By A Thread: Nature's Resilience
Immerse yourself in the work of museum scientists and learn how you can be a champion for nature, science, and the plant and animal species all around us.
- Time of Year
- June 20, 2025 – June 30, 2026
- Location
- Level 2
By A Thread: Nature's Resilience dives into the science of biodiversity and what it takes to protect it—showcasing the research, conservation, and education work happening every day across the Museum and Academy. From exploring regional collections to getting hands-on with real fieldwork-inspired activities, guests of all ages will uncover the challenges of biodiversity loss and discover how they can be part of the solution.
Engage all of your senses and find inspiration to take action. Test your knowledge of local frog calls, help pluck invasive buckthorn, and get an up close look at rarely seen specimens from our natural history collections. Then step into the infinity room and create your own butterfly to add to the immersive ecosystem. Contribute to our ongoing community art project and learn all about the work that museum scientists are doing to help imperiled species.
Access to this exhibit is included with Museum admission.
Take Action
The world needs Nature Champions like you. Use the links below to learn how you can help our museum scientists through community science initiatives, how to can lead sustainability projects in your community or take part in volunteering opportunities through the Chicago Conservation Corps (C3), and get inspired during upcoming museum events.
Community science (also known as citizen science) has grown exponentially in scope and popularity since our flagship community science initiative began 30 years ago.
The Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) collaborates with partners across the city to inspire and fund lasting change through grassroots community organization and climate action.
Explore our daily and special programming for all ages.
Keep Exploring
Scientists estimate that we are losing dozens of species every day, threatening biodiversity on both a local and global scale. Environmentalists all over the world are working to bolster threatened plant and animal populations. Click below to learn more about the local, native species Nature Museum experts are working to sustain. Or, read about extinct animals, like the passenger pigeon, and how we continue to learn valuable lessons from long-gone species.
Our scientists are dedicated to developing a deeper understanding of regional species, identifying environmental threats, and working to conserve threatened populations.
Natural history collections, like the collections of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, can help us gain a greater understanding of biodiversity over long periods of time.
Lessons from the past for a sustainable future.
This exhibit is made possible by support from:
