Bacon’s New Atlantis

The author describes the success of exploratory learning centres that introduce science and technology to children and adults. ‘Hands-on’ experiments in a ‘try-it-yourself’ atmosphere defy participants’ logic and deceive their senses while stimulating curiousity beyond the ability of schools and traditional museums. The author compares the aim of these science and technology centres to Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis, published in 1667, which contains a description of the “House of Salomon”, a science centre devoted to “delusions, illusions and false apparitions” that demonstrate the wealth that exploratory learning offers.