Trip to the Koshland Science Museum in DC

I've always been one for science museums, with all their interactive computer screens and vast amounts of information, I've found them intriguing since I was a little girl. Though when I was little and would go to museums there weren't touch screens, but rather demonstrations on centrifugal force using pennies and a funnel. :) While both are exciting in their own way, I like the advancements technology has made to the experience of going to science museums. Well last Wednesday, the 16th of November, my Environmental Concerns class took a field trip to the Koshland Science Museum in Washington DC, and the museum certainly did not disappoint! 

We acted as guinea pigs for their new exhibit on global warming, and it was very enlightening. First we learned about the carbon exchanging that happens between land and aquatic animals, plants, sediments and rocks, the atmosphere, and water. I got to play water in the fun little skit that we played out which demonstrated the exchanging of carbon, and where most of that carbon ends up (I won't ruin the ending for you in case you want to go and experience the game for yourself, but lets just say that it demonstrated how important it is to protect our air and water ;). 

Next we went on a treasure hunt of sorts to find information on global warming, including its causes and solutions to the problems it puts forth. Personally, I finally got to see what a coral core looks like, and found out that we have information on temperature fluctuations dating back 1,000,000 years! And according to that info, the earth has never been as warm as it is today. Take THAT disbelievers of global warming!!

There were many fun and educational activities that I engaged in while at the Koshland Museum. Because of my love for maps and globes my favorite was the Lights at Night exhibit, which was an interactive computer-generated globe that allowed you to see satellite images of the nighttime lights around the world from space. There were many variables from which you could choose to view different aspects of the lights at night, including different years, maps with and without roads and borders. It was, in a word, awesome! 

Another aspect of the global warming exhibit which was pretty cool, once I figured out how to use it, (yes, there are technical activities that even Gen Y'ers can't figure out without a little help! Esp this one!), was the Climate Change Mitigation Decision Game, which showed you how to reduce human impact to the environment by choosing different elements of environmental planning to develop. These included reducing dependency on oil, using more environmentally friendly building practices, increasing transportation efficiency, and many more. It was very enlightening, and demonstrated the positive impact these changes could have on our currently desperate situation with a diagram at the end, which showed how your personal plan will impact the world if put into use, which I thought was a very unique and fun touch. 

All in all, the trip was quite fabulous. I learned quite a few things, and came away with a stronger basis for my arguments against those folks who still don't believe in the severity of the problem of global warming, or rather, climate change. It's a great museum, and I highly recommend it. 

Here is their contact info:

 Museum Location
525 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

 For General Inquiries
Phone: 202-334-1201
Toll-free 888-KOSHLAND (888-567-4526)

http://www.koshland-science-museum.org/index.jsp