Learning is fundamental, and it’s even better when you can tap into something that really interests you. I’ve been on the Vancouver Science Social “field trip” on two occasions. And, I returned for a talk about raising a wild child too. Earlier this week, we dove into the feline and canine worlds with Cats and Dogs at Science World.
It’s their new featured exhibition, created by La Cité des sciences et de l’industrie and Le Musée de la civilization. Produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Cats & Dogs presents the opportunity learn about everything we know about these very important animals. Did you know there are 343 breeds of dogs, the widest variety of any species? And that kittens are blind and deaf for the first five days of their lives?
These are just a couple of the facts that Jo-Ann Coggan, Science World’s Director of Community Outreach, told us about as she walked us around the new exhibition. As we’ve come to expect from Science World, Cats & Dogs is highly educational and fully interactive. It’s also their first trilingual exhibit: information is presented in English, French and Spanish.
Jumping for Joy
The first big thing you’ll see as you enter the Feature Gallery is this red-and-white arch. There are a series of buttons in the middle, set at different heights. Did you know that the average cat can jump as high as nine feet? That’d be like if I could jump over 25 feet in the air! I was able to hit the 9-foot button, though.
So, you may have seen the Superdogs at the PNE. They sometimes include a “slalom” portion to their obstacle course. That’s what this part of the exhibit attempts to recreate. There are light triggers at the start and finish line (like what they have in bowling alleys), so you can test your best time.
Test Your Cats and Dogs Knowledge
Partly to bust common myths and partly to educate the public, Cats and Dogs at Science World also has a number of trivia-type stations. There are true-or-false boards, a multiple-choice versus game, and audio experiences to match a cat’s or dog’s vocalizations with what they’re trying to communicate. Small dogs aren’t necessarily best for apartment dwellers, and cats don’t always land on their feet.
Several stations are set up around the exhibit for more of an audiovisual learning experience too. You can learn about dominant and recessive genes, for instance, in the context of what a litter of puppies might look like given parents of different breeds.
From Fido and Fluffy’s Perspective
One of the more unique stations, tucked away in the corner, lets you “experience” what it’s like to be a cat or a dog. Check out the blurry vision with limited color range, hear the sounds, sense the vibrations in your “paws,” and even feel the gentle breeze as your “owner” opens the door and lets you out for a walk.
Science World at TELUS World of Science is hosting the Cats & Dogs feature exhibition until January 5, 2020. It’s included with your regular admission, which starts from $27.15 for adults and $18.10 for children. Be sure to catch Superpower Dogs as well. The OMNIMAX film features the stories of six real-life working dogs and their human partners.
Now, the question remains: Are you more of a cat person or a dog person?
Disclosure: Science World invited me and my family to a special VIP event to showcase the new Cats & Dogs feature exhibition. All opinions are my own.
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