Zoo in You

1463788800

The Health Museum

Zoo in You

Saturday, May. 21, 2016 – Sunday, Sep. 11, 2016

Ready to meet your microbes? Trillions of them call the inside of our bodies their home. The Health Museum's newest exhibit, Zoo in You, allows guests of all ages to explore this fascinating and complex world inside us that is our microbiome—a dynamic, adaptable, and delicately balanced ecosystem much like any other found in nature.

At Zoo in You, guests can learn who our constant microbial companions are, where they live, how diverse they are, and in what ways scientists are discovering just how important they are to our personal health. Visitors are invited to explore this vibrant world of our inner microorganisms through engaging, interactive, and bilingual exhibits and programs concentrating on three thematic areas including Meet the Microbes, Our Complex Ecosystems, and Exploring our Microbiome.

About the Exhibition

Meet the Microbes
Guests are taken on an interactive journey to learn all about the four major types of microbes that live in and on us! From bacteria to archaea, fungi to viruses, these tiny non-human organisms outnumber our human cells ten to one. Through hands-on activities, visitors can learn about “good” microbes, watch how our microbiome reacts to everyday occurrences, and manipulate a marble maze to learn how a newborn baby is first colonized by microbes.

Our Complex Ecosystems
Delve deeper into the lives of microbes with green screen technology to get a “weather report” on the climate conditions of your nose, mouth, gut or skin, and a touch-screen video game that challenges guests to keep gut microbes in balance. Adults and kids alike are invited to explore the eye-opening hand “washing” station to observe just how long it takes to be free of germs.

Exploring Our Microbiome
Guests can get up close and personal with microbes as they answer tough questions and use a microscope to examine real preserved specimens. Visitors can also build their own viruses using puzzle pieces, assemble DNA strands as quickly as possible, and even try their hand at matching DNA patterns to the correct microbes. Plus, a unique photo opportunity allows guests to imagine what they would look like as a microbe.

Zoo in You, sponsored locally by PMB Helin Donovan, was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This exhibit was made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

HOURS & ADMISSION

Monday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday, 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sunday, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Special exhibits may require an additional fee
General Admission: $10 per adult; $8 per child (ages 3-12); $8 per senior (ages 65+); Free for members and children under 2 yrs. Free Hours: Free Family Thursdays 2 - 7 pm.

Directions & Parking

Paid Parking
Street Parking

Parking for Museum visitors is $5. Parking for non-Museum visitors is $8. Parking for Museum members is $3. Enter the parking lot from Hermann Dr. Metered street parking is available on streets surrounding the Museum.