Veteran interactive exhibit designer, senior lecturer joins The Tech Museum as vice president
Press Release Date
Wednesday, 18 January, 2012
SAN JOSE, SILICON VALLEY, Calif., Wednesday January 18 - Lath Carlson, a leading museum exhibitor whose work has appeared in the galleries of Philadelphia’s The Franklin Institute to the New York Hall of Science to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, has joined The Tech Museum as its Vice President of Exhibits.
Carlson brings considerable experience and influence to the senior post at a time when The Tech Museum aspires to an ambitious vision to stimulate innovation and inspire learning locally, nationally and globally under new president Tim Ritchie. Carlson begins his new role March 1.
“Serving as a leader in creating dynamic experiences for The Tech Museum is the culmination of my life’s work. My passion lies in the intersection between science, technology, society and the environment,” Carlson said. “It’s always been my goal to have a platform where I can push the evolution of what a museum exhibit is and the impact it has on its audience, its community and the world.”
In the role, Carlson is charged with creating the most immersive experiences that invite museum guests to learn through play, contain solid and accessible science and demonstrate how technology can improve lives, provoke thought and inspire action. A role for which Carlson is well suited after serving 20 years in the field.
Among his accomplishments:
Key team member at The Franklin Institute that replaced all core exhibits, transforming the museum into a leader in interactive, immersive and thematic experiences
Led the design, fabrication and installation of major exhibits at The Please Touch Museum, moving the Philadelphia-based museum from quaint homemade exhibits to immersive environments for play, social engagement and exploration.
Transformed Art Guild Inc., into the country's leading fabricator of exhibits for science centers and children's museums.
Carlson also served as a Senior Lecturer on museum exhibition planning and design at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he also mentored students as a Graduate Thesis Advisor.
Ritchie, who joined the museum as president in October, said Carlson emerged as the top candidate during a national search because of his deep and diverse exhibition experience and his consistent success working with many of the country's top museums.
"Lath is committed to creating interactive experiences that will inspire the innovator in everyone," Ritchie said. "We're excited that he has signed on to lead The Tech Museum's exhibit efforts."
Contact:
Roqua Montez
Director of Public Relations
(408) 795-6225
rmontez@thetech.org
About The Tech Museum
The Tech Museum is a hands-on technology and science museum for people of all ages and backgrounds. The museum-located in the Capital of Silicon Valley - is a non-profit learning resource established to engage people in exploring and experiencing technologies affecting their lives. Through programs such as The Tech Challenge presented by Cisco, our annual team design competition for youth, and internationally renowned programs such as The Tech Awards presented by Applied Materials, Inc., The Tech Museum celebrates the present and encourages the development of innovative ideas for a more promising future.
