About the author: Dr. Jen-Yuan Yeh

With a Ph.D. degree from the Institute of Computer Science and Engineering at National Chiao Tung University, Dr. Yeh currently serves at the National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS) as an associate researcher in the Department of Collection and Information and the Section Chief of the Library and Information Service.

About National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS)

Located in the center of Taichung City, the National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS) is the first state-owned science museum and the first institute to promote natural sciences through daily practice. The permanent exhibitions feature galleries and spaces including Space Theater, 3-D Theater, Life Sciences Hall, Global Environment Hall, Human Cultures Hall, and Botanical Garden in an array of themes that serve great educational purposes. With an average of about three million visitors every year, NMNS is known as the most popular museum with natural history in Taiwan.

A Case Study of NMNS's Special Exhibition “Climate Action: Our Future x Our Choice”

Preface

2023 has been by far Earth’s warmest year. As of June 2024, the average surface temperature, compared with the same period over the years, had hit a record high for 13 consecutive months, 12 of which showed an average of 1.5°C higher than that before the Industrial Revolution. On July 22, 2024, the daily global average temperature reached 17.16°C, setting a new record again. These data are not just numbers, but a warning that humanity is facing severe challenges.

Since the Industrial Revolution, there have been large amounts of greenhouse gases coming from human activities, leading to global warming and climate change. Extreme weather events such as extreme heat, heat waves, droughts, and heavy rains have become the new norm. Climate change is reshaping our world in a fast and profound way, bringing irreversible impacts on human society, ecosystems, and nature.

Climate change is a complex issue that transcends disciplines, and it, as one of the most critical topics of our time, revolves around human survival and sustainable development. Museums, as a key platform for culture cultivation and education, have the potential to lead social change. Through exhibitions, learning activities, and public participation, museums can present complex issues, such as climate change, in an explicit way that is easy to understand and feasible for public participation. Our vision is to enhance public awareness, to create emotional resonance and rational thinking, and to bring about discussions and actions.

NMNS’s commitment to sustainability and action

The NMNS has long been paying attention to environmental issues. Through themed exhibitions and activities, it works to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations (UN). Moreover, with “Commitment to Sustainability” as part of its mission, the NMNS walks in line with the new museum definition for 2022 set forth at the ICOM Prague 2022. As one of the most influential museums in Taiwan, it aims at making positive changes through its influence on society.

In 2024, the NMNS launches the special exhibition of the year- a trilogy featuring environmental sustainability, climate change, and ecological protection. The first episode- More than Useful- The Story of Wood advocates the protection of forest resources through depicting the characteristics and diversity of wood and its key role in the environment and ecology. The second one- Borneo and Us focuses on the challenges and impacts faced in Borneo to elaborate the coexistence of multiple ethnic groups in nature. The grand finale- Climate Action: Our Future x Our Choice features interactive technology and digital media to reveal in detail the impacts of global warming and climate change as well as opportunities for making changes, which encourages viewers to think upon the current situations and to take action.

With efforts to raise awareness about social issues, the NMNS presents the above-mentioned exhibitions in series to touch on the relationships between humans, ecosystems, and the natural environment from different angles. The aim is to encourage public attention and participation in issues regarding the environment and social sustainability.

The highlights of each section are as follows:

• Prologue brings to viewers a large-scale immersive projection of the Arctic Circle and a curved giant screen to bring together virtual and real settings, having viewers on board an icebreaker to see with their own eyes the beauty of the aurora and whales. Followed by a large 3D projection mapping that shows the rain in the arctic and glacier calving, the setting takes a strong turn that awakens viewers’ mindfulness about climate change.
• Understanding Climate Change, in a way that is scientific and easy to understand, features the use of interactive projection walls and digital devices to break down how climate change happens and the importance of the greenhouse effect to the survival of all living things. Through a peephole built with multimedia displays, viewers will learn how extreme weather events become more frequent and intensify due to global warming.

• Climate Crisis is designed with a station with multiple interactive devices with audio-visual effects to lay out scientific reports and data in a systematic way. The information shows in detail the possible consequences of rising temperatures and the specific impact that climate change brings to not only Taiwan but the whole world. There are devices designed to be physically arranged for viewers to experience in person the cause and effect between human activities and global warming. In addition, there is a 360-degree immersive theater with 4k projection where viewers could witness from a first-person perspective the impact of disasters under extreme weather.

• Transforming Our World illustrates the efforts made by international communities and the scientific community to reverse global warming. With an interactive projection wall to display mitigation and adaptation strategies taken to address climate change, there is even an augmented reality (AR) device to show Taiwan’s Transition to Net Zero by 2050. Viewers are invited to try out digital interactive games at Green Lifestyle to learn how carbon footprint could be reduced in our daily life.

• Co-creating a Net-Zero World turns viewers from spectators in a passive position to activists that take the initiative, where people could share their ideas on climate action by taking part in art creation. There is a large projection wall for the illustration of the future and devices for somatosensory interaction, where viewers could paint a scene of hope for their posterity. There is also a recording studio for viewers to leave a message about their climate action, and the words would be transformed into a unique piece of painting through generative AI. This innovative interactive model not only engages viewers better, but also embodies their awareness and actions, empowering them in the changes they wish to bring to society.

The role of museums in tackling climate change

Museums today have become essential platforms for promoting public participation and for calling for social action. In the face of climate change, museums, with their resources and influence, can be a catalyst to bring together all walks of life to respond to the climate crisis with joint effort.

To begin with, through innovative curation, museums can present complex scientific theories in an understandable and interesting way, so that viewers of different backgrounds and all ages better understand the information and relate themselves to it. Designed with multiple digital interactions and immersive experiences with virtual reality, this exhibition creates a spacewhere viewers could sense the urgency in addressing climate issues in person. With a better understanding of how actions for adjustment are in need, viewers will realize the importance of active participation.

Secondly, through diverse educational activities, museums can deepen public recognition of and engagement with climate action. Examples can be seen in interactive sections such as Climate Action, Green Lifestyle, and Co-creating a Net-Zero World in this exhibition. These designs allow viewers to personally take part in the action and see the meaning of doing so, as an individual as well as a group. Along the exhibition come also a series of events, such as guided tours, WildView Taiwan Film Festival, thematic book exhibitions, science activities, and courses and forums on net-zero in collaboration with universities and government agencies. These are all in place to provide the public with a platform for diverse exploration, dialogue, and participation.

Thirdly, the social impacts of museums can be expanded through cross-institutional collaboration. Climate Action: Our Future x Our Choice is curated under the joint effort of the NMNS, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Environment, and the Environmental Protection Bureau of the Taichung City Government. There is also assistance from the Graduate Institute of Sustainability Management and Environmental Education of National Taiwan Normal University to ensure that all the information on display is true and correct. Invited by the Taichung City Government, this exhibition has also welcomed various local groups, including middle schools, high schools, and vocational schools, as well as volunteer groups advocating environmental education. In this way, the NMNS’s influence can be spread on the campus and among communities to bring about more social impact.

In addition, museums serve as key sites to accelerate climate action. The NMNS, for instance, is now promoting measures for energy conservation and resource recycling from day to day, in response to Taiwan’s policies in achieving net-zero transformation, which include carbon inventory and reduction of carbon footprint.

Conclusion

In the face of climate change, museums can play a role in bringing climate issues to the attention of the public and can also encourage dialogue and actions. Climate Action: Our Future x Our Choice covers issues with complex domain knowledge conveyed in innovative displays, so that such issues are better understood through interactions and sensory experiences. These allow viewers to learn more about climate change and reflect on the importance of taking action. Climate Action: Our Future x Our Choice is not only a call to act on climate issues, but also a demonstration of the NMNS’s practice and influence in taking the lead.