Ecology

Every living thing is part of a cycle between air, water, earth and the rest of the environment. Ecology explores these connections and looks at the place of humans in the web of life.

The Ecology gallery.

Discover our planet’s ever-changing ecology and find out why we need to connect with nature in order to survive. You can also investigate more ways of protecting the planet by using our ecology action email points.

Recycle a rabbit display.

Nothing is wasted in nature. See how natural raw materials are recycled in the life processes of a rabbit and find out how the animal’s eating, excreting and eventual decomposition enable minerals and nutrients to flow from one living thing to another.

Taking a look inside the giant leaf factory.

Shrink to 8,000 times smaller than your normal size and take a peep inside the giant leaf factory. There you’ll discover how green plants harness the power of the sun to convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates, producing the oxygen that all life depends on.

The many screens of the spectacular video quadrasphere display.

Experience and explore the power of water in our spectacular video quadrasphere display. Water is essential for all living things – find out how the water cycle works to sustain life on our planet.

Part of the take less give more display.

It’s our challenge to work with the planet’s ecology, not against it. Taking less from the environment and giving more is the way forward. Our display shows you the things you can do in every sphere to help conserve nature.

Floor Plans
Floor Plans
Cartoon image of a hatchet fish on a museum pass

In World War II the Museum was used as a secret base to develop new gadgets for allied spies, including an exploding rat!