Exhibit Descriptions
(Note: the numbers after the titles match the numbers on the exhibit map.)
Borehole Geophysics (34)
Watch our excursion logging vehicle and probes during a well logging
simulation. You'll learn the "how and why" of geophysics and its many
applications. Used by us as early as 1942 for groundwater applications,
logging today supports a variety of research activities using more
than 15 different probes at depths of up to 3,500 feet. (Outside South
of NRB)
Build a Patchwork Map (20)
Come learn what a map is by building a "patchwork map." Using aerial
photographs as a guide, you'll use map symbols to draw your part of
the map. (Room 209)
Build Illinois (13)
Geologists are storytellers! They read the rocks like the pages in a
book and recreate for your imagination the vanished landscapes of
ancient Illinois. Hop into an imaginary time machine and head back
through time in this wonderfully engaging demonstration of Illinois'
geologic history. (Room 101)
Celebrating the Chicago Lakefront (4)
2009 is the centennial of the 1909 publicaiton, Plan of Chicago.
This historic document provided a powerful vision for the twentieth
centry development of Chicago and its world-class lakefront. Come
see how this vision was realized (or not) in the city's present-day
lakefront. (1st Floor Main Foyer)
Climate and Climate Change in Illinois (24)
Climate change is an important topic these days. Ever wonder how the
climate of Illinois has changed in the past, how it is changing now,
and what might be in store for the future? Stop by and learn more
about the climate of Illinois and how it impacts our lives.
CoCoRaHS! (23)
Let us tell you about our unique, nonprofit, community-based network
of weather volunteers of all ages and backgrounds: The Community
Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). Each day
hundreds of CoCoRaHS volunteer observers throughout Illinois report
rain, snow, and hail measured in their backyards. Anyone in Illinois
can participate! Find out how you (or your family or school) can
become part of one the largest citizen-scientist programs in the
country.
Corrosion Showcase (30)
Hidden minerals in water cause scale. We've got 45 examples of scale
and corrosion to show you. Come see them and learn about the causes of
the scale buildup in the pipes in your home. You'll be able to do an
experiment and watch the scale particles come out of solution.
Drilling Demo (35)
How do scientists get their information about the subsurface? Watch
us drill a borehole to see the methods used to extract a core of
sediment, install a monitoring well, and conduct various borehole
geophysical tests. Geologists, hydrogeologists, and geophysicists
will display, describe, and interpret core samples and display
equipment used to measure various geophysical and hydrologic
parameters. (Outside-South of NRB)
Exotic Insect Invasion (1)
Do you ever wonder what those large rectangular purple traps are?
Here's your chance to look inside one and identify the emerald ash
borer. (1st Floor Hall)
Fun with Gases, Liquids, and Solids (18)
Join us for simple experiments in physical chemistry that show the
characteristics of liquid nitrogen and the influence of sub-zero
temperatures on certain gases. You'll be able to observe sublimation
and watch a demonstration of pressure and vacuum. (Room 223)
Fun with Water Chemistry (19)
See how much fun science can be! Join us for demonstrations and
hands-on activities that highlight water chemistry. You'll get to use
indicators, test strips, and meters to study the pH of household
substances; observe properties of supersaturated solutions; use
polymers to make "slime" and remove the color from Kool-Aid.
(Room 211)
Fun with Weather (25)
How cold, hot, or wet was it? Find out the area weather for any week
of the past 20 years. We've got it all: from air temperature and rain
to the amount of sunshine, the speed of the wind, and even the
temperature of the soil. Get an idea about the kind of weather that
might occur on your next birthday, a friend's big event, or your
grandparents' anniversary. (Tent)
Geologic Time (15)
The Earth is a very old and very dynamic place. It is often difficult
to imagine just how old the Earth really is. This display illustrates
part of the Earth's history and shows how the location of Illinois on
the planet has changed during past epochs. You'll see examples of the
kinds of animals or plants that lived in Illinois. (2nd Floor Hall)
Glacial Geology of Illinois (28)
See how the huge glaciers that repeatedly covered parts of Illinois
during the ice age caused both erosion and deposition as the ice
advanced and then retreated. Glacial deposits are the parent materials
of Illinois' richest soils. (Greenhouse)
Go "Green" with Ease (42)
Cut down on energy, reduce your use of harmful solvents, and serve
the environment with these easy, helpful tips. (Garage)
Grease Gator (41)
Imagine continuously washing the dirtiest, greasiest machine parts
with a cleaning solution that never gets dirty. This
demonstration will show you how an aqueous cleaning system cleans
faster than other solvent systems, without fluid exchange services
or harmful emissions and waste products.
Groundwater: A Moving Experience (11)
Watch our groundwater model demonstration to see how groundwater
moves through the subsurface toward a pumping well. You'll learn how
earth materials of different grain sizes affect the movement of
groundwater. You'll also discover how surface contaminants can affect
the quality of the groundwater that supplies most of our water supply
in east-central Illinois. (Room 101)
Groundwater: Understanding the Mahomet Aquifer (12)
See how computer modeling helps us understand the Mahomet
aquifer—the extremely important source of water for hundreds of
communities and cropland in east-central Illinois. You'll discover
how the computer simulations are used to study the impacts of
ever-increasing water withdrawals on the aquifer. (Room 101)
How Streams Work (32)
Streams are fascinating! We don't have a real stream, but we've got
the next best thing. Our stream table functions just like a real
stream. You'll be able to experiment with stream dynamics and get a
close-up view of how streams work and how they change. Be careful,
or you might get a little wet! (Greenhouse)
Illinois from Space (22)
Have you wondered what your farm, city, or hometown looks like from
space? You'll be able to see the unique landscapes of Illinois at
this interactive exhibit. The images you'll see have been acquired
from satellites orbiting approximately 400 miles in space. Take home
a map of the entire state—or of the Chicago metropolitan
area—to hang in your room! (2nd Floor Hall)
Illinois' Petroleum Resources (33)
Visit the traveling exhibit of the Illinois Petroleum Resource Board
to see working models of oil field equipment. You'll have a chance
to learn about the importance of oil and gas in your daily life and
increase your awareness of the science and business aspects of the
Illinois oil and gas industry. For more information, visit the IPRB
Web site:
http://iprb.org/
(Outside South of NRB)
Illinois Rivers Online (17)
The online Illinois Rivers Decision Support System is designed to
provide scientific support and access to high-quality information
about the rivers and watersheds of Illinois. You'll be able to find
out how to navigate the site to create maps, view animations, search
a knowledge base for additional resources, and much more. (Room 227)
Illinois Wetlands: A Water Resource (31)
Receive an introduction to Illinois wetlands, and discover why they
are important to us. The interactive demonstrations, including the
"bog in a bucket," will help you learn about wetlands without getting
your feet wet. You'll also see examples of wetland research studies
conducted by INRS scientists. (Greenhouse)
Insects of Medical Importance (5)
Mosquitoes and ticks can ruin an outdoor gathering or adventure
faster than you can say ouch! Learn about these pesky Illinois insects
and the diseases they can transmit. (1st Floor-Main
Foyer)
Kids Fossils Dig (27)
Kids of all ages can dig for plant and animal fossils—keep one
of the fossils you find! Fossils range in age from 300 million to 480
million years old. (Greenhouse)
Magnetometer Survey (36)
Try to find a buried utility line using a magnetometer. Or see if
you can stump a friend with a hidden magnet. (Outside)
Make the Earth Shake Beneath Your Feet! (37)
What seismic methods are used to visualize geology below the surface?
You'll find out at this exhibit. Plus, you can send seismic waves
through the ground yourself and watch how the ground shakes beneath
your feet when you walk. (Outside)
Midwestern Regional Climate Center (7)
The Midwestern Regional Climate Center maintains records of past
weather data and climate information for the nine-state Midwest
region. Discover how past weather data is used to answer questions
from the general public, businesses, and government. You'll also
learn how this information is used to study climate changes and how
weather affects our everyday activities.
Mining Coal Resources in Illinois (6)
Maps, photos, and a video will help you visualize the state's coal
resources and mining history. Take a few minutes to come learn about
one of Illinois' most interesting and economically important
resources. (Tent)
Mud to Parks (40)
Our scientists have led this project that takes large amounts of
sediment from places where it is clogging rivers and depositing the
sediment where it can be used to restore the area habitat. (Garage)
Mushrooms of Illinois (2)
You'll be just in time for the popular morel session. Learn about
which Illinois fungi you can eat—and which should just be
admired. (1st Floor Hall)
Mussels of Illinois (3)
Did you know that mussels are an important indicator of stream
health? Learn about Illinois mussel species, their characteristics
and habitat, and why many are threatened or endangered. (Room 32)
Natural Hazard Identification and Mapping (14)
Are you surprised to find that flooding causes more damage in
Illinois than any other natural disaster? Learn about flood hazard
maps that are now available in digital formats. You'll also find out
about the tools that are available to identify and estimate community
risks from flooding. (Room 261)
Nitrates in Lake Decatur Drinking Water (16)
Nitrate in drinking water is not what the City of Decatur wants.
We've been monitoring Lake Decatur for 15 years. This poster shows
where we have been collecting data (between Decatur and Rantoul),
how much nitrate is delivered to Lake Decatur, and how that delivery
changes over time from within the watershed before it gets to the
lake. (2nd Floor Hall)
Publication Sales and Teacher Resources (9)
Now is your chance to browse or buy our most popular recent posters,
maps, and publications. Field manuals, guides to Illinois' insects,
mammals, fossils, and rocks, Good Guy/Bad Guy cards, coloring
posters, and games are just some of what we want to show you. During
your visit, enter our drawing to win a free publication. Teachers,
we also have information about teacher workshops, curricula, posters,
and other materials relevant to earth and environmental sciences.
(Room 123)
Rain Check Network: Check It Out (8)
Kids of all ages can be involved as weather watchers. Come get a
free rain gauge and add your precipitation information to the
database maintained on the Illinois State Water Survey Web site.
(Room 139)
Sampling Illinois River Sediment (39)
Come see some examples from our core collection. We obtained the
sediment from the Illinois River in ten-foot-long core samples. The
samples were then analyzed for soil qualities and properties,
including chemical contaminants. The information these cores contain
is useful for projects being undertaken to restore the river
ecosystem. (Garage)
Sloth Says...Ice Age, WHAT? (29)
This "hands-on" exhibit lets you learn about the materials deposited
by glacial ice in Illinois. You can touch samples of "glaciers;"
watch how water sorts sediment; examine till, striated rocks, and
gravel containing erratic pebbles; and learn where to look in
Illinois to find these materials. (Greenhouse)
Trees Tell Stories (21)
Trees are more than just a pretty decoration on the on the landscape.
Learn how to identify trees and read the stories tree rings tell
about past climates and landscape changes. (Room 203)
Underground Cavern Display (10)
View a simulated cave environment featuring stalagmites and
stalactites. Internal illumination of one stalagmite—which
started growing 80,000 years ago—reveals the abundant growth
rings that tell the story of the geologic processes and climate
changes that took place during its formation. (1st Floor
Northeast Entrance)
What's in Our Rain? (26)
Want to try your hand at being an environmental chemist? Find out
about the quality of rainwater from locations across the United
States? You'll be able to test the pH of common household solutions
and samples from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program. You'll
see how pH varies across the United States, and how pH relates to
local sources of air pollution. (Tent)
The World of Arthropods (38)
Enter the INHS Mobile Science Center and explore
The World of Arthropods. Over 80% of all named species of animals
are arthropods, and this exhibit explores their incredible diversity.
The mobile unit contains large display cases, microscope stations,
information panels, and a lighted quiz board. (Outside)
The Earth, Wind and Fire 5K Run and 2.5K Walk will kick off at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14. For more information on this event or to register go to the Web page, or contact the race director, Don Luman (217-244-2179 or dluman@isgs.illinois.edu). SATURDAY ONLY. (Registration inside main Natural Resource Building foyer.) Race starting line: northeast of Natural Resource
Updated 9/16/09 AW