Our Climate Quest: Small Steps to Big Change

A SPECIAL EXHIBITION AT DYNAMIC EARTH

November 7 — December 14

Climate change is on everyone’s mind… gladly, young people are some of the best problem solvers around!

Come explore how you can become a true protector of the environment! Arm yourself with science and knowledge that you can put into action in your everyday life. Come discover the small steps you can take towards big change!

Explore three zones each centred upon its own theme. Each one contains immersive, interactive, and amusing activities designed to empower you towards making sustainable choices in the fight against climate change.

Zone 1: Science and Indigenous Knowledge

In this zone you can fill up on scientific knowledge, Indigenous knowledge, and on the most up-to-date data fundamental science has to offer. Then, learn more about how the health of the environment impacts human health.

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES

• Listen to Indigenous change agents tell you about their experiences and perspectives and find out how their knowledge helps improve our understanding of climate change and climate action.
• Help Canadian scientists identify species whose populations are spreading due to climate change. Using a microscope, look at mosquito and tic specimens and use reference images to identify and help limit the spread of certain species.

Zone 2: Our Buying Habits

Which of the products in your grocery bags are compostable? How can you further reduce your food waste? This zone is all about presenting you with the tools to help you make sustainable choices.

Explore the environmental cost of the goods you buy… because the price tag isn't the only cost to keep in mind! You’ll be astounded by the impact you can have by making well-informed choices, choosing goods that last longer, and learning how to reuse the things you buy.

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES

• Plan a meal and find out how much water, energy, and fuel are needed to get it to the table. Then try to plan another meal that uses less water, or another that can be produced with less earth.
• Learn how to recognize different textiles so you can avoid buying clothes with a high environmental cost in terms of carbon emissions and the use of water and earth.
• Take a quiz and test your knowledge about buying habits you can adopt to make even more sustainable choices when it comes to buying food and goods. Take the quiz with your friends! Who is the greenest shopper among you?

Zone 3: Energy Efficiency

Here, you can discover the small steps and big changes you can make in your city and your home. The amount of energy we use and the greenhouse gases we emit can radically change depending on the modes of transportation we choose, the construction and renovation practices we adopt, and the green spaces we protect.

Then, discover different sources of renewable and non-renewable energy available in Canada and experiment with different means of sustainable energy production.

You can also explore carbon science and learn about carbon sources and carbon sinks. Discover how carbon can be captured to compensate for our carbon emissions in an effort to help Canada reach its net-zero carbon target!

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES

• Plan a trip by choosing a departure point and a final destination. Then compare the environmental impact of different modes of transportation you can choose to get there. Discover how travel time and greenhouse gas emissions can add up (or be reduced) based on your choice!
• Explore an immersive kitchen space and get tips on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making small changes right in your home.
• Use a small wind tunnel to test out different wind turbine blade designs and figure out which one produces the most energy.
• Generate the most energy possible using a solar panel. Figure how to account for the movement of the sun and find out what happens when you add clouds to the mix.
• Capture carbon emissions generated by human activity as fast as you can to help protect the planet and achieve net-zero emissions.