Family photographs were not taken to document science and technology, yet when collected and indexed by Science works' Photographic Archive Project, they provide researchers with a unique resource for understanding scientific and technological developments. Objects are a powerful communication medium for this purpose. Their crudeness can cause amazement, their effectiveness or subtlety generate surprise and pleasure. Many can effectively reflect their rich array of human associations. Communication is a two-way process involving an audience.
Effective communication takes account of the audience's needs.
It establishes precisely who make up the audience, finds out what their characteristics and needs are, and determines which issues are relevant to them. It also seeks to match the medium of communication to the audience and to the story being told. When addressing these issues while preparing the public programs for Science works, we recognised that objects have limitations as a communication medium, as well as strengths. We therefore shifted our interpretive approach towards presentations which employ a variety of media in addition to objects. This trend is evident in other museums too.