Freeman tilden video interpretation

It is always interesting to look at parallel fields when looking for inspiration and advice: don’t reinvent the wheel as they say. Science presenting shares a great many similarities with the field of Heritage Interpretation and in 1957 a man called Freeman Tilden wrote a classic book called, Interpreting our Heritage.

Heritage Interpretation refers to the activities carried out by guides whether they be in stately homes or state parks.

“In most [heritage sites] the visitor is exposed, if he chooses, to a kind of elective education that is superior in some respects to that of the classroom, for here he meets the Thing itself- whether it be a wonder of Nature’s work, or the act or work of Man.” Tilden explains.

The similarities with live science presenting are striking for science presenters also aim to demonstrate “the Thing itself”- live science- in a way that is “superior in some respects to that of the classroom”.

So what can we le