Memories and scientific literacy: remembering exhibits from a science centre

The contribution of science centres to scientific literacy in the general adult population was explored through the study of memories of exhibits. Visitors participated in a structured interview about two exhibits they found interesting at the time of the initial visit and one month later. Participants retained stable episodic memories of the exhibits they chose, independently of whether or not they had discussed the exhibit in detail with the interviewer in the first interview. As to change in semantic memory, for some particpants the memories were enhanced between the initial and follow-up interview, for some they remained stable, and for others they deteriorated. There was an approximately equal proportion in each category. All participants reported affective involvement at both interview times, with happiness, followed by curiosity, being the most common. Post-visit integration of the exhibit information was common. The majority of participants reported talking to others about the exhibits. Moreover, one-third of the participants reported linking the exhibit memories to everyday occurrences, thus indicating an increased awareness of scientific phenomenon.