There's no shortage of learning opportunities at the Exploratorium. And with a month dedicated to the ocean, the special focus has allowed participants to experience a crucial part of what makes the Bay Area special.
The Exploratorium rests on the waterfront of the San Francisco Bay, providing a stunning look at the local Bay Area landscape. During the month of August, celebrated as Oceans Discovery Month, visitors were treated to a range of exciting programs and events related to the underwater ecosystems that make up 70 percent of the surface of our planet.
Interactive learning
An important element of the ocean ecosystem is the plankton that live below the water. The Exploratorium’s plankton exhibit allows visitors to learn about plankton - what they are, how they live and what role they play in the environment. The interactive plankton exhibit incorporates important data from scientific research supported through the Moore Foundation’s Marine Microbiology Initiative, which supports knowledge and understanding around marine microbial communities and the ecological roles they play in our oceans. You can view the plankton exhibit, located in the Exploratorium's Living System's gallery, throughout the year.
Visitors were also given the opportunity to build their own microscope – a Foldscope - and examine slides drawn from samples of local bay water. The Foldscope is an accessible science learning tool that can be used by all ages to explore microscopic life. While the Foldscope session made a special appearance for Ocean Discovery Month, you can visit their website to find a pop-up workshop to attend, as well as ordering your very own paper-thin microscope.
There is always more that can be learned about the ocean, how life below the surface can affect the urban environments that surround it, and the overall health of our planet. The Exploratorium provides a unique space for curious individuals to learn, interact and engage with life in the San Francisco Bay and beyond.
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