This groundbreaking, permanent exhibition is the most ambitious new experience to date in the history of the Carnegie Science Center. Pulling aesthetic inspiration from Afrofuturism and popular sci-fi movies, visitors enter a futuristic yet familiar space, broken up into several sub-galleries, each with a distinguished learning objective that leaves guests with the understanding that there is room for all of us to be represented in space and on Mars.
Immersed under the Martian sky as audio-visual elements enhance the experience, large-scale projections map an environmental timeline of the Martian landscape, becoming increasingly more realistic as time progresses to represent advancements in science and technology and our more solidified understanding of Mars today.
With this knowledge of how our understanding of Mars has evolved over time, visitors can then engage with concepts of climate through screens explored through custom digital control stations.
Hypothetical climate-impact scenarios are introduced and simultaneously played out on both Earth and Mars to assist in drawing the parallels between what is needed to create, sustain, or destroy life on both planets.
Alongside this segment sit examples of agricultural advancements and soilless growing – how can we be green on the red planet? Visitors can reimagine popular Earthly dishes and how they may be reinvented to incorporate the resources available on Mars, and live plant pods showcase new farming techniques that can be used on Earth to help solve food-insecurity issues and introduce more sustainable practices for feeding our ever-growing population.
Centralized in the space is a large model of what a Martian settlement could look like featuring lava caves for dwellings, agriculture hubs, energy storage, and more. Thought-provoking questions are prompted around this display asking visitors about what the community could look like – would there be money? What language(s) would we speak? What principles would guide our community to be inclusive and considerate of each other? Digital monitors immediately reflect these answers onto the settlement, but the real magic is that the physical model adapts and changes over time as more guests engage with and answer these questions, encouraging guests to re-visit and see how their community is thinking about and implementing all facets of life on the red planet.
Finally, visitors are shown fellow community members doing the work they just explored, right now, right there in Pittsburg. Professionals beyond the maths and sciences are introduced, explaining that it takes more than just numbers to get us to space. The door is opened for creative paths into this industry and understanding that space needs us all.
Walking away from this experience visitors are left with an understanding that the technology and critical thinking needed to create and sustain life on Mars are also crucial to develop a more inclusive and sustainable life here on Earth. Whether through community building, climate solutions, or sustainable farming, the key to success on Mars and Earth is dreaming big!
Partners
- Ravenswood Studio, Inc.: Fabrication
- RLMG: Media Production
- Electrosonic: AV integration