The Marian Koshland Science Museum of the
U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) was located in
Washington, D.C.
)
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, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
from 2004 until 2017.
It featured exhibits that presented modern science and scientific issues in an accessible way, geared for the general public. It explored current scientific issues that were important for the nation's and world's public policy decisions, as presented in reports by the
United States National Academies
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (also known as NASEM or the National Academies) are the collective scientific national academy of the United States. The name is used interchangeably in two senses: (1) as an umbrell ...
. The National Academy of Sciences replaced the museum with LabX.
Exhibit development
The Koshland Science Museum was part of the National Academy of Sciences. Exhibits were developed based on guidance from committees of scientific experts, who donated their time and expertise to the museum. Each exhibit had its own Scientific Steering Committee or group of subject-matter experts who oversaw exhibit content and review information. A core group of museum staff members facilitated all aspects of exhibit selection, including development and fabrication. The museum also received input from advisory groups, whether in-person, in the community, or online. The museum also had a Museum Advisory Board involved in strategic planning.
The museum was centered around two primary exhibits: "Earth Lab", which focused on issues related to
climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
, and "Life Lab", which emphasized
learning,
aging,
nutrition
Nutrition is the biochemical and physiological process by which an organism uses food to support its life. It provides organisms with nutrients, which can be metabolized to create energy and chemical structures. Failure to obtain sufficient ...
, and
infectious disease
An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable di ...
. The museum also had a "Wonders of Science" section devoted to interactive exhibits.
Origin of the museum
Opened in April 2004, the Marian Koshland Science Museum was named for
Marian Koshland, an immunologist and molecular biologist who conducted groundbreaking research in the behavior of
antibodies. The museum has been developed as the result of a gift from her husband,
Daniel Koshland, a molecular biologist specializing in the study of enzymes and bacteria. The Museum shared an eponym with the Marian Koshland Integrated Natural Science Center at the elite liberal arts college,
Haverford College.
Location
The museum was located at 525 E Street, NW. The museum entrance was at the corner of 6th & E Streets, NW, in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of Washington, DC. It was three blocks north of the
National Mall.
References
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External links
Official site for the Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences
Museums established in 2004
Penn Quarter
Science museums in Washington, D.C.
United States National Academy of Sciences
Defunct museums in Washington, D.C.
Museums disestablished in 2017