Learn about Climate with our new Science Passport

Past visitors to Open House will recognize our science passport activity; children can pick their passports up in the Welcome Tent and collect stamps as they visit each exhibit. Once they collect all the stamps, they return to the Welcome Tent for a small prize.

October 02, 2017
cover image for climate science passport with nature graphics

This year’s passport is focused on helping kids learn about the earth’s climate by encouraging visits to 8 exhibits:

Exhibit 3: Core Repository

In the Lamont-Doherty Core Repository, kids can explore thousands of cores, rocks and sediments taken from beneath the ocean floor. Deep-sea sediments contain fossils of marine animals, volcanic glass, cosmic spherules, and other unusual materials unique to a marine environment.

Exhibit 6: Biology & Paleo Environment

The Biology and Paleo Environment Division is a diverse group of oceanographers, geologists, geochemists, biologists and environmental scientists. At their exhibit, kids can collect their own plankton, learn about microbial oceanography by playing a card game, design their own phytoplankton, and more!

Exhibit 7a: Geochemistry Water Pump Race

Researchers in the Geochemistry Division seek to understand Earth’s environments by studying its history—and the processes, past and present, that have governed these environments. In this exhibit, learn more about the race for sufficient and safe water in Rockland County and Bangladesh  by taking part in a foot race!

Exhibit 10a: Ocean and Climate Physics

The Ocean and Climate Physics (OCP) division works to understand Earth’s climate system and its natural and human-induced changes. Experience first-hand the salinity of the world’s oceans through salt-water tasting; see how various features of the atmospheric and oceanic circulation can be simulated in a tank of water, and learn more about these circulation features in our visualization lab; practice taking temperature measurements with an IR “gun”, and learn how this relates to the satellites that measure Earth from space; and more.

Exhibit 12: International Research Institute for Climate and Society

IRI scientists work to improve the lives of people in developing countries through the development and smart application of climate information and forecasts. Through game play, learn about forecasting, climate and probability.

Exhibit 13: Marine Geology & Geophysics

Learn how glaciers flow using “glacier goo” and see how ice pushes down the land in Greenland by checking out physical models of the ice and ice surfaces. Play the EcoChains card game based on connections between the natural world and human influences. Interact with GeoMapApp and EarthObserver to can examine the details of seafloor topography, add layers to show earthquakes and volcanoes, and discover how polar sea ice changes with time. (Also, learn how to import your own data – ideal for school projects – and how to save the maps for your school report!)

Exhibit 14: Tree-ring Laboratory

Join tree-ring scientists to learn how they use ancient trees to learn about historical climate, geology, and ecology to better understand the changes happening today. Visit the Tree-Ring Laboratory to meet the scientists, examine tree- ring samples and view a new of field photography.

Exhibit 16: International Ocean Discovery Program/Center for Marine Operations

Meet the JOIDES Resolution. Learn about engineering technology and the drilling process. What is a core? Learn about on-board outreach opportunities. These projects involve looking at historical rates of sea level change, mapping limits of US natural resources, and looking at rifting of the Atlantic Ocean basin and more. There is general information on the R/V Marcus G. Langseth, a newly-constructed model of the vessel, and immersion “Gumby” suits for kids of all ages to try on.

View the full exhibit map here.