Museum of Science and Industry

Opened in October 2007, this new permanent exhibit experience offers guests a dynamic look at our amazing planet in a continuous state of change and renewal. Guests observe the forces that affect climate change, storm formation and other large-scale global phenomena.

Near real-time data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) creates an animated view of our planet on a solid carbon fiber, interactive globe, six feet in diameter. Guests witness the development of Hurricane Katrina; the criss-cross of air traffic across the globe in a 24 hour period; the waves of the Asian tsunami ricocheting around the world; and the lights on Earth, clearly visible at night from space.

The most impressive feature of this new exhibit is the level of interactivity it offers our guests. Facilitated discussions offer an experience tailored to guests' interests and encourage them to learn from each other.

Live demonstrations turn into active conversations among guests of all ages and backgrounds about topics such as climate change, natural disasters and the possibility of life on other planets. A Museum demonstrator has control over the data sets, images and rotation of the globe, so if a fourth-grade student asks a question about Mars, he or she can return to the correct image and answer the question.

"We are also able to get a near real-time look at the Earth from satellite images from NOAA," said Melanie Walker, a Museum exhibit facilitator for Earth Revealed. "With these images, we can create custom programming for our guests in response to major tropical storms or hurricanes. The power of this exhibit is in the dialogue that guests engage in when they see our planet in a new light. Based on the energy and passion of the discussions, I believe these conversations continue even after our guests return home."

Scheduled Programming

Each day, guests have the opportunity to catch one or more of our five facilitated presentations based on real data sets from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

CO2 and You:  Guests learn about carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and what it means to you, our environment, and global warming. Guests also learn ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Dealing With Disaster:  Guests view tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes and their impact on Earth from space and learn about how humans recover from and prevent natural disasters.

Earth Shakes, Rattles and Rolls: Guests learn about the surprising frequency of earthquakes—even right here in Illinois.

There's No Place Like Home?:  Guests explore our solar system and look for signs of life on other planets and moons.

Warning: World's Strongest Storms:  Guests learn about what conditions cause the most severe storms and where they are found using NOAA images and real-time weather data. Does global warming have an impact on the severity of storms?