Children are checking out the new second-floor exhibit at the Montshire Museum of Science.It’s called “Under the Artic: Digging into Permafrost.” Permafrost is a permanently frozen layer beneath the earth’s surface. Researchers said some of it is melting because of climate change. The exhibit is the first of its kind at the museum – giving visitors a hands-on experience.“It’s presented in a way that is very accessible,” said Lara Litchfield-Kimber, executive director of the Montshire. “It’s very uplifting to see how scientists are studying climate change and how they’re using science and research to mitigate the effects of climate change in the Arctic region.”One display is a “Methane Bubble Station” where guests can learn more about permafrost and how it’s melting releases methane and carbon dioxide.Part of this showcase allows kids to get a sense of what Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, or CRREL, scientists do every day at their facility in Hanover.“The empowering side of it is young children can come up and see themselves potentially as researchers in the future contributing to the solution,” Litchfield-Kimber said. “We didn’t want to introduce something that was going to be big and scary. We wanted to introduce something that was going to be accessible.”Another feature is a replica research tunnel based on what scientists use in the Arctic.“It’s actually an exact replica of a research tunnel,” Litchfield-Kimber said. “It has a smell station where you can get a poof of what it’s like to be in a permafrost tunnel. It helps to illustrate what you can find out when you’re digging below the surface.”It was a highlight for some of the visitors at the museum Monday. “When you press a button, you smell it in the tube. It’s so stinky,” said Reno Paquin, a young visitor. Museum staff said they hope this makes climate change and extreme weather an easier topic for parents. “It was designed for parents to be able to learn alongside their kids on something they may not be an expert on. It’s very approachable,” Litchfield-Kimber said. “It’s not very judgmental. The co-learning that can happen in an exhibit like this is the reason we selected it.”The display will be open until Sept. 4.
Children are checking out the new second-floor exhibit at the Montshire Museum of Science.
It’s called “Under the Artic: Digging into Permafrost.” Permafrost is a permanently frozen layer beneath the earth’s surface. Researchers said some of it is melting because of climate change.
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The exhibit is the first of its kind at the museum – giving visitors a hands-on experience.
“It’s presented in a way that is very accessible,” said Lara Litchfield-Kimber, executive director of the Montshire. “It’s very uplifting to see how scientists are studying climate change and how they’re using science and research to mitigate the effects of climate change in the Arctic region.”
One display is a “Methane Bubble Station” where guests can learn more about permafrost and how it’s melting releases methane and carbon dioxide.
Part of this showcase allows kids to get a sense of what Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, or CRREL, scientists do every day at their facility in Hanover.
“The empowering side of it is young children can come up and see themselves potentially as researchers in the future contributing to the solution,” Litchfield-Kimber said. “We didn’t want to introduce something that was going to be big and scary. We wanted to introduce something that was going to be accessible.”
Another feature is a replica research tunnel based on what scientists use in the Arctic.
“It’s actually an exact replica of a research tunnel,” Litchfield-Kimber said. “It has a smell station where you can get a poof of what it’s like to be in a permafrost tunnel. It helps to illustrate what you can find out when you’re digging below the surface.”
It was a highlight for some of the visitors at the museum Monday.
“When you press a button, you smell it in the tube. It’s so stinky,” said Reno Paquin, a young visitor.
Museum staff said they hope this makes climate change and extreme weather an easier topic for parents.
“It was designed for parents to be able to learn alongside their kids on something they may not be an expert on. It’s very approachable,” Litchfield-Kimber said. “It’s not very judgmental. The co-learning that can happen in an exhibit like this is the reason we selected it.”
The display will be open until Sept. 4.
