Communicating Phylogeny: Evolutionary Tree Diagrams in Museums

Teresa Elise MacDonald · EDWARD O. WILEY

37 citations0/0 files storedEvolution Education and Outreach

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Evolution and Science Education Science Education and Pedagogy Museums and Cultural Heritage

Abstract

Abstract Tree of life diagrams are graphic representations of phylogeny—the evolutionary history and relationships of lineages—and as such these graphics have the potential to convey key evolutionary ideas and principles to a variety of audiences. Museums play a significant role in teaching about evolution to the public, and tree graphics form a common element in many exhibits even though little is known about their impact on visitor understanding. How phylogenies are depicted and used in informal science settings impacts their accessibility and effectiveness in communicating about evolution to visitors. In this paper, we summarize the analysis of 185 tree of life graphics collected from museum exhibits at 52 institutions and highlight some potential implications of how trees are presented that may support or hinder visitors’ understanding about evolution. While further work is needed, existing learning research suggests that common elements among the diversity of museum trees such as the inclusion of anagenesis and absence of time and shared characters might represent potential barriers to visitor understanding.

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1932A Handbook of Child Psychology 2004Science and Engineering Indicators 1933A Handbook of Child Psychology.1998Science and Engineering Indicators 1998 1889The American Association for the Advancement of Science 2016The Museum Experience 1952National Science Board 1991Cross-cultural and developmental trends in graphic productions

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