Paul Orselli and POW!

Paul Orselli’s interest in sharing ideas with people and creating interactive devices began when he was a child growing up in Detroit. While earning his B.S. in Anthropology and Zoology from the University of Michigan and his M.A.T. in Science Education from Wayne State University, Paul realized he could have a job making “cool stuff” by working in the museum business. 

For over 40 years, Paul has worked to create inventive science museums and playful children’s museums, including director-level positions at the Discovery Museums in Acton, Massachusetts, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, and the Long Island Children’s Museum.

In 2002, Paul became President and Chief Instigator of POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop)
a museum development and exhibition design corporation that he founded.

POW! was created to utilize Paul’s creativity, design talents, and collaborative resources to help museums and other cultural institutions develop innovative exhibit components, compelling exhibitions, and memorable educational programs.

Paul has consulted on museum projects in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. His clients include notable organizations such as the Smithsonian, the Exploratorium, the National Science Foundation, ICOM, Muzeiko in Bulgaria, and Science Projects in London. He has taught and lectured at numerous universities on museum topics and presented at professional conferences around the world. He is also a two-time Fulbright Specialist grant recipient.

In addition to regular presentations at museum conferences around the world, Paul has also been the editor and originator of the four best-selling Exhibit Cheapbooks, originally published by ASTC and has served on the board of NAME (National Association for Museum Exhibition).