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Evolution is often thought of as a slow process taking place over millions of years, exemplified by the dinosaurs and largely completed since the appearance of modern humans. But evolutionary processes are happening all the time, even in the here and now, and sometimes so quickly that we can observe them directly. They can be seen in the emergence of antibiotic resistance, for example, or in the progression of the current coronavirus pandemic. Where there is life there is change. The ongoing process of evolution is the subject of the new special exhibition at the Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich, “evolution happens!”.
“We want to make visitors aware of the evolutionary processes in our everyday lives,” says Beat Keller, former co-director of the URPP Evolution in Action and co-initiator of the exhibition. “We tink that only an informed society will be able to take sensible decisions regarding current global challenges, be it food security, antibiotics resistance or the adaptation of ecosystems to climate change, which all involve evolutionary processes.”
Rock pocket mice that are better camouflaged than their light-colored conspecifics thanks to their dark fur, silent male crickets that parasites avoid, or lizards that survive hurricanes thanks to their specially shaped feet are used as illustrative examples of the multi-stage process of evolution. Certain events initially alter the survival and reproductive chances of specific individuals, and subsequently the genetic composition of an entire population is changed. The core message of the exhibition is the fact that such alterations can sometimes be observed in real time. For example, UZH studies show how new pathogens arise in agriculture or how the interplay between pollinators and flowers influences entire ecosystems. On the other hand, the reintroduction of the ibex into the wild in Switzerland has shown that evolution does not always lead to adaptation.
Exhibits such as a live ticker that estimates mutation rates in bacterial populations and a container showing the daily amounts of antibiotics consumed across Switzerland demonstrate the elusive parameters that drive evolution. Numerous interactive components invite visitors to try things out for themselves, while large-scale projected games allow visitors to really immerse themselves in individual topics. Using the exhibition’s accompanying app, visitors can for example adopt the role of an owl that catches differently camouflaged mice, thereby changing the genetic composition of an entire mouse population. The app can be downloaded free of charge in advance and can also be used outside the museum.
The Zurich-based conceptual agency raumprodukt gmbh is responsible for the design of the exhibition. The interactive installations and animations give a feeling of constant motion which reflects the dynamics and continually changing forms of evolution. The exhibition space is dark, and its boundaries seem to diffuse; in contrast, the individual stations of the exhibition are brightly lit. Lines like family trees run through the room, indicating direct relationships and branches in the evolutionary process.
The various thematic islands use visual language, with scientific drawings, colorful infographics and comic-strip style elements. The exhibition design and the multiple digital contents are specifically intended to inspire a young audience, says Lukas Keller, director of the Zoological Museum: “Puberty is the phase of life with the most rapid changes. So it’s an ideal age to learn in depth about evolution, which is an unparalleled machine of change.” Starting after the summer holidays, workshops for school classes will therefore also be offered.
