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A TRAVELING EXHIBITION FROM
EXHIBITION BRIEF CONTENTS
Introduction…………..……………………2-3
Specifications……………...…………….…..4
Floorplan ……………………………………5
Exhibition Walkthrough……….…………6-12
Curator Biographies ………………………..13
Visitor Research…………………………14-15
Field Museum Mission……………………...16
Contacts………………...…………………...16
INTRODUCTION
The earth is a dynamic planet, with natural cycles that have shaped our planet for billions of
years. These cycles can sometimes lead to major phenomena, however—such as earthquakes,
tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis—which can have grave consequences
for the humans who get in their way. Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters explores the
science behind these events and the human responses to living with them. This media- and
interactive-rich exhibition fills 7,000-8,000 sq. ft. (650-750 sq. m.) with an array of real artifacts
and specimens, large multi-media experiences, and engaging interactives that give visitors a
hands-on experience with exciting science and compelling personal responses.
Come face to face with the inside of a tornado, create your own volcano and earthquake, and
witness the aftermath of several historical disasters. Learn about these events from a geological,
cultural, ecological, and global perspective. Understand why these events happen and how we
can study and sometimes better predict them. Explore possible future events, and how human
behavior may affect their severity. Customize a section of the exhibition to feature natural
disasters of particular relevance to your local audience.
A timely presentation of natural disasters that is both scientific and fascinating, Nature
Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters appeals to visitors of all ages through dynamic, multilevel experiences.
Nature Unleashed will…
• Foster a greater understanding of the earth processes that cause natural disasters
• Illuminate the research that helps us better prepare for and respond to these events
• Explore the tools scientists use to study and predict these events
• Help visitors develop a greater appreciation for the roles that natural disasters play in
various ecosystems and cultures
• Make cultural connections to people throughout history and around the world through
common responses to these events
Visitors to Nature Unleashed will…
• Experience the sights and sounds of a tornado first-hand
• Be amazed by storm-tossed objects from famous natural disasters
• View real-time seismic activity from around the globe
• Explore why people continue to live in the Ring of Fire or Tornado Alley
• Examine geologic evidence of earthquakes and volcanoes
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HIGHLIGHTS
This exhibition provides host venues with a valuable and memorable experience for their family
and adult audiences, highlighting the cycles that trigger these events and the impact they have on
global communities. Featuring the award-winning artistry of The Field Museum’s Exhibitions
Department, the exhibition can flexibly adapt to a variety of spaces and incorporates a wealth of
exciting experiences, including multi-media environments, incredible artifacts, and interactive
experiences for all ages.
Real Artifacts, Specimens, and Tools
• Marvel at the power of the elements to alter everyday items by examining artifacts from
Greensburg, Kansas, which was flattened by an EF-5 tornado in 2007
• Make connections with historic disasters by seeing ash from the 1980 eruption of Mt. St.
Helens and other volcanoes
• Catch a glimpse into another’s life by viewing household items damaged by Hurricane
Katrina
• See real tools used to measure and predict natural disasters, such as seismographs,
dropsondes, and volcanic “spiders”
Interactives
• Simulate your own earthquake by jumping on a seismic sensor
• Test different buildings against earthquakes
• Touch models of the four types of volcanoes to discover their similarities and differences
• Build and erupt your own volcano
• Investigate how hurricanes can become “un-natural disasters” when weather meets city
planning
• Search the Science Buzz kiosk for the most recent disaster headlines
• Move tectonic plates through the process of subduction
• Listen to the rumble of an earthquake from underground
• Explore the difference between primary and secondary earthquake waves
• Interact with streaming USGS data of tectonic activity worldwide and manipulate a realtime map to observe how deeply recent quakes penetrated into the earth
Media
• Experience the center of a tornado in a circular theater featuring the only footage ever
captured from inside a twister
• Learn how an earthquake on the ocean floor can trigger massive tsunamis
• Observe how a hurricane forms as winds and warm temperatures combine
• Watch satellite footage from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami as the wave spread around
the globe
• Marvel at large-format projections of actual footage from hurricanes, volcanoes,
earthquakes, and tornadoes
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EXHIBITION SPECIFICATIONS
Size Requirements: 7,000-8,000 sq. ft. (650-750 sq. m.) gallery with 12 ft. (3.7 m.) ceiling
height
Rental Fee:
$250,000 USD for 3 months; please inquire about longer bookings
Shipping:
One-way, inbound, paid by host venue (please inquire about international
arrangements)
Languages:
All text is in English; language may be translated by international host
venues
Support:
Field Museum staff technicians lead onsite installation and de-installation
Educator’s Guide, including information for teacher, student, and public
programs
Exhibition Tooklit, including logo, installation photographs, rights-free
images, B-roll, and sample press release and advertisements
Installation and Design Manual detailing exhibition layout, installation,
and maintenance
Sponsorship:
Allstate is the national sponsor for the exhibition’s North American tour.
Please inquire about international sponsorship opportunities.
Website:
www.fieldmuseum.org/natureunleashed
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EXHIBITION WALKTHROUGH
INTRODUCTION: THE DYNAMIC EARTH
As visitors enter the exhibition, they encounter five lightboxes with large photographs depicting
the five types of natural disasters that the exhibition addresses: earthquakes, tsunamis,
hurricanes, volcanoes, and tornadoes. Next, a large, backlit image of Earth with moving LEDs
illustrates the scientific foundation for natural disasters: the process of convection. Visitors
learn that convection in the atmosphere produces hurricanes and tornadoes, and convection deep
within the earth causes volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Against a soundscape of
subterranean echoes, visitors learn that our planet is constantly changing, and that it is this
change that has created natural disasters—which only become “disasters” when they interact
with living organisms—since Earth’s formation.
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SECTION 1: EARTHQUAKES
Earthquakes are the far-reaching effects of movement between huge tectonic plates that comprise
the earth’s crust. When two plates collide, the shock waves reverberate through the crust,
making the surface of the earth roll and shake. Examine rock samples from below the earth’s
crust and artifacts and equipment from above it to investigate why earthquakes occur and how
cultures respond. Through a series of mechanical and touch-screen interactives, explore how
some of history’s major earthquakes have inspired new building, detection, and response
technologies. Learn about different types of faults, see how earthquakes cause tsunamis, and
observe where seismic activity is occurring around the world right now.
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Content
Earth’s geologic structure
Fault types
How faults cause quakes
and tsunamis
San Francisco (1906)
New Madrid (1811-1812)
Indian Ocean (2004)
Living with earthquakes
Tools geologists use to
detect and measure
earthquakes
Objects & Displays
• Geological
specimens (some
touchable)
showing evidence
of faulting
• Historic and
modern
seismographs
• Artifacts from
communities hit by
tsunamis
• Photo panels of
featured disasters
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Interactives & Media
Interactive: quake-safe buildings
Interactive: real-time seismic
activity around the globe
Interactive: “jump” quake
simulation
Interactive: elastic rebound
principle
Interactive: primary and
secondary waves
Media: earthquake and tsunami
footage
Media: how a tsunami forms
Media: satellite footage of 2004
Indian Ocean tsunami
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SECTION 2: VOLCANOES
Volcanic eruptions can bury whole cities in lava and ash, but they also play a fundamental role in
shaping our planet, forming islands, enriching soil, and releasing gases that are necessary for life.
Learn about different types of volcanoes and why they erupt. Investigate historic volcanic
eruptions that took civilizations by surprise, as well as the methods scientists use today to
monitor volcanic activity and predict eruptions. Find out why people continue to live near active
volcanoes, and explore calderas, volcanic hotspots that move over time.
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Content
Different volcano forms
and how they erupt
The principle of
subduction
Krakatoa (1883)
Mt. Vesuvius (A.D. 79)
Mt. St. Helens (1980)
Hot spots: Yellowstone
National Park
Benefits of living with
volcanoes
Objects & Displays
• Lava and
household objects
from Mt. Vesuvius
and Pompeii
• Volcanic “spider”
damaged at Mt. St.
Helens
• Products from
volcanic soil
• Obsidian, hardened
lava, and ash
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Interactives & Media
Interactive: create and erupt
your own volcano
Interactive: turn the crank to
illustrate how subduction works
Touchable replicated volcanoes
Touchable lava specimens
Media: footage of erupting
volcanoes
Media: hotspots in Yellowstone
Science Buzz kiosk with updated
natural disaster headlines (may
be placed in any section)
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SECTION 3: HURRICANES
Hurricanes—large, rotating wind systems that form over tropical waters—threaten coastal
communities every year. Discover why hurricanes form and why they can be so destructive,
then see what kinds of tools and technologies scientists have developed to study, track, and
predict these storms. Examine evocative objects that survived Hurricane Katrina, and listen to
survivors’ stories in their own words. Explore the ways in which regional infrastructure can
affect a hurricane’s aftermath, and meet scientists who are studying tree rings to investigate the
relationship between hurricanes and climate change.
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Content
How hurricanes form
How hurricanes do their
damage: wind, rain, and
floods
Galveston (1900)
Katrina (2005)
Bhola cyclone (1970)
Ecological benefits of
hurricanes
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Objects & Displays
Objects damaged by
Hurricane Katrina
Katrina’s Kids Project
artwork
Tree section showing
hurricane cycles over time
Equipment used to monitor
and respond to hurricanes
Interactives & Media
Interactive: famous
storms and their effects
• Media: hurricane
footage
• Media: Katrina
survivor audio stories
• Animation: the making
of a hurricane
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SECTION 4: TORNADOES AND CONCLUSION
Tornado Alley, an area covering nine states in the central United States, is the most active
tornado region in the world. Step into the tornado theater and experience the turbulent winds in
surround-film and -sound as caught on tape by storm chaser Tim Samaras. Witness the aftermath
of one of the worst tornadoes in history: the EF5 tornado that struck Greensburg, Kansas, in
2007. Learn how the citizens of Greensburg are turning their tragedy into possibility by
rebuilding their community on an entirely sustainable model. Finally, exit the exhibition past
vivid images that offer present-day glimpses into the disaster-hit communities featured in the
Introduction. These images offer the hope of regrowth and the promise that we can thrive, even
when confronted with nature’s most powerful forces.
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Content
How tornadoes form
Storm chaser science
Greensburg (2007)
Tri-state Tornado (1925)
Living in Tornado Alley
Watches and Warnings
Community recovery
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Objects & Displays
Tim Samaras’ tornado probe
Objects damaged by
Greensburg tornado: stump
with embedded metal, stop
sign, street lamp punctured
by wood, and others
Interactives & Media
Tornado surround
theater
• Animation: the making
of a tornado
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FINAL OBJECT LIST
Zone
Earthquakes
Section
San Francisco
2004 Indian Ocean
Volcanoes
Krakatoa
Object
Type
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Prop
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Specimens
Specimens
Specimen
Specimen
Specimen
Specimen
Prop
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Prop
Prop
Dropwindsonde
Anemometer
Fujita Satellite Wheel
Radio console
Tree ring showing hurricane patterns
NOAA weather radio
Disaster Prep Kit
Artifact
Props
Mt. Vesuvius
Volcanoes Central
Hurricanes
Galveston
Faulted yellow and blue sandstone
Faulted sandstone showing coloration
Faulted marble
Reverse fault in Lyons sandstone
Faults in sandstone "Calico Rock"
Faulted Amphibolite Layers in Marble TOUCHABLE
Seismograph (old drum)
Modern Seismograph
Paddle from Sepik Coast
Fish-trap from Sepik Coast
Paddle from Sepik Coast
Sago paddle from Sepik Coast
Sago tool from Sepik Coast
Tsunami warning sign
Volcanic Ash from the May 18, 1980
eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
Jar of ash from Mt. St Helens that fell in
Idaho
"Spider" monitoring equipment damaged
by current Mt. St. Helens eruption
Products made from pumice and volcanic
soil
Coins, rings and beadwork fused together
Fragments covered in pumice
Contorted lava from Mt. Vesuvius
Pele's Hair from Kilauea
Volcanic Bomb
Lapilli
Tuff (Zebra)
Lava, Pahoehoe
Black obsidian, unpolished
Green obsidian
Marekanite
Touchable lava (4-5 pieces)
Artifact
Mt. St. Helens
Description
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FINAL OBJECT LIST (CONT.)
Katrina
Prop
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Tornadoes
Greensburg
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
Tim Samaras
Artifact
Tri-state tornado
Artifact
Small boat (to hang from ceiling)
Meal ready to eat (MRE)
"Sick Call" cross with candle and holy
water used during Katrina
Newspaper from home damaged by
Katrina
Framed poster with water line from home
damaged by Katrina
Clarinet from home damaged by Katrina
Malcolm X poster damaged by Katrina
Notes attached to a tree after Katrina, and
a photo of the original in-situ
Katrina's Kids Project artwork
Stump with embedded metal
Street lamp punctured by scrap of wood
Damaged stop sign
Damaged fan
Damaged door from hotel
Damaged chair
Branch with bark stripped off
Damaged basketball backboard from
elementary school
Tim Samaras tornado probe that captured
footage in surround theater
Newspaper from 1925 tri-state tornado
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CURATOR AND CONTENT ADVISOR BIOGRAPHIES
John Edward Terrell, Ph.D.
Regenstein Curator of Pacific Anthropology, The Field Museum
Adjunct Professor of Anthropology, Northwestern University and University of Illinois at
Chicago
Dr. John Edward Terrell graduated with highest honors from Harvard College (A.B., 1964) and
was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He completed his graduate work at the University of
Pennsylvania, the University of Auckland, and Harvard University (where he received his M.A.
and Ph.D. degrees in Anthropology). Dr. Terrell has explored the Sepik Coast of New Guinea
since 1990 and was involved in the Sepik Coast’s response to the 1998 tsunami that killed two
thousand people on its shores. He is currently involved with field investigations examining the
complex interactions of human and natural systems in this remote area of the world. Dr.
Terrell’s books include Prehistory in the Pacific Islands (Cambridge, 1986); and Darwin &
Archaeology: A Handbook of Key Concepts (with John P. Hart, Bergin & Garvey, 2002). For
their paper “Lapita and the temporal geography of prehistory,” Terrell and his colleague Robert
L. Welsch were awarded the Antiquity Prize for 1997.
Jonathan D. W. Kahl, Ph.D.
Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Dr. Jonathan Kahl has undertaken extensive research on meteorological aspects of air pollution
and global climate change. His work has taken him to Siberia to work with Russian scientists in
a cooperative effort to assess the influence of environmental change on climate. In addition, Dr.
Kahl has served as Research Associate at the Cooperative Institute for Research in
Environmental Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and as National Research
Council Research Associate at the Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory at NOAA.
Dr. Kahl’s strong interest in children’s education has led him to develop an online meteorology
curriculum that allows middle- and high-school students to make weather forecasts using internet
data (http://www.uwm.edu/~kahl/Forecast/). Dr. Kahl is the author of The National Audubon
Society First Field Guide to Weather, winner of the Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Book
Award from the American Library Association, as well as the award-winning How’s the
Weather? series of weather books for readers in grades four through nine.
Seth Stein, Ph.D.
William Deering Professor of Geological Sciences, Northwestern University
As a researcher whose work emphasizes the relationship between plate tectonics and
earthquakes, Dr. Seth Stein was one of the developers of a global model showing how fast plates
move, data crucial to understanding where and when large earthquakes occur. Dr. Stein has
tested such models using the Global Positioning System satellites, which can see in just a few
years motions that happen over millions of years. He has served as Scientific Director of
UNAVCO, the consortium of universities using GPS for earth science, and has helped organize
EarthScope, a new national initiative to investigate the structure and evolution of the North
American landmass. Dr. Stein has founded Northwestern University’s Environmental Science
program and serves on the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology’s Education and
Outreach Committee (IRISEOC), which works to increase public understanding of earthquakes.
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FRONT-END RESEARCH:
TOPIC POPULARITY
Objective
The Field Museum surveyed Museum members and general museum-goers to determine the
most popular exhibition topics in a group of 30 possibilities.
Details of Museum Member Research
• 362 member groups (many respondents were couples and family groups) surveyed during
Members’ Night
• Surveys took place in June 2005
Details of External Group Research
• 501 respondents of various ethnic and economic backgrounds surveyed by Harris Poll
organization via online survey
• Respondents were museum-goers who have visited a museum in Chicago in the past 2
years but don’t often visit The Field Museum
• Half of respondents were from Chicago area; other half were from surrounding states of
Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana
• Surveys took place in July 2005
Combined findings from Museum Members and External Groups
• Among exhibition topics drawn from various Field Museum subject areas (Anthropology,
Botany, Geology, Zoology), Nature Unleashed ranked #1.
• In addition to ranking very highly with Field Museum members and general museumgoers, research showed that the Nature Unleashed exhibition also:
o Appeals strongly to infrequent or new visitors
o Appeals strongly to families
o Appeals strongly to non-Caucasians
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FIELD MUSEUM OPENING WEEKEND VISITOR RESPONSE SURVEYS
Details
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519 people surveyed onsite, May 24 – 26, 2008
41% of respondents were first-time visitors; 24% had visited The Field Museum more
than 5 times
89% of respondents were non-members
53% of respondents were from out of town; 47% were from Chicago
How did you feel about the exhibition?
Amazed in every way (125)
Better than I expected (264)
Exactly what I expected (102)
A bit disappointing (28)
24.0%
51.0%
20.0%
5.0%
Would you recommend this exhibition to friends and family?
Yes (491)
No (22)
96.0%
4.0%
Time in Exhibition:
0-15 minutes (16)
16-30 minutes (122)
31-45 minutes (149)
46-60 minutes(140)
61 or greater (147)
3.0%
21.0%
26.0%
24.0%
26.0%
Selected Visitor Comments
ƒ Gave me a better understanding of these disasters.
ƒ Very intrigued by exhibit.
ƒ Very entertaining, made me feel more educated about natural disasters.
ƒ It was incredible. I feel very fortunate to have seen this exhibit.
ƒ I loved it.
ƒ It really made me feel that I shouldn’t sweat the small stuff in life.
ƒ It was amazing.
ƒ I like the personal stories.
ƒ Very informative and interesting.
ƒ Katrina stories personalized the disaster's impact on me.
ƒ Very educating and exciting.
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The Field Museum
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Since its inception in 1893, The Field Museum has dedicated itself to exploring the Earth and its
peoples, building on the strength of its world-renowned collections and scientific research to
engage visitors of all ages. Through innovative exhibitions and education programs, cutting-edge
environmental conservation projects, and pioneering fieldwork undertaken on every continent,
over 500 full-time Field Museum staff members share their knowledge about important
scientific, cultural, and environmental issues with an average of 1.5 million guests each year.
The Field Museum is an international leader in evolutionary biology, paleontology, archaeology,
and ethnography. The Museum's approximately 300 curatorial and scientific staff in the four
departments of Anthropology, Botany, Geology, and Zoology conduct research in more than 90
countries around the world. These scientists also study and preserve the 24 million artifacts and
specimens within The Field Museum’s collections and collaborate with the departments of
Education and Exhibitions to create exciting and informative public programs.
Field Museum traveling exhibitions combine cutting-edge research with award-winning design.
From the world’s most famous dinosaur to the natural and cultural history of chocolate, from
natural disasters to landmark scientific discoveries, The Field Museum’s exhibitions explore
intriguing topics that encompass natural history, contemporary science, ethnology, community
participation, and popular culture. Clients as varied as natural history museums, science centers,
art museums, children’s museums, and local history centers have enjoyed The Field Museum’s
engaging exhibitions and exceptional service and support.
CONTACTS
For more information:
Amy Bornkamp
Traveling Exhibitions Manager
(001) 312.665.7404
[email protected]
Gretchen Baker
Traveling Exhibitions Manager
(001) 312.665.7370
[email protected]
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