Museum of Science and Industry
Science Storms
Client/Company: Cortina Productions
Project Description: Science Storms at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry uses fascinating natural phenomena from tornados and tsunamis to avalanches and rainbows to explore the scientific principles behind them. Cortina Productions designed and produced over thirty media pieces for this 26,000-foot permanent exhibit. Through seven signature films, several videos, and 21 interactives and hands-on experiences, visitors can wonder, observe, investigate, speculate, and discover the building blocks behind these powerful forces of nature. Science Storms is a MUSE, Thea, and CINE winner.
Julie’s Role: Project Manager / Producer
On this large-scale project, I led Cortina Productions’ team in the production of its films and interactives, many of which melded interactive software with mechanical components. I maintained the budget and schedule, wrote scripts, worked closely with the graphic design team, managed the editing of the films and programming of the interactives, and saw the project through to a successful completion.
I joined Cortina’s Science Storms team after the original project manager left. Jumping right in, I got to know the lay of the land. Due to the size and complexity of the exhibit, there were a lot of partners who I got to know through our meetings. These regular checkpoints were critical to tracking all the different components and their required tasks through each stage of the process.
This exhibit wasn’t just about one thing. It explored seven different natural phenomena. We had the benefit of the museum’s content experts, but I’m no scientist. When we were in the scripting process, there were many complex ideas we had to convey. I knew that if I could figure out these concepts, I could translate them into more palatable and visitor-friendly nuggets. I’m also no artist. I remember wireframing an animation on how a tornado is formed using my simple stick-figure-style, but the animator got the gist.
Many of our touchscreen interactives integrated cameras or triggered mechanical actions, such as launching balloons into the air. I participated in several prototyping sessions with the fabricator and other partners. We worked together to ensure that our programming merged well with their technology, improving as we went.
Entrance to the awe-inspiring permanent exhibit, "Science Storms." Image credit: Julie Govert
Lower level featuring a signature film on avalanches, spinning particle wheel, and large balloons. Image credit: Julie Govert
At the "Convection" interactive, visitors can heat the air inside large balloons and launch them. Image credit: Julie Govert
Visitors look up as their balloon rises in the air. Image credit: Julie Govert
Multiple players can experience what it is really like to chase a tornado in "Tornado Intercept." Image credit: Julie Govert
Exhibits demonstrate the properties of tornados, sunlight, and waves. Image credit: Julie Govert
Visitors explore tsunamis and wave behavior at the wave tank. Image credit: Julie Govert
On the second level, visitors can learn about projectiles and launch tennis balls across the space. Image credit: Julie Govert
Fire area with large-scale film and interactives about fire testing, wild fires, and the effects of water on a flame. Image credit: Julie Govert
Visitors can build their own fireworks in the "Colors from Fire" interactive. Image credit: Julie Govert
The science of storms begins with the atom, a story told through a wide-scale CGI presentation. Image credit: Julie Govert