them. A future possibility would be to have experienced astrophotographers exhibit some of their equipment, including telescope, camera or CCD imager, image processing software, etc.
•Scale (distance, not size) solar system model with planets distributed throughout mall
<Solar System model 2004>
An interesting exhibit would be to have a solar system model displayed within the mall. Most events that have solar system models spread them over a large area to better illustrate the vast distances involved. Having a scale model in a shopping mall requires that the scale be to distance and not necessarily size, otherwise you may need a magnifying glass to see Pluto or Mercury. You could have all sorts of fun with the model as well: "Attention all cadets, check out the Planetarium Show starting soon next to Jupiter."
•Include information about available jobs on Mauna Kea (career counselor?)
Having employment information available provides a service to the local community. It also illustrates that it is not out of the realm of possibility to find a job here at home. Having a career counselor on hand to answer questions can help advise young students plan their academic course work.
•Include more Hawaiian cultural tie-ins with astronomy
There are many programs that feature the Hawaiian culture and astronomy today. It is important for local Hawaiians to be able to understand their heritage and their ancestors reliance on astronomy to navigate the Pacific Ocean.
•Demonstrate better living through science
"What has astronomy done for me lately?" is a question some people may ask as they look at the observatories atop Mauna Kea. Although most may feel that they receive no benefit from having science taking place in their backyard, in actuality many technological innovations in the astronomical discipline may have directly or indirectly influenced their lives. For example, detector and CCD research and development has brought high resolution consumer digital cameras to the marketplace at affordable prices.
•How do we expand with limited space within the mall?
Although AstroDay filled the entire Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping center, there is room for more exhibits and for existing exhibits to expand. Sometime in the near future however, it may become necessary to have one or more satellite sites to accomodate all the organizations that want to have a presence at our event. Therefore we may be looking for other sites to host various exhibits and activities. Of course, as the Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center nears completion, we will anxiously anticipate its involvement with the AstroDay festivities.
•AstroDay video to be produced soon and distributed to 2k2 exhibitors
A video of the highlights of the AstroDay 2K2 fair will be locally produced soon and distributed to the participants of the event. The video will include footage of the fabulous opening ceremonies, exhibits and visitors as well as broadcast news coverage. Copies may be available to the general public as well for a nominal fee.
••Outreach organization to provide consistent support system to students 6-12 and beyond
See the AstroDay Institute page to find out more
AstroDay in the Mall: A lot of people came to learn about astronomy and Mauna Kea
AstroDay was a place to learn about astronomy...and meet old friends