Experience Earth through Scientific Data with the Permanent Exhibition "Geo-Scope" Renewed with the Theme of "The Ever-Changing Earth"
Completely Redesigned Exhibition Opens to the Public on Wednesday, April 23
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation ("Miraikan"; Director: Asakawa Chieko, Ph.D.) will renew the content of its permanent exhibition "Geo-Scope," which provides access to scientific data about our planet, with the concept of "The Ever-Changing Earth," and is scheduled to open it to the public on Wednesday, April 23. By adding eight of the latest datasets and other enhancements, the exhibition will allow visitors to feel an even stronger connection to the Earth. The experience screens, and exhibition terminals will also be completely redesigned.
"Geo-Scope" was opened in 2011 as a permanent exhibition where visitors can freely browse scientific data provided by research institutions from around the world. It allows intuitive and enjoyable understanding of global-scale changes through diverse data such as seasonal changes in biological ecology, climate change, and future predictions of the Earth's environment.
As part of this renewal, eight new datasets including, "World Electricity Consumption" and "Aerosol Concentration" in the atmosphere, have been newly collected. Combined with carefully selected data from the previous Geo-Scope, visitors can access a total of 20 Earth-related datasets. This allows visitors to feel a deeper connection with the ever-changing Earth, and humanity, including the impact of human activities on the Earth, changes in the Earth's environment, and the dynamic movements of nature and the Earth. The experience screens have also been changed to a design that enhances intuitive operability. The exhibition terminals will change to a telescope-like shape that gives the impression of peering at the Earth. One of the five terminals installed will also be equipped with an "Enjoy Geo-Scope by Sound" mode that expresses scientific data through sound.
About "Geo-Scope"
At Miraikan, we develop exhibitions and content that allow visitors to view the Earth from diverse perspectives, including the symbol exhibition, "Geo-Cosmos," and promote science communication activities aimed at solving global-scale issues. The "Geo-Scope" permanent exhibition, installed in 2011, is one such initiative that visualizes scientific data related to the Earth provided by research institutions from around the world, including seasonal changes in biological ecology, climate change, and future predictions of the Earth's environment. Visitors can freely access these scientific data from the exhibition terminals.
Highlights of the New "Geo-Scope" Renewal
1. Eight newly collected datasets. Content that allows visitors to feel a deeper connection with the Earth.
With the concept of "The Ever-Changing Earth," eight new datasets including "World Electricity Consumption" and "Aerosol Concentration" in the atmosphere have been newly collected. In addition, 12 carefully selected datasets from the previous "Geo-Scope" have been updated with the latest information. Through a total of 20 datasets, visitors can feel a deeper connection with the Earth. Detailed explanations linked to each dataset have also been newly added, allowing visitors to further explore data of which they are interested.
<Data recorded in the new "Geo-Scope"> ☆ indicates newly recorded data
I. Data particularly related to human activities
1. World Population ☆ 2. Life Expectancy and Healthy Life Expectancy ☆ 3. Human Expansion ☆ 4. Neonatal Mortality Rate ☆ 5. World Electricity Consumption ☆ 6. Fluctuation in the Price of Big Mac ☆ 7. Land Use 8. Earth at Night
II. Data particularly related to environmental changes
1. Aerosol Concentration ☆ 2. Spatial Conservation Prioritization for Biodiversity ☆ 3. Carbon Dioxide Concentrations 4. Temperature Changes Over 140 Years 5. Changes in the Ozone Layer until Year 2100 6. Forecasted Temperatures until Year 2100
III. Data particularly related to natural and Earth dynamics
1. Cloud Movement From Space 2. Earthquakes in the World 3. Route of Movement of Migratory Birds 4. The Migratory Route of Bluefin Tuna 5. Tremors Before and After the Great East Japan Earthquake 6. Path of the Great East Japan Tsunami
2. Experience completely redesigned screens and exhibition terminals. Easier to understand, and more intuitive operability
The experience screens will change to a design that is visually easier to understand and guides intuitive operation. Pinch-in and pinch-out operations will also be possible, allowing visitors to browse data freely while enlarging and reducing to any size. Additionally, a character named "MIETA" will appear as a supporter, presenting points of interest in the data. The exhibition terminals will also be completely redesigned, changing to a telescope-like shape that gives the impression of peering at the Earth.
3. In addition to visual information, a mode has been installed that allows visitors to understand and enjoy scientific data through sound.
One of the five terminals installed will be equipped with a "Enjoy Geo-Scope by Sound" mode that expresses data through sound. The targets are three datasets: "Earthquakes in the World," "Route of Movement of Migratory Birds," and "Fluctuation in the Price of Big Mac." Each dataset is expressed through sound based on predetermined rules such as volume and frequency, allowing people with visual impairments to understand and enjoy the data through hearing.
Exhibition Overview
- Location
- Within the 3rd floor permanent exhibition zone (in front of Geo-Cosmos)
- Number of installations
- 5 units
