Tag Archives: Zoo in You

Labor Day weekend last chance to see ‘Zoo in You’ exhibit at Public Museum

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Race the clock to build a DNA strand in the Public Museum’s next exhibit “Zoo in You.”

By Christie Bender

Grand Rapids Public Museum

 

Visitors have their last chance to explore the fascinating and complex world inside our bodies in Zoo In You: Microbes, before it closes on Sept. 2. Trillions of microbes make their homes inside our bodies and Zoo in You allows all ages to discover our microbiome — a dynamic, adaptable and delicately balanced ecosystem much like any other found in nature.

 

At Zoo in You, learn who our constant microbial companions are, where they live, how diverse they are and in what ways scientists are discovering just how important they are to our personal health. Explore this vibrant world of our inner microorganisms through engaging, interactive, and bilingual exhibits and programs.

 

“Zoo In You has been wildly popular among visitors all summer long.” said Kate Kocienski, VP of Marketing & PR. “Featuring a variety of games, puzzles, video and digital experiences, this exhibit is hands-on and engaging for all ages to learn more about science. It’s a great way to keep the entire family entertained while learning.”

 

Zoo in You has three thematic areas:  Meet the Microbes, Our Complex Ecosystems and Exploring our Microbiome:

 

Meet the Microbes

Go on an interactive journey to learn all about the four major types of microbes that live in and on us! From bacteria to archaea, fungi to viruses, these tiny non-human organisms outnumber our human cells ten to one. Through hands-on activities, learn about “good” microbes, watch how our microbiome reacts to every day occurrences, and manipulate a marble maze to learn how a newborn baby is first colonized by microbes.

 

Our Complex Ecosystems

Delve deeper into the lives of microbes with green screen technology to get a “weather report” on the climate conditions of your nose, mouth, gut or skin, and a touch-screen video game that challenges guests to keep gut microbes in balance. Adults and kids alike are invited to explore the eye-opening hand “washing” station to observe just how long it takes to be free of germs.

 

Exploring Our Microbiome

Get up close and personal with microbes as they answer tough questions and use a microscope to examine real preserved specimens. Build your own viruses using puzzle pieces, assemble DNA strands as quickly as possible, and even try your hand at matching DNA patterns to the correct microbes. Plus, a unique photo opportunity allows you to imagine what they would look like as a microbe.

 

Zoo In You is free with general admission to the GRPM and runs through Sept.2. For more information, visit grpm.org/ZooInYou.

 

Zoo in You was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This exhibit was made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Grand Rapids Public Museum gets microscopic in newest exhibit

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Race the clock to build a DNA strand in the Public Museum’s next exhibit “Zoo in You.”

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

For the summer, the Grand Rapids Public Museum is taking a look at some of the smallest organisms known to man – microbes.

 

In May, the Museum opened one of three summer exhibits, the “Zoo in You: Microbes.” The exhibit was put together by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the same group behind last summer’s Mindbenders exhibit. So visitors can expect the “Zoo in You” to be just as interactive, said Grand Rapids Public Museum Marketing Director Christie Bender, adding there is lots to do for all ages 

 

“Kids from 6 to 15 will get a lot out of this exhibit and really understand the concepts,” Bender said. 

 

The “Zoo in You” has visitors explore these microbial companions in three thematic areas: Meet the Microbes, Our Complex Ecosystems, and Exploring Our Microbiome.

 

“There are trillions of microbes all over every person and this exhibit lets you get hands on and interactive to explore more about them,” Bender said. “This exhibit takes you all the way down to our microscopic level of our microbes that are actually all over our body.”

 

A marble maze shows how microbes colonize.

Activities include a race-the-clock game to complete a DNA strand to a marble maze game that shows how a newborn baby is colonized by microbes. There is a touch-screen video game along with green screen technology all designed to allow visitors to explore the world of microbes from bacteria to archaea.

 

“There is a hand washing station that teaches us how important it is to wash our hands correctly as well as how long we are doing it and I think most people will be surprised to learn that they probably aren’t washing their hands long enough,” Bender said. “Everything is in game form like puzzles. Very interactive and its makes this exhibit special. You don’t even realize you’re learning while you’re in there.”

 

This exhibit is free with general admission which means those from Kent County who are 17 and under are always free. The exhibit is here through Sept. 2 and it is bilingual which means there are Spanish and English texts throughout the exhibit.

 

On June 16, the Grand Rapids Public Museum will open “Be the Astronaut,” which teaches about the concepts, challenges and excitement of spaceflight, and on July 21, the Museum opens “Hauenstein: A Life of Leadership,” which explores the life of former Grand Rapids resident Ralph W. Hauenstein.

 

For more on activities and exhibits, visit www.grpm.org.

 

WKTV’s Joshua Kennedy contributed to this story.

Grand Rapids Public Museum shines a microscope on the human microbiome

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“Zoo in You: Microbes” opens at the Grand Rapids Public Museum May 19.

By Kate Moore

Grand Rapids Public Museum

 

Trillions of microbes make their homes inside our bodies, and the Grand Rapids Public Museum will introduce you to them! Opening May 19, Zoo in You: Microbes, allows all ages to explore this fascinating and complex world inside us that is our microbiome— a dynamic, adaptable and delicately balanced ecosystem much like any other found in nature.

 

At Zoo in You, learn who our constant microbial companions are, where they live, how diverse they are and in what ways scientists are discovering just how important they are to our personal health. Visitors are invited to explore this vibrant world of our inner microorganisms through engaging, interactive, and bilingual exhibits and programs.

 

“The Museum is excited to take our visitors to a microscopic level to have fun while learning about the organisms who live inside us,” said Kate Moore, VP of Marketing & PR. “This exhibit is a great, hands-on way for all ages to learn more about science. The community can look forward to additional science programming and events to go along with this new exhibit!”

 

Zoo in You has three thematic areas:  Meet the Microbes, Our Complex Ecosystems and Exploring our Microbiome:

 

Meet the Microbes

Go on an interactive journey to learn all about the four major types of microbes that live in and on us! From bacteria to archaea, fungi to viruses, these tiny non-human organisms outnumber our human cells ten to one. Through hands-on activities, learn about “good” microbes, watch how our microbiome reacts to every day occurrences, and manipulate a marble maze to learn how a newborn baby is first colonized by microbes.

 

Our Complex Ecosystems

Delve deeper into the lives of microbes with green screen technology to get a “weather report” on the climate conditions of your nose, mouth, gut or skin, and a touch-screen video game that challenges guests to keep gut microbes in balance. Adults and kids alike are invited to explore the eye-opening hand “washing” station to observe just how long it takes to be free of germs.

 

Exploring Our Microbiome

Get up close and personal with microbes as they answer tough questions and use a microscope to examine real preserved specimens. Build your own viruses using puzzle pieces, assemble DNA strands as quickly as possible, and even try your hand at matching DNA patterns to the correct microbes. Plus, a unique photo opportunity allows you to imagine what they would look like as a microbe.

 

Zoo In You is free with general admission to the GRPM and runs through September 2, 2018. For more information, visit grpm.org/ZooInYou.

 

Museum members can be the first to see the exhibit on Saturday, May 19 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the members only preview! Members can RSVP for the member preview at grpm.org/ZooInYou.

 

Zoo in You was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This exhibit was made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).