Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Reviews 4

KA

Karen Buesing

The Museum is first rate and state of the art. Both the building and the displays - with one glaring exception - were scientifically accurate and up to date. I really liked the way the museum appeals to all age groups, not just school age kids. Adults will also enjoy the scads of interesting information in the beautiful space. Dont miss it. The one exception was the glaring failure to treat global climate change as the urgent issue it is. Given how accurate everything else was, I was disappointed that the Hunt Oil Energy section simply ignored this topic. The clever engineering that allows for successful recovery of hydrocarbons is very well displayed and discussed. But there was not a word to suggest that this kind of fuel has any downsides. While natural gas when burned releases only about half as much carbon into the atmosphere as coal, that is still adding to the rise in atmospheric CO2. And unburned methane (which leaks from natural gas systems in significant volumes) is many times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. The Museum rightfully is trying to inspire interest in science and engineering especially for the next generation. But there were no displays encouraging the next generation of engineers to figure out carbon capture strategies or other ways to offset the CO2 that is added to the atmosphere by burning oil and gas. It was a real omission the Museum should correct. I did look hard and finally found a reference to climate change. There was a single panel devoted to Alternative Energy ideas such as solar and wind along with the Pros and Cons of each. As a "Con" for solar cells, the panel notes that manufacturing solar cells creates climate damaging gases!! So let me see if I understand this: all that oil and gas that constantly creates climate damages gases as it is burned is ok, but, of all things, solar cells which put off no gas at all except during the manufacturing process are bad? The curators should be blushing. It truly was a jarring departure from the sound science of the rest of the Museum. In that same section there were useful updating displays of world population and world energy use. Let me suggest that another updating display be added: CO2 is on a steady trajectory to rise one or two parts per million every couple years. It was less than 320 PPM in 1960; 325 PPM by 1970; 340 PPM by 1980; 355 PPM by 1990; 370 PPM by 2000 and now over 390 PPM. There is support for the view that 350 PPM is as high as it can safely go without impacting the climate so we are already well into the era when this issue must be understood - whether for modifying our collective behavior or adapting to the new realities or, most likely, both. In any event, ignoring it is not the scientifically correct thing to do so please, curators, lets get this part fixed so this issue will live up to high standard you have set in the rest of museum.

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SH

Shannon Smith

Weve heard amazing things about the Perot so we decided to take our almost 3 year old today. Weve heard that it is a great kids museum and even little kids love it so that is why we went with a toddler. We got there right as it opened and it was already bananas inside and extremely crowded. It took forever to buy tickets and most of the staff acted like it was their first day on the job; it felt like no one was really in charge of anything. Once we finally got in we went straight to the Kids museum on the bottom floor. It was fun and our kid really enjoyed it but it was quickly overcrowded with kids that seemed way older than the 5 and under "rule" for the area. We left that area and worked our way up the museum. First observation: If you need an elevator, you are out of luck. We tried to ride the elevator a few times just because toddlers and stairs arent always a good mix but the wait time for an elevator was way too long. I felt bad for the people who truly needed to use them because they probably waited 10 minutes or more. Next, its simply too crowded to enjoy. There was no way we could really interact with most of the exhibits. Another observation is that it seems much more appropriate for older kids, maybe even teens. There is a lot of informative reading involved and most of the exhibits (other than the one Kids area) are pretty technical. Thats not a knock against it, but we wont be going back until our kid is much older (probably 3rd grade age). For kids 10 or younger I would suggest the Fort Worth Science & History Museum, much more "little kid" friendly.

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FR

Frisco Studios

So far, the best science center in the Dallas area (I havent checked out the Ft. Worth Science Center yet). Five floors of activities. Plus a little bit of outdoor stuff. Some music play outside, but it desperately needs some upkeep. Submerged frog art for little ones to play and climb till it gets too hot. Basement designed for preschoolers, and a bit of sports activity. Special collection area is small and had disappointed me twice. Main entry floor has no real activities. A store. A cafeteria. Sort of a missed opportunity for using space creatively. Science lab floor is half hands-on fun and gets packed quick. Everything requires you to do something, from drums to driving robots, building an earthquake proof building, dancing in front of tiles, laying track for a rolling ball and a lot more. By far the best floor for kids. The other half and the rest off the floors are far less hands on and if there is and involvement, its mostly button pressing. Far too much reliance on tech. Exceptions would be the fly like a bird simulator on the top floor, the dinosaur magnets, and some please touch drawers. So, lots of looking and reading. But it sure looks pretty. Lots of escalators, and steps, on top of two big elevators for getting around. In general, with a 9yo and a 5 yo, were done in 2 hours.

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JE

Jess Herb

I decided to take a group of friends to see the Sherlock exhibit. Well once you circled for days trying to find parking and paying the heft $8 fee. We traversed up an endless flight of stairs, i mean what if i needed and elevator, there were no signs for anything such. So once we got inside from our climb the museum was sweltering hot and super crowed, on a Sunday thirty minutes after it opened. When we walked into the Sherlock exhibit, we were given these little booklets. No explanation, nothing. So when you first walk in its a room full of the most boring material on Sherlock ever. Then beyond that its gets minutely more interesting but poorly executed. the rest of it are these really neat props and displays but its all interactive. you supposed to use the book to solve this ongoing mystery while learning about crime forensics stuff. Well unfortunately their is not one attendant to help you figure anything out. Also if the place is crowded its purely impossible to do any of the activities. So after that we decided to go to the rest of the museum. Well i had no idea this is not an adult museum its a childs museum. Everything is a childs activity. The only reason why i gave this two stars was for the dinosaur exhibit...that was totally awesome

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