“It Was Just Amazing!” Unstructured Interactions Following a Planetarium and Science Shows

Visits to informal learning environments such as science centers can enhance curiosity and understanding of scientific concepts. These environments offer activities like science and planetarium shows to engage their audiences. One way to understand visitors’ experiences in these environments is to investigate interactions. Previous research primarily focused on structured interactions such as guided tours, leaving the exploration of spontaneous, unstructured interactions understudied. In this research, museum practitioners audio-recorded unstructured interactions following science and planetarium shows during free-choice visits to a science center. Thematic analysis showed that although interaction time was short, it was positive and inquisitive in nature. Most questions were related to the content of the show and asked by children, with emotional reactions more prominent after the planetarium show. This exploratory pilot research adds to the body of knowledge on unstructured interactions between visitors and science center staff members, contributing to the understanding of effective science communication.