EXPOSITION ANTS: FOURMIS
Museum of Natural History, Geneva
By Chené Koscielny
Try suggesting an ‘ant exhibition’ to your teenagers (or 8-year-old for that matter) and you’re likely to be met with: “Who wants to see ants?”or “Other people are having a holiday and you want us to see ants?”
Desperate to get them out of the house, I ended up bribing my miserable brood with a sushi lunch to persuade them to visit the Exposition Fourmis (Ants) at the Museum of Natural History in Geneva.
(The exhibition is free for children 0-18 years, hence I didn’t think the sushi lunch was too extravagant)
LOW EXPECTATIONS:
We started off with low expectations – and ended up being blown away by this fantastic insight into the fascinating world of ants.
The 7-step exhibition offers many interactive opportunities to explore and learn about the different types of ants, their habitat, anatomy, iron discipline, strategic skills, social life and much more.
Did you know ants survived the dinosaurs? Did you know that the queen lays up to 20 eggs per minute? Find out how the soldier ant’s anatomy is adopted to help him protect the colony. Video installations and audio-guides allow you to learn more, though these are in French. The descriptions throughout the museum are in English, though.
GIANT ANT HILL: A MUST-SEE!
The absolute highlight of the exhibition and a must-see is a giant transparent anthill – where you can observe thousands of South American Atta ants at work. There is the section where the ants find their food, the section where the queen lives and then the section where the ants dump their rubbish, all connected with massive transparent tunnels.
The children loved this real-life copy of the workings of an anthill and had to be dragged away forcefully.
BIGGEST ANT COLLECTION IN WORLD
The ant collection of Auguste Forel, which is considered to be the biggest collection in the world (1848-1931) forms part of the exhibition. This Swiss doctor is thought to have discovered 3,500 ant species in his spare time!
The exhibition also includes artworks inspired by ants, including a massive ant sculpture.
To find out more about workshops – visit the website: www.museum-geneve.ch.
MORE INFO:
Where?
Museum of Natural History, Geneva
When?
From 20 May 2017 until 7 January 2018, Tuesday-Sunday from 10h-17h
Cost?
Adults, CHF9
Children 0-18, FREE
Children 18-25, students and AVS, CHF6
First Sunday of the month – Free.
