This study at the National Aquarium in Baltimore (NAIB) was conducted to assess four key aspects of the visitor experience: (1) incoming conservation knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of NAIB visitors; (2) patterns of use and interaction with exhibition components throughout the NAIB; (3) exiting conservation knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of visitors; and (4) over time, how the NAIB experience altered or affected individuals' conservation knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.Three hundred six visitors participated in the study, which was conducted from March through July, 1999. The study utilized four data‐collection techniques: (1) face‐to‐face interviews, (2) Personal Meaning Mapping (PMM), (3) tracking, and (4) follow‐up telephone interviews. Participants were a self‐selected population and were generally more knowledgeable about, more concerned about, and more involved in conservation‐related issues than the general public. However, they were far from conservationists. Visitors in this study clearly absorbed the fundamental conservation message at the NAIB. In fact, the NAIB visit appeared to focus visitors' conservation‐related thoughts, while also broadening their understanding of conservation.Changes in visitors' conservation knowledge, understanding, and interests by and large persisted over six to eight weeks after visiting NAIB. The NAIB experience also connected to visitors' lives in a variety of ways following their visit. However, these personal experiences rarely resulted in new conservation actions. In fact, their enthusiasm and emotional commitment to conservation (inspired during the NAIB visit) generally fell back to original levels, presumably in the absence of reinforcing experiences. The findings of this study are guiding subsequent investigations at the NAIB. More generally, the results suggest strategies to enhance current understanding of the impact free‐choice learning institutions have on their visiting public.

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The Engage Disability conference was held at Crowne Plaza, Rohini, New Delhi from 25 th to 27 th September 2014. This conference was designed to inspire and strengthen our efforts to see people, regardless of ability, engaging with our faith communities. We had senior representation from most major Christian health organizations and various churches in India including WVI, CHAI, CBM, NCCI, TLM, EHA, CMC Vellore, Compassion, Tear fund, and JAF, Equip India, bible colleges, and various programs working on disability.Over 400 people participated with great enthusiasm, and the delegates included 210 pastors/ theologians/ church leaders and 154 members from various NGOs working in CBR and other disability programs.The conference opened with the leaders praying for the conference and then signing the conference banner with a hand print. All delegates later signed the same banner, and the final conference declaration was signed over the top of this kaleidoscope of colored hand prints. This was a beautiful representation of all Christians giving a hand to work towards the declaration: to see those with disability accompanied, loved, and included in the body of Christ!