The Living Roof at the California Academy of Science. Photo: Mary VailOver the last couple of decades I have been to many science centers and museums around the world. A week ago I visited the California Academy of Sciences. It's not the biggest science museum I've been to, but it has some impressive features. There is a rainforest. On any one level it does not cover a great deal of floor space, but it extends through three vertical levels. This represents the various strata of the rainforest ecosystem from ground to canopy and emergence. There are frogs, birds and butterflies in the main rainforest section and lizards, snakes, ands and spiders in smaller exhibits around the edges. Of course there are also hordes of children running back and forth, tapping on things and screaming. This is exactly what they are designed to do, but mercifully children are rare in a real rainforest. Perhaps the Academy might consider "losing" a few in the forest - it would keep the noise down, produce a more authentic rainforest environment and generally add to the mystique of the display.

One thing that kept bugging me was the fact that you could see right through to the other side of the forest, which weakened the illusion a little, and which doesn't happen in a rainforest. I accept that this is difficult challenge to meet, however. At the base of the rainforest there is a section of the forest floor that is flooded. From above you can see fish, including some massive cat fish. This view point, however is but the tip of the water-berg. Underneath this and around it is the Academy's aquarium. This is an impressive area with a wide range of marine species and aquatic ecosystems. You could spend a lot of time in here, face to face with giant sea bass, sea anemones, piranhas, jelly fish and electric eels. Also an anaconda.

A piranha in the Acaedmy's aquarium. Photo: Mary VailThe Academy also boasts a large planetarium, which was - as always - loads of fun. The screen and sound quality are very good and the seats are comfortable, without needing to lie as flat as some others.

One thing I'd like to see more of in museums is increased interface between the public/visitors and the museum's researchers. At The Academy of Sciences I was pleased to see a lab right on a main public thoroughfare. It had glass walls and I gathered from the items on display on the closest table, that it had recently been used to work on prepared biological specimens. It would have been good to see someone working on these (or anything else), but it was a Sunday and whenever I passed by (several times over a couple of hours) there was nobody there. The real pity was the sign on the door which read something like "Scientists at work, no public entry".

I have a lot of time for a well designed and constructed diorama and I suspect they might be coming back in fashion. The African Hall has several of these. They are simple, but well done. The thespian in me would like to have seen some more "drama", at least in the form of soundscapes, but possibly lighting effects and maybe even some live music. The addition of some live African music in this room would have been fantastic. In addition to the taxidermically presented gorillas, lions, clipspringers and antelopes, the room includes a live penguin enclosure. It drew a big crowds and somehow it did not seem out of place. Indeed on reflection, it a added a little whimsy and a little more of that might not go astray at The Academy in general.

The quality of the food court made me realise how low the bar is at other institutions. So many museums, galleries and science centres have a very limited range of pretty ordinary food at prices that reflect a captive market - in many cases a monopoly provider. California Academy of Sciences have clearly negotiated and planned a better deal. Hot foods, salads, bakery and more. I was slightly heartbroken when I received my scalding hot, massive, weak cafe latte, but I've had worse.

The top of the CAS building is covered in a "living roof". Information panels gave insights into both the plants in the garden as well as the research being undertaken. It would have been great to have some more details about results from the research, but it's a really cool inclusion. The roof adds a lot to the image of the building from a distance as well. When I was there, there was a brass band playing in the adjacent park, which was great fun. I'm told that there is regularly live music there on a weekend and it a makes for a great, lively atmosphere. In fabulous Golden Gate Park, opposite the de Young Museum - brass bands and biology - we need more of it!