World’s first behavioral science lab where you can study and be studied Mindworks: The Science of Thinking Now Open
It’s true! Your mind is not playing tricks on you. Mindworks: The Science of Thinking, the world’s first lab and interactive museum dedicated to behavioral science is now open and located in a completely redesigned space in the historic Railway Exchange Building, an architectural landmark at 224 S. Michigan Avenue.
If you would like to better understand how behavioral scientists do their work, the insights from their research, and how to translate their discoveries into everyday interventions that can help people design their best lives, then visiting this interactive space is a must.
Mindworks was conceived by faculty at Chicago Booth’s Center for Decision Research and was created by the CDR in partnership with the design firm Pentagram, the architectural firm KrueckSexton Partners, the University of Chicago Facilities Services, and Executive Construction Inc.
Project Manager, Capital Project Delivery for Facilities Services, Krystal McDoom, who worked on the project over the past year, attended the grand opening and stated, “I am incredibly grateful that I was afforded the opportunity to lead the execution of such a unique project.” She went on and talked about the challenges of the behavioral science museum being the first of its kind so there was no blueprint to follow when designing the exhibits. There were three key elements of the project, design/build of exhibits, design/build architectural space, and design of the photo booth software and interface integration. McDoom successfully managed all three teams, and the hard work of everyone involved is now on display and ready to share with the more than 20,000 people expected to visit in the first year.
"Mindworks will be a one-of-a-kind experience where people can learn more about how their own minds work and, at the same time, contribute to ground-breaking science as participants,” said Nicholas Epley, the John Templeton Keller Professor of Behavioral Science at Chicago Booth and Faculty Director of the CDR.
Mindworks is free and open to the public. With eight current exhibits, visitors can participate in a series of interactive installations that explore abstract theories and concepts through games, puzzles, infographics, and other activities. Visitors can also participate in academic research experiments designed by scientists at the University of Chicago, for which they will receive gift prizes such as canvas bags, t-shirts, and vouchers to nearby cultural destinations, businesses, and restaurants.
“I would encourage all to visit the space; not only because of how proud I am of the end result but to also learn about the great impact and influence behavioral science can have as well as to contribute towards research lead by some of the greatest minds in the field,” McDoom exclaimed.
A version of this story was first published by Chicago Booth.