Tinkering activities and Making has become an integral part in many science centres and museums. Often these activities take place in separated areas, maker spaces or tinkering facilities. They guarantee an atmosphere of creativity as well as for an enclosed setting for a deep engagement with materials and equipment. Also, guides can work with creators and makers intensively since the duration of stay is prolonged as compared with the habits of an exhibition visit.

But can these tinkering activities be incorporated into exhibition settings? How do visitors react to these engaging activities in exhibitions? Is it possible to mediate the change in velocity of an exhibition visit? And can the activities be designed for less educational supervision due to a much higher visitor frequency than in a maker space setting?

In this session we will have a look at and discuss different examples of tinkering activities that have been performed as integral parts of exhibitions.