We sat down with Nancy Jones, one of our newest members of the MLC, to learn more about the extraordinary work she has accomplished in the children’s museum world, including informal learning environments for children and families. Her latest undertakings include recently opening an 88,000-square-foot museum in Hangzhou, China, and building out a mobile lab for rural China.
A Vision Takes Shape
Nancy Jones’ experience is vast, with more than 40 years of experience in the children’s museum industry. In January 2015, she embarked on an ambitious journey to Hangzhou, China to design and create a children’s museum in partnership with a private funder. Little did she know, this project would evolve into something much larger and more impactful than she could have ever imagined.
The Explorium! officially opened its doors on June 1, 2024, in celebration of Children’s Day. Spanning 88,000 square feet across four floors, the museum offers immersive, hands-on experiences, including exhibits, party rooms, cooking classes and even a full-service restaurant. During its opening weekend, visitors stayed for 6-7 hours, transforming their museum visits into full-day adventures.
When asked about what’s next, Nancy shared exciting plans:
“We are on the brink of another project: a mobile Explorium! designed to bring children’s museum experiences to the countryside and mountainous areas of China. Imagine a big bus or truck filled with permanent hands-on exhibits installed inside as well as foldable exhibits that spill out onto the ground, creating an outdoor wonderland of learning and play. This mobile lab will make the joy of discovery accessible to children and families who may never have the opportunity to visit a traditional museum or an interactive museum designed specifically for children.”
Designing for Impact: The Journey Begins
With this unique, large undertaking at hand, Nancy shared more about her strategy for moving forward with the mobile project:
“Having just returned to Hangzhou, our team is ready to dive into the conceptual design phase. We’ll need to address important logistical questions: Where will the mobile lab travel? What are the road conditions? Who are the primary audiences, and what ages are they? Will electricity and running water be available? Seasonal challenges?”
Once these parameters are determined, they’ll focus on crafting open-ended, interactive exhibits tailored to the unique conditions.
“We’re inspired by features found in large campers, such as expandable walls and canopies, which maximize space while maintaining mobility. The design process will involve countless iterations and innovations, but one thing is certain: our mission to create an engaging, hands-on learning environment for underserved communities will drive every decision we make.”
Joining Forces with the MLC
The MLC and our members are familiar with the nuances and complexities surrounding mobile lab strategy and execution. Nancy said, “For the project in China, we don’t want to completely reinvent the wheel during design, so I am hoping to learn from the trials and errors that many of you have experienced in your design journeys.”
If you would like to reach out to Nancy to connect with her about her program, please email her.
For Nancy, she’ll be moving forward with determination. “Our ultimate goal is to reach as many children and families as possible, creating moments of wonder and connection that last a lifetime,” she concluded.
The MLC provides education, fosters collaboration and serves as a central resource of knowledge, curricula and best practices for the mobile lab community. Reach out to us at mobilelabcoalition@gmail.com.
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