The American Museum of Natural History’s latest exhibit, “Nature’s Fury – The Science of Natural Disaster,” which opens on November 15, allows visitors to explore the causes and consequences of natural disasters through interactive activities. The hands-on nature of this exhibit is great for kids, while providing insight into some of the world’s largest natural disasters. Topics include earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, and, hurricanes.
The exhibit works to draw emotion from visitors while also educating them on the science behind natural disasters, and how communities can work together to protect themselves. There are amazing photographs of some of the world’s largest natural disasters, including an image of Hurricane Claudette taken from the International Space Station, 200 miles above Earth.
The visual power and high level of visitor engagement make the exhibit perfect for families. “There are a number of interactives that are tactile and I think would appeal to children,” says Edmond Mathez, the curator of the exhibit and of AMNH’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Some of these activities include following scientists–via video feed–on two continents as they keep watch on volcanic activity at Mount Etna and Yellowstone, and a Hurricane Sandy digital display table. The table provides a visual story of how Hurricane Sandy became New York’s greatest natural disaster, showing how the storm formed, how New York prepared for its arrival, and the destruction it wreaked on the city. There’s also a station where visitors can build their own own volcano and watch it erupt on a large screen in front of them, learning about what a volcano is actually made up of and how its composition determines its explosivity.
Additional highlights include rare, damaged artifacts that were salvaged after such disasters, which help visitors visualize the power of “nature’s fury.”
The exhibit will be on display from November 15, 2014 through August 9, 2015. For more info, visit amnh.org
