When I was a kid, I have never really learned science in a very fun and interactive way, but only through my teachers, my science books, and my science projects. And just last Friday, our plan (me and my office friends) to go to the SM Science Discovery Center at the SM Mall of Asia, finally came. I was so excited for this was my first encounter of a real science museum. I think this is a first of its kind here in the Philippines.
We paid tickets for 330 pesos per individual and we went in at almost 6:00 PM, just right in time to catch up the show at the Digistar Planetarium. The Digistar Planetarium is perhaps the most highlighted part of the museum, as it is located just right in the center. It is like a movie theatre inside a big ball-like structure. Inside, the screen is across over the ceiling and the side walls. The seats are inclined in order to see a full view of the show. We've taken a seat in the middle area and waited for the show to start. The show was entitled "The Search for Life: Are We Alone?" and was narrated by Harrison Ford. I just wished the seats were adjustable to have them incline a little more. I had to move my head really up to see the view behind us. Nevertheless, it was 30 minute good show and it actually felt like we were in a space shuttle traveling across the earth, the planets, and the stars.
After that main event, we checked out the rest of the museum. Let me give you a list of the sections and my experience with them.
Imageport - This is a section of imaging, more like a photo studio. One of the walls tackle about the history of cameras. You can also pose, have the attendant take your picture, and he can change the background to something else, like a space background.
SMART Media City - This section is where you can use the computers to surf the internet and play different kind of games. Aside from those plain computers, there are two areas where the games are physically interactive. You can play soccer, volleyball, or basketball by actually doing the act, just like playing the Nintendo Wii. Here however, an image of yourself is captured and you watch yourself playing against the computer or someone else. For me, this was the area I had most fun with.
Transportation Nation - This is where you can learn about vehicles and their history. There is also a flight simulation area where you can experience flying an aircraft. Unfortunately, I don't think it really simulates a real aircraft because the only control you have there are simple joysticks at your right and left hand. The buttons right below your view screen are just for display and isn't really working.
Grossology - Just by the term, you can immediately guess what kind of section this would be like. It is all about the disgusting and gross facts of the human body. There is so-called the Sniff Area where you will smell an odor and guess which part of the body smells exactly like it. I tried one and it really smelled so bad that I thought it was the anus. It turned out to be actually the mouth! Eeewww!!! I didn't bother smelling all of the other stuff as I think I would throw up if I did. There is also a simulation of how burps are created. Nothing exciting but it was funny. Then there is a quiz show area, where the questions asked are still all about gross things.
Spaceship Earth - There is an Earth structure in this section where you can locate certain cities by pushing the appropriate button. Inside this structure would seem like being in a space ship. But there wasn't anything else in there. Perhaps there is something being shown, only during the scheduled tours.
Virtual Reef - This section is an aquarium tunnel, but since it is virtual, there isn't any real sea creatures in here. The only thing that would get everyone's attention would be Mr. T, the animated talking fish. You can talk to the fish and he'll answer back like being in a normal conversation. Some kids were talking to the fish at the time but once they were gone, we ourselves talked to the fish. He was really funny and can talk Filipino. We weren't fools, we knew a person was hiding behind the wall with a computer and a hidden camera. Hehehe!
City Science - A section where you learn about different cities around the world. It was boring for me, to just read through the walls and the computers about the cities. So we went immediately to the earthquake simulation, still part of the City Science section. I was hoping for an intense earthquake like event but then I expected too much. The ground just move a little, not enough to move you out of balance.
Robot Inc. - This is a gallery of robots. The section shows you the historical evolution and importance of these machines. Again, a boring gallery is situated here. The robots are not real and no interaction can be made. The only interactive thing here are the remote controlled car-like robots.
Lego Mindstorms Robotic Center - This section was closed and is only open during scheduled tours.
Lifeclock - And finally, the lifeclock section. The only thing we did here was save an email in their so-called "Time Capsule" and schedule it to be sent at a particular day in the future.
All in all, it was a new experience so I am still recommending the SM Science Discovery Center for anyone who's interested. The whole center lacks a lot of things as you have seen in my review. However, I think that with the Digistar Planetarium, the center is worth going to. It'll be best if you have kids with you for I'm sure they would enjoy it. We went there, we weren't kids, but we felt like we were kids and so we enjoyed it.
For more information about the center, you can visit their website at this link: SM Science Discovery Center.
