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PROPOSAL:

Execute Contract for the Design of an Interactive Fuel Cell Museum Exhibit at California Science Center

SYNOPSIS:

In implementing the Children's Air Quality Agenda Initiative No. 8 - Cooperative Education Program, it is important to familiarize the public, particularly our youth, with how fuel cells work, what their applications may be, and the technology’s environmental benefits. The California Science Center Foundation, in conjunction with the AQMD, will contract for the planning, design and specification of an interactive fuel cell museum exhibit. AQMD cost for this contract will not exceed $75,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, February 26, 1999, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the California Science Center Foundation for design services for an interactive fuel cell museum exhibit, for a total amount not to exceed $75,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The Breakthrough Technologies Institute, a non-profit educational organization based in Washington D.C., conducted a front-end evaluation study in 1998 where museum visitors were asked a variety of questions about fuel cells. This study was conducted in order to gain a clear understanding of what visitors know and don’t know about fuel cells and what questions and/or concerns visitors may have about fuel cells. The results of the front-end evaluation study showed that less than one third of the entire sample were familiar with uses of fuel cells and that none of them knew how they worked. When asked what would they expect to do, see and learn from a fuel cell exhibit, responses included how fuel cells work, their applications and benefits, and proof that a fuel cell is a clean energy source.

As a result of this front-end evaluation study, it is believed that an exhibition designed to accelerate commercialization of fuel cells via public education is advisable. The AQMP relies on the expedited implementation of advanced technologies and clean-burning fuels in Southern California to achieve air quality standards. The commercialization of these technologies will be impeded unless and until the public is made aware of their environmental and societal benefits.

This item was before the Governing Board for consideration at its March 12, 1999 meeting. The Executive Officer withdrew this item in order to address the relationship between the fuel cell museum exhibit at the California Science Center and the Children's Air Quality Agenda as approved by the Governing Board on January 8, 1999. Specifically, Initiative No. 8 of the Children's Air Quality Agenda proposes the District partner in a cooperative education program about air quality and children's and young adults' health, to be carried out at local museums throughout the District. This project was presented at a meeting of museum curators from local science museums. Although the exhibit envisioned through this project may not be suitable for being moved from one museum to another, each museum indicated a strong desire to work with the District on both large and small exhibits that can take advantage of museum scheduling opportunities. There was general agreement the interactive fuel cell exhibit being planned at the California Science Center was an excellent beginning to establishing a cooperative education program between the District and the museums.

Proposal

The California Science Center Foundation (Center) proposes to organize a team of experts in museum exhibit design, fuel cell technology, safety and construction for planning, design, and for specification of an interactive fuel cell museum exhibit. The Center will ensure that the exhibit conforms to its mission statement and closely follows the creative and physical parameters already established. The target audience will include those viewers in the 4^th through 7^th grades as well as the rest of visitors. It will be a stand-alone exhibit in the Transportation section of the Creative World area, which contains other alternative fuel displays. The prospective contractor will be required to develop and design an interactive exhibit that is understandable, relevant, thought provoking, attractive and accessible. An interdisciplinary approach will be required in order to achieve an exhibit that combines sensory, cognitive, aesthetic, social, symbolic and physical elements of the technology in order to effectively communicate with the public. In addition, the exhibit must involve the viewer in some way to reinforce the learning experience. Subsequent to this design phase, staff will work with the Science Center to secure funding for construction of the exhibit. Staff recommends moving forward with the fuel cell exhibit as originally proposed.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the December 1998 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under category 98TT-1, "Assessment of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination." The AQMP relies on the expedited implementation of advanced technologies and clean-burning fuels in Southern California to achieve air quality standards. While no direct air quality benefits are anticipated by the placement of this exhibit, it will increase public awareness and familiarization of fuel cell technology for transportation applications. Increased public awareness will help expedite the acceptance and commercialization of advanced technologies resulting in future emissions benefits. This in turn will contribute towards achieving the goals of the AQMP.

Resource Impacts

The total amount of AQMD funding for these contracts will not exceed $75,000. Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.

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