New Ways of Looking and Learning in Natural History Museums: The Use of Gigapixel Imaging to Bring Science and Publics Together

This article describes a series of demonstration projects that use multiscalar gigapixel image technology to iteratively design, test, and study how visitors learn to observe more scientifically in museums, online, and through museum-based programming. We consider how the particular affordances of systems like these can move science communication and learning from didactic approaches centered on one-way communication toward technology platforms that encourage shared observation, dialogue, and engagement.