13 August 24-30, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | Culture | Cafe | MusiC | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | Visual Learning Frost Science’s new president wants to coax out your inner science nerd. BY SEAN LEVISMAN D r. Douglas Roberts has his head in the stars — really. It’s his job. As one of our planet’s fore- most celestial explorers, Rob- erts has made significant contributions to the study of star formation and black holes. He’s also led the develop- ment of the WorldWide Telescope project, a free platform allowing any earthbound space traveler with a Wi-Fi connection to navigate the Known Universe three-dimensionally from the comfort of their laptop. But long before Roberts was an esteemed scientist with a Ph.D. in physics, he was a wide-eyed kid feeding his natural-born cos- mic awe with episodes of Star Trek and Carl Sagan’s Cosmos. “For as long as I can remember, I was in- terested in science and wanted to be a scien- tist,” he tells New Times. “In elementary school, I would skip recess to do research and write papers on Albert Einstein.” Of course, science museums played a cru- cial role in awakening his lifelong scientific curiosity. “I remember going to the great mu- seums of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum, and the Adler Planetarium,” he recalls. “In 1976, my family took me to the National Air and Space Mu- seum in Washington, D.C., and when I was 12, they took me to the Kennedy Space Center. I loved seeing all those rockets and imagining where they could take me.” While those rockets did not take Roberts to Proxima Centauri, they did spark ignition for an epic vocational journey. In the past two decades, he’s spearheaded science education, research, technology, and public engagement initiatives for prestigious institutions like Northwestern University, the Adler Planetar- ium, and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. As he embarks on his new leadership role as president and CEO of Miami’s Phillip and Pa- tricia Frost Museum of Science this summer, Roberts remains keenly aware of the momen- tous impact science museums can have on the promising young minds of our future scientists. “Kids must have fun exploring science, starting with a visit to the museum and con- tinuing their engagement at school and home,” he says. “They need to see how scientific think- ing can be used to explore their own homes and neighborhoods and learn that this same way of thinking can help in bigger projects.” In 2023, with the existential threat of cli- mate change looming on our ever-darkening horizon, cultivating scientific thinking is no longer just important; it’s also urgent. “Providing opportunities for younger gen- erations to understand what’s happening with our environment and the impact we can all make is critical, along with the role science can play in solving issues both globally and at home,” Roberts says. “It’s important that they see models of what it’s like doing science and feel fulfilled by it. We work together to ac- complish what we can’t do alone. Science is hopeful, and my greatest desire is that our guests leave the museum with that sense of hope and purpose.” Throughout his distinguished career, Rob- erts has championed the critical role of science visualization and communication in advanc- ing learning experiences. This is paramount when conveying complex scientific ideas in simple terms that children can under- stand and appreci- ate. “Science visual- ization takes com- plex scientific data and principles, makes them visual, and, in the best cases, interactive,” he explains. “Visuals are a great tool to get complex information into our heads, and we can start that process of vi- sually understanding data at the museum.” With Roberts at the helm of the Frost Sci- ence Museum, Miami can expect a thrilling new era of visually immersive and interactive programming that’ll coax the science nerd out of anyone. “I’m a science nerd myself, and I want Frost Science to be a place of exploration for existing and future science nerds in Miami and be- yond,” he says. “As a scientist, I want to en- courage the South Florida community to connect with science. For some of our younger guests, that could mean working toward a ca- reer involving science, technology, engineer- ing, and math. We want guests to be inspired to face our challenges and make a positive impact on our world and environment.” Roberts’ new appointment at the Frost Sci- ence Museum didn’t come without ringing endorsements from Miami’s elected officials. “On behalf of our County’s three million residents, I’d like to extend my sincere con- gratulations to Dr. Roberts and welcome him to Miami-Dade,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said in a statement. “Under Dr. Roberts’ leadership, Frost Science will continue to be one of the great institu- tions of science and technology.” And Roberts’ first order of business as president and CEO? It’s reaffirming the mu- seum’s commitment to community engage- ment in Miami. “In my first three months, I will be listening to members of our commu- nity to learn the role they want Frost Science to play in their lives,” he confirms. “Frost Science is an amazing asset for the residents of Miami-Dade County,” he adds. “I want to ensure we are providing what our community needs for the museum to con- tinue to be a place of inspiration and explora- tion. This is Miami’s museum, and we want to continue to build on this legacy for genera- tions to come.” “Above all, I hope guests leave with a posi- tive connection to science and understand the universe is astounding,” he says. “A visit to Frost Science should spark curiosity and motivate our guests to want to explore our world further.” Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-434-9600; frostscience.org. Admission costs $22.95 to $32.95; admission is free for children 3 and un- der and members. Daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. [email protected] ▼ Culture Dr. Douglas Roberts is the new president and CEO of the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. Photo by Ra-haus Fotografie “MY GREATEST DESIRE IS THAT OUR GUESTS LEAVE THE MUSEUM WITH THAT SENSE OF HOPE AND PURPOSE.”
