In March of 1999, the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago opened a permanent exhibit dedicated to the world below our feet. The Underground Adventure invites the museum visitor to shrink to the size of a fingernail and delve into the realm of soil. This fascinating exhibit has become extremely popular over the past 12 years, and is a highlight of the museum experience.
The Underground Adventure does a remarkable job of educating visitors of all ages. Interactive exhibits and demonstrations help visitors understand the basics of soil physical and chemical processes, the rich and diverse plant and animal life in soils, and principles of soil conservation. Additional resources are available to educators to expand upon the museum experience in their classrooms.
This exhibit was developed with the assistance of members of the Illinois Soil Classifiers Association (ISCA), an organization of professional soil scientists promoting the wise use of the soil resource. Shortly after the exhibit opened, the ISCA and its member scientists began participating in the Scientist at the Field program. This program puts a scientist outside of an exhibit to provide museum visitors an opportunity to interact with someone knowledgeable in the science behind the exhibit. The scientist talks with visitors about the exhibit, supplementing what they will see or have seen. Visitor’s questions are answered. The scientist may also provide hands-on demonstrations and have educational materials to distribute. Typically, the scientist is available one day per week during the summer, and one day per month during the rest of the year.
 |
| Hands on demonstration at entrance to Underground Adventure |
As a participating scientist, I have found this experience truly delightful. My teen-age daughter enjoys accompanying me as my assistant. It’s not uncommon to chat with 150 or more museum visitors of all ages and backgrounds in the course of our three-hour stint outside the exhibit. We provide supplemental experiences to the exhibit in the form of hands-on demonstrations of soil texture and color. We have a small display of a section of a soil profile complete with soil organisms. We’ll also hand out educational materials that include bookmarks, postcards, and posters illustrating some aspect of soil.
The Field Museum serves a large urban population and many of these visitors have little understanding how soils relate to their lives. Urban school districts and park districts often bring groups of young people to the museum. Their environment may not provide them with a connection to soil or plants. These kids are quite eager to get their hands dirty comparing soil textures or describing soil color. They are amazed at the number and kinds of animals that live in the soil. Perhaps this sort of experience will start them on a course of environmental awareness and active stewardship.
Recent Comments