Explaining Our World

Andrew Pierssene

This book offers a rational and philosophical approach to environmental interpretation.* Contains over 40 illustrated case examples* For museum managers, local government planning and recreation officers, and professional interpreters

Foreword by Kenneth Hudson. Preface. Environmental Interpretation - What Is It? Why Interpret? - Aims and Motivations. Insights Offered and Sought - Interpretation's Precedents. The Very Important Feature - Conservation Comes First. Red Carpet Treatment - Understanding the Visitor. Seeking the Message - The Conscientious Researcher. Frog into Prince - Turning Information into Interpretation. Introducing the Feature - First Impressions and Ambience. Systems and Signals - Means of Communication. Some Special Cases - Limitations and Opportunities. The Entertainment Factor - Interpretation and Fun. The Business Angle - Implications for Management and Finance. Strategies to Suit Situations. Planning Interpretation Projects. The Academic Perspective - Assessment and Evaluation. Girding on the Panoply - Professionalism and Training. World Without End Interpretation and the Future. Appendix A - A Check-list for Interpretive Planning. Appendix B - A Simple Scheme for Assessing Interpretation. Appendix C - Recommended Reading. Appendix D - Interpretation Training and Professional Organisations. Index.