December 14, 2007, Reno, NV--The University of Nevada, Reno's (UNR) Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center opened its newest exhibit last week. "Perceptual Relativity" is an interactive exhibit exploring individual perception through optical illusions. It was developed by faculty from the UNR Department of Psychology and funded in part by a grant from the Optical Society of America (OSA; Washington, DC) Foundation.
The exhibit opened December 7th with a presentation by human perception expert Stuart Anstis, professor of psychology at the University of California, San Diego.
"Perceptual Relativity" features approximately two dozen interactive displays that illustrate important principles of light, vision, and visual perception through optical and perceptual illusions. The illusions are all related to a central theme from Einstein's Theory of Relativity--that varying view¬points can produce completely different perceptions of a single phenomenon. The exhibit allows visitors to explore illusions where stationary figures appear to move, lines and colors are warped by their surroundings, and entirely new perceptions emerge simply by turning the picture.
"The OSA Foundation is thrilled to support this educational and entertaining exhibit," said Gary Bjorklund, OSA Foundation Board chair. "Visual illusions are a great way for students of all ages to explore and get excited about optics. With 40,000 visitors to the planetarium each year, the exhibit is sure to have an impact on students' perceptions of science."
For more information, visit www.osa-foundation.org.