Sneak Peek of The Mind Museum

Be fascinated as you tour and experience the first world-class science museum in the country. "With over 250 inter-active “minds-on” and hands-on exhibits, the museum will be a venue that will present science as entertaining, fun, and engaging." - www.themindmuseum.org

Meet Stan, the T. Rex

Last February 11, I was able to visit and preview the interactive exhibits at The Mind Museum. I was really excited because I've been waiting for this state-of-the art museum to open ever since I "lit a star" for my boy and my girl at the Universe Gallery.  As a museum donor, we were also invited to the exhibit testing last year and a got a first look at what we can expect once the museum is completed.  The anticipation has been building since then.

At the exhibit testing of the museum last May 2011

Warning:  Picture overload for this post.

You might think my title is misleading, but it's true. This is still a sneak peak -- remember, there are over 250 exhibits at the museum's bi-level structure.  There were many features still in the works during my visit, which include the outdoor Science-in-the-Park with botanical garden, Theater and Labs for special functions, seminars and workshops. They will also have a Jollibee Cafe and Museum Cafe for your dining convenience within the park.

The Mind Museum features 5 main Galleries:

• The Story of the Universe: Its Beginning and Majesty
• The Story of the Earth: Its Story Across the Breadth of Time
• The Story of Life: The Exuberant Varieties of Life
• The Story of the Atom: The Strange World of the Very Small
• The Story of Technology: The Showcase of Human Ingenuity

I can only briefly describe the hands-on exhibits that caught my eye, so I apologize in advance if I can't describe each one further.  You really have to go and experience them for yourselves to learn and appreciate all the fascinating, high-tech, and artistic installations, with the assistance of friendly and knowledgeable Mind Movers (museum guides). I just hope they improve their portable speakers so their voices can clearly be heard when explaining to groups.

Let's begin the 'walk-through':

Here's AEDI, the talking robot, welcoming all the guests by the Lobby.

At the Introductory Hall, multiple video screens simultaneously flash tidbits of information about the 10 most beautiful experiments, and other various topics you can explore in the museum.

The ATOM Gallery -- features elemental forces in our everyday lives.

Looking through the Sony 3D glasses

The Periodic Table - open the cabinets to learn about each of the 118 elements!

Frequencies - with strong vibrations, see the bouncing micro styro balls that mimic sound waves.

Literally a hair-raising experience from the electrostatic ball.

The LIFE Gallery -- features our living planet.

Larger-than-life installations of the whale shark (butanding), the human hand, and the brain!

Step on the floor buttons to light up the different parts of the human brain.

Bernoulli's Principle illustrates how birds and planes can fly - tilt the basket and see the ball follow

A showcase of bio diversity and how few we humans are, compared with other life forms.

Press the center of life, the sun, and how everything is inter-connected.

'Umami' goodness -- that's the 5th taste!

Our DNA, up close and personal.

Evolution of man depicted in this life-size diorama.

The EARTH Gallery -- showcasing our planet's natural history.

A 40ft. X 12ft. fossil replica of the "tyrant lizard king", which became extinct 65 million years ago.

A wall display of fossils in transition though time.

See how fire and molten lava blows out of a volcano.

Turn the dial and view nature move in slow-mo.

Good bacteria or Bad bacterial? It's like zooming in to a microscope.

Nature's Webway over the escalators features audio-visual shows and more photos of nature.

Moving up, you'll find the Story of TECHNOLOGY.
It's the biggest gallery covering the whole second level, with exhibits showing popular inventions, how we live, how things work, and more!

Meet MIMO, he will follow around and take a video of everyone in sight.

Glasses, mirrors and illusions!

From Here to There... how transportation evolved through the years.

Beauty in Symmetry, from architecture to the human form.

Trying to squeeze myself in the figure... I guess I don't fit into that beautiful symmetry! :p

Gutenberg Press, the original printing press with movable parts.

How we communicate -- scroll different languages and braille.

An artistic installation of paper products.

Era of gadgets -- a giant replica of a Sony VAIO.

Play some arcade games.

Try your hand at this electronic harp with invisible (with motion sensor) strings!

A favorite of the kids during the exhibit testing, these Solar Bugs are powered by the "sun" (solar energy represented by halogen lights) to move.

Packing Square challenges you to fit all objects into the box.

(this was taken from our exhibit testing visit last year)

The UNIVERSE Gallery walks us through space, and beyond.

A closer look at mankind's adventure to space, with a detailed timeline on Space Quest.

The Mind Movers, navigating the museum grounds on their personal transporter, the Segway.

See the many faces of the moon at a press of a button.

Suit up for space travel!

Travel through the Tunnel Craft, the corridor from Earth to the Universe!

Space Shell lets you watch the stars and learn about the universe inside this 360-degree mini theater dome.

Our beautiful solar system all aglow!

You can't miss the Hall of Philippine Science.

Vignettes of Philippine science facts and trivia are continuously shown on the video gallery.

Learn more about the Whale Sharks from Donsol.

Our legacy to the world -- rice harvesting.  See the inverted bowl on the lower left -- it features the variety of grains grown in the country, sealed around the "bowl" of rice.

Visiting hours are in blocks of 3 hours to fully maximize your experience at the park.  I will definitely be going back with my whole family this summer. 

The Mind Museum will open it's doors to the public on March 16, so get your tickets now! 

The Mind Museum is open Tuesday to Sundays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Open for three-hour blocks of time:

9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

6 p.m. - 9 p.m. (unguided visit)

*Music will play 20 minutes before the end of your time, to signal for the next group's visit. 

Ticket Prices:

Adult:  P600

Private School Student (up to college): P450

Public School Student (up to college): P150

Teachers: P150

All Day Pass: P750

* Teachers and students, bring your IDs.

The museum will soon offer party packages and conduct special events especially for children, so watch out for future announcements of activities.

You surely won't miss The Mind Museum's futuristic yet organic design by notable architects from Lor Calma & Partners, located in the heart of the bustling Bonifacio Global City. It's an ideal extension of schools that bring lessons to life.  The museum is a fantastic venue for family and friends to get together, to explore and discover the wonders of science. It's the Philippines' newest landmark that we can all be proud of!

Buy Tickets here: www.themindmuseum.org

The Mind Museum


J.Y. Campos Park

3rd Avenue corner 28th Street


Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Tel. (632) 909-MIND (6463)

inquiry@themindmuseum.org

maan.capinding@themindmuseum.org (for tour companies)

trixie.tacardon@themindmuseum.org (for school tours)

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